Landscaping Rules in Aurora, IL (2026)
6 verified landscaping rules for Aurora, Illinois, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Tree Removal & Heritage Trees
Anyone who injures, mutilates, or kills a tree or shrub on Aurora, Illinois city-owned property must pay its full replacement value, calculated under the ISA Guide for Plant Appraisal, as the city arborist determines.
Aurora IL Tree Damage Replacement Rule
Some RestrictionsAurora Code of Ordinances § 47-10
If any individual causes the injury, mutilation, or death of a tree or shrub located on city-owned property, as determined by the arborist, the cost or repair of replacement of such tree, shrub, or other plant shall be born by the party in violation. The replacement value of trees and shrubs shall be determined in accordance with the then-current revision of "Guide for Plant Appraisal," by the ...
Weed Ordinances
Aurora requires property owners citywide to keep weeds and grass under 8 inches; violators face a city-ordered mow, lien for costs, and escalating fines up to $500 per season.
Aurora IL Weed and Grass Height Limit
Some RestrictionsAurora Code of Ordinances § 12-102 (Property Maintenance Code § 302.4(a))
Every property owner is required to cut and destroy all weeds located on land within the jurisdictional limits of the city whenever they exceed a height of eight (8) inches or if, in the opinion of the health authority, destruction of weeds is necessary. Any property owner who does not maintain property as required by this section shall be in violation of this code. (b) The health authority...
Water Restrictions
Aurora limits city water for lawns, gardens, and pools to alternating even/odd calendar dates within set morning and evening hours, with two annual no-watering dates in July and August.
Aurora IL Lawn Watering Day Limits
Some RestrictionsAurora Code of Ordinances § 48-31(c)
All properties with street addresses ending in 0, 2, 4, 6, or 8 may use city distributed water for plant watering or pool filling on even-numbered calendar dates between the hours of 6:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. prevailing time. All properties with street addresses ending in 1, 3, 5, 7, or 9 may use city distributed water for plant watering or pool filling on odd-numbered ...
Rainwater Harvesting
Aurora's water-conservation ordinance defines harvested rainwater and exempts it from the city's odd/even watering schedule, letting residents irrigate anytime with rain-barrel water.
Aurora IL Rainwater Harvesting Rules
Few RestrictionsAurora Code of Ordinances § 48-31
Harvested rain water means water that is accumulated and stored during times of precipitation, such as through rain barrels and cistern systems, is prevented from entering the stormwater treatment system, and is redirected for reuse onsite... Plant watering where such watering is done using reclaimed greywater, recycled effluent, or harvested rainwater may be performed at any time.
Native Plants
Aurora's zoning code lets developers use prairie-style naturalized plantings in stormwater and open-space areas instead of standard turf landscaping, with an approved plan.
Aurora IL Naturalized Landscaping Allowance
Some RestrictionsAurora Code of Ordinances § 49-105.4
Naturalized Planting Areas. The use of naturalized prairie style landscaping shall be encouraged adjacent to and within stormwater detention facilities, wetland, low-lying and inactive open space areas. These areas must meet the following criteria in addition to the City of Aurora's Wetland and Naturalized Planting Standards in order to remove said areas from the above stated requirements. Thes...
Composting
Aurora exempts yard waste from its citywide ban on piling waste accumulations: residents may keep it in a compost pile on the property instead of removing it immediately like every other kind of refuse.
Aurora IL Yard Waste Compost Pile Rule
Few RestrictionsAurora Code of Ordinances § 20-9
It shall be unlawful for any person to deposit within the city limits any accumulation of garbage, recyclables, rubbish, junk, manure, carcasses of dead animals, or combustible refuse, with the exception of yard waste which shall be placed in a compost pile or removed by a landscape maintenance company or placed out in approved bags for collection by municipally contracted services, unless he i...
Looking for Kane County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Aurora city rules.
Landscaping Rules in Kane County →