Landscaping Rules in Bloomington, IN (2026)
6 verified landscaping rules for Bloomington, Indiana, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Tree Trimming
In the City of Bloomington, tree canopies must clear fifteen feet above any street surface and eight feet above any sidewalk. Owners must remove or trim dead, diseased or hazardous branches that overhang public property, keep growth off traffic signs, intersection sightlines and streetlights, and follow the City of Bloomington Tree Care Manual when pruning.
Bloomington Tree Clearance Over Streets, Sidewalks
Some RestrictionsBloomington Municipal Code § 12.24.040
Vegetation planted on public property or in the public right-of-way and trees subject to these provisions shall follow all stipulations set forth by the City of Bloomington Unified Development Ordinance Section 20.04.050(c)(4) and recommended practices in the "City of Bloomington Tree Care Manual." ... Every owner shall remove or have removed all dead, diseased, or dangerous trees or vegetation...
Tree Removal & Heritage Trees
In the City of Bloomington, cutting, removing, or treating a protected tree, or excavating within its drip line, requires a free tree work permit from the department under Bloomington Municipal Code § 12.24.070. When the city itself orders removal of a tree under § 12.24.050, it must post an informational placard on the tree at least ten working days beforehand explaining the reason and the planned removal date.
Tree Removal Rules in the City of Bloomington
Some RestrictionsBloomington Municipal Code § 12.24.050
(1)Except in emergency situations described in Section 12.24.070(3)(b), any tree subject to these provisions that is scheduled for removal by the city shall have an informational placard placed on the tree a minimum of ten working days before tree removal. The placard shall specify the reason for tree removal, projected removal date, and contact information.(2)If removal of a tree subject to th...
Weed Ordinances
Bloomington Municipal Code § 6.06.050 bars any lot owner in the City of Bloomington from letting weeds, grass or noxious plants grow beyond eight inches, or grow enough to become a public health nuisance. HAND or the police department inspect and escalate fines up to $150 within a year.
Bloomington 8-Inch Weed and Grass Height Limit
Some RestrictionsBloomington Municipal Code § 6.06.050
It is unlawful for the owner of any lot or tract of ground within the city to allow it to become overgrown with weeds, grass, or noxious plants beyond the height of eight inches or to such extent that the growth is detrimental to the public health and constitutes a nuisance.
Water Restrictions
In the City of Bloomington, the mayor and the utilities director can declare emergency water-use restrictions during a fire, flood, drought, or other emergency under Bloomington Municipal Code Section 9.04.020. Once the city publishes notice, it becomes unlawful to use water for whatever purposes the notice names, except for household use and firefighting, which stay unrestricted.
Bloomington Emergency Water Use Restrictions
Some RestrictionsBloomington Municipal Code § 9.04.020
In the event of fire, flood, drought or other emergency, the mayor and the utilities director shall provide notice of the emergency by publication in a newspaper of general circulation in the city. After notice has been given, it shall be unlawful to use water for any and all purposes specified in the notice, except domestic household use and fire purposes.
Native Plants
Bloomington's Unified Development Ordinance requires every green infrastructure facility, meaning detention basins, bioswales and raingardens built as part of a development project, to be planted with only native seed or native plugs, carrying out the landscaping chapter's stated purpose of protecting the biodiversity and ecological services native species and ecosystems provide.
Bloomington Requires Native Plants In Green Infrastructure
Some RestrictionsBloomington Municipal Code § 20.04.080(a), (c)(1)(E)
(a)Purpose. ... The landscaping standards are intended to improve Bloomington's vegetated environment and foster development that will protect and preserve the appearance, character, health, safety and welfare of the community. Additionally, the standards are intended to foster an aesthetically pleasing development that will protect and improve Bloomington's biodiversity and the ecological serv...
Composting
In the City of Bloomington, a compost pile kept as part of a noncommercial urban agriculture use cannot exceed six feet in height, and the refuse and compost area must be enclosed at ground level so it is rodent-resistant, under the Unified Development Ordinance's use-specific standards for urban agriculture.
Bloomington Backyard Compost Pile Limits
Some RestrictionsBloomington Municipal Code § 20.03.030(c)(5)(B)(iii)
(5)Urban Agriculture, Noncommercial. ... (B)Operational Standards. ... iii.Compost piles shall not exceed six feet in height. Refuse and compost area shall be enclosed at ground level to be rodent-resistant.