Landscaping Rules in Allentown, PA (2026)
8 verified landscaping rules for Allentown, Pennsylvania, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Grass Height Limits
Allentown limits grass and weed height to 10 inches. Under Chapter 393 (Neighborhood Improvement), no owner, possessor, or responsible agent of real property or any tract of land may allow grass or weeds to exceed 10 inches in height, and the same 10-inch limit applies to the tree well, sidewalk, curbline, and planter strip abutting the property.
Grass and weeds capped at 10 inches citywide
Heavy RestrictionsCity of Allentown Code Ch. 393, Neighborhood Improvement (Weeds)
No owner, possessor or responsible agent of real property or any tract of land shall allow any growth of grass or weeds to exceed 10 inches in height. It shall be the owner's, possessor's or responsible agent's duty to cut the grass or weeds to prevent such growth.
Tree Trimming
In Allentown, the owner of property abutting a public right-of-way is responsible for the care and maintenance of any shade (street) tree growing in that right-of-way. A City permit from the Department of Public Works is required before pruning, removing, planting, stump-grinding, or applying pesticide/fertilizer to a street tree, and all work must follow the City's Arboricultural Specifications and Standards of Practice under Article 911 of the 1962 Codified Ordinances.
Property owners maintain street trees; permit required
Heavy RestrictionsCity of Allentown Street Tree Permit Instructions (Article 911 of the 1962 Codified Ordinances)
Pruning trees. A permit is required to perform pruning and other work on trees or shrubs growing in the public right-of-way. In addition, a City-licensed ISA tree contractor is required to perform such work on trees growing on public property. All pruning must be performed to the City's Arboricultural Specifications and Standards of Practice. ... All tree work must be done in accordance with th...
Tree Removal & Heritage Trees
Allentown regulates tree removal on private property through permits and size thresholds. Street trees are city-managed and cannot be removed by residents.
Allentown Tree Removal Regulations
Some RestrictionsWeed Ordinances
Allentown defines weeds broadly as rank vegetable growth (grass, ragweed, dandelion, brush, and similar vegetation) that emits unpleasant or noxious odors or pollen, conceals filthy deposits, or harbors mosquitoes, insects, or vermin. Under Chapter 393 (Neighborhood Improvement), property owners may not allow weeds to exceed 10 inches in height and have an affirmative duty to cut them; the City may abate after one annual notice.
Weeds are a nuisance; 10-inch limit, City may abate
Heavy RestrictionsCity of Allentown Code Ch. 393, Neighborhood Improvement (Weeds definition)
Weeds: all rank vegetable growth including but not limited to grass, ragweed, dandelion and miscellaneous other vegetation commonly referred to as 'weeds' or 'brush' which exhale unpleasant noxious odors or pollen, or which may conceal filthy deposits or serve as breeding places for mosquitoes, other insects or vermin.
Water Restrictions
Allentown has no permanent day-of-week or time-of-day lawn-watering ordinance. Outdoor watering is restricted only when the Governor declares a drought emergency, at which point Pennsylvania's statewide nonessential-water-use ban (4 Pa. Code Chapter 119) prohibits watering grass except for narrow exceptions. The Lehigh County Authority (LCA), which supplies Allentown, issues its own voluntary or mandatory conservation requests tied to the state drought status.
Watering banned only during state drought emergencies
Some Restrictions4 Pa. Code Section 119.4 (Prohibitions)
Whenever the Governor declares by proclamation or executive order a state of drought or water shortage emergency in an area of this Commonwealth, the following water uses shall be deemed nonessential and are prohibited within areas that have been declared to be in a state of drought or water shortage emergency, including within any public water supply agency's service area for which a source of...
Rainwater Harvesting
Allentown allows residential rainwater harvesting. Pennsylvania has no significant state-level restrictions on rainwater collection for personal use.
Allentown Rainwater Harvesting Rules
Few RestrictionsNative Plants
Allentown may encourage or require native and drought-tolerant landscaping. Some areas restrict traditional grass lawns in favor of water-efficient alternatives.
Allentown Native Plant & Xeriscape Rules
Few RestrictionsArtificial Turf
Allentown generally permits artificial turf installation with some requirements for drainage, appearance, and base preparation.
Allentown Artificial Turf Regulations
Few RestrictionsLooking for Lehigh County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Allentown city rules.
Landscaping Rules in Lehigh County →