Landscaping Rules in Bethlehem, PA (2026)
6 verified landscaping rules for Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Tree Trimming
Bethlehem property owners must keep trees along their public right-of-way pruned to maintain 8 feet of clearance over sidewalks and 14 feet over roadways. Codified Ordinances § 910.11 makes that clearance, plus keeping street lights and signs unobstructed, a minimum obligation of the abutting owner, not a City service.
Bethlehem Street Tree Trimming Clearance Rules
Some RestrictionsCodified Ordinances of the City of Bethlehem § 910.11(a)(1)(A)
(a) Property owners shall be responsible to maintain trees and other vegetation within and along the public right-of-way abutting their property. Property owners minimum obligations shall include but not be limited to: (1) The maintenance, safety, health, and appearance of trees within the public right-of-way, including: (A) Maintaining mature trees to provide clearance of eight feet (8') over ...
Tree Removal & Heritage Trees
Removing a tree from a Bethlehem public area, including the right-of-way in front of a home, requires a Director of Public Works permit under Codified Ordinances § 910.04. The Director can condition that permit on planting a replacement tree, and unauthorized removal draws a minimum $1,000 fine per tree under § 910.08(m).
Bethlehem Public Tree Removal Permit Rules
Significant RestrictionsCodified Ordinances of the City of Bethlehem §§ 910.04(b), 910.08(m)
(b) As a condition to any permit to remove any tree on a public area, or any portion of a tree that is on a public area, the Director may require that the permittee plant one or more trees in place of the one removed. Whenever any such tree has been removed or destroyed pursuant to any such conditional permit, it shall be unlawful for the permittee to fail, refuse or neglect to plant another tr...
Weed Ordinances
Bethlehem caps noxious weeds and grass at one foot tall on any lot within 200 feet of a building or public right-of-way. The Bureau of Health enforces the limit citywide, in both the Northampton and Lehigh County portions of the city, and cut weeds must be hauled away at the time of cutting.
Bethlehem Noxious Weed Height Limit
Some RestrictionsCodified Ordinances of the City of Bethlehem § 1161.07(b)
No person owning or holding real estate shall allow or maintain on any lot within the corporate limits any growth of noxious weeds to a height over one (1) foot if such weeds are within two hundred (200) feet of any buildings or any public right of way. Weeds cut on properties in violation of this ordinance must be removed from the property at the time of cutting.
Water Restrictions
Bethlehem can order mandatory water conservation during a supply shortage, and the first thing it bans is outdoor watering: § 911.12 lists sprinkling lawns, shrubs, gardens, and other vegetation as a nonessential use once mandatory measures take effect, alongside car washing and pool filling.
Bethlehem Lawn Watering Restrictions During Shortages
Some RestrictionsCodified Ordinances of the City of Bethlehem § 911.12
(a) General. If the City is experiencing a short-term supply shortage, the City may request general conservation of inside water uses and may impose mandatory conservation measures to reduce or eliminate nonessential use of water. (b) Voluntary Conservation. The City shall first request voluntary curtailment of all non-essential uses of water. (c) Mandatory Conservation. If voluntary cooperatio...
Rainwater Harvesting
Bethlehem's stormwater ordinance treats rain barrels and cisterns as an approved Capture/Reuse best management practice for regulated construction sites. Under Codified Ordinances Article 925, a Capture/Reuse system sized to treat the whole required Water Quality Volume is the only BMP a site needs, because the ordinance rates its performance above bioretention and other non-infiltration BMPs.
Bethlehem Rainwater Capture as Approved Stormwater BMP
Some RestrictionsCodified Ordinances of the City of Bethlehem §§ 925.11 and 925.15.O
Capture/Reuse – Stormwater management techniques such as cisterns and rain barrels which direct runoff into storage devices, surface or sub-surface, for later re-use, such as for irrigation of gardens and other planted areas. Because this stormwater is utilized and no pollutant discharge results, water quality performance is superior to other non-infiltration BMPs. ... If this BMP is used to tr...
Native Plants
Bethlehem's subdivision and land development code encourages native plant species in required landscaping but does not mandate them. Section 1349.19 sets the City's landscaping standards for new development and expressly favors native trees, shrubs and plantings over ornamental or non-native stock.
Bethlehem Native Plant Landscaping Standards
Light RestrictionsCodified Ordinances of the City of Bethlehem § 1349.19.C
C. Other Landscaping Provisions. 1. Existing healthy mature trees shall be preserved wherever practical and protected during construction. The areas under the canopy of trees to be preserved may be required to be surrounded by temporary fencing, to avoid damage to trees and compaction of soil during construction. 2. Plant materials shall be liberally located throughout the site. Massing of mult...