Landscaping Rules in Cary, NC (2026)
7 verified landscaping rules for Cary, North Carolina, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Tree Trimming
Cary requires overhanging vegetation above streets, sidewalks and greenways to keep minimum clearance, from eight feet over sidewalks up to sixteen feet over designated thoroughfare streets.
Cary, NC Street Tree Clearance Rule
Some RestrictionsCary Code of Ordinances § 18-11(b)(1)
The minimum vertical (overhead) clearance of any vegetation overhanging any street, sidewalk, greenway, bicycle path/lane, or right-of-way or portion thereof shall be eight feet over sidewalks and greenways and 14 feet over all other rights-of-way except thoroughfare streets (as defined by the future roadway widths map of the Imagine Cary Community Plan) which shall have a clearance of 16 feet....
Tree Removal & Heritage Trees
Cary's Land Development Ordinance requires builders to fence off and protect existing trees marked for preservation before grading begins, with signage warning workers to stay out of the protected zone.
Cary NC Tree Protection During Construction
Some RestrictionsCary Land Development Ordinance § 7.2.5(B)(1)-(2)(a) (current through Ord. No. 2025-CODE-02, eff. 5-22-2025)
During development of the property, the owner, developer, and/or builder shall be responsible for the erection of tree protection fencing to protect existing and/or installed vegetation from damage during development and prior to certificate of occupancy for buildings/structures... All existing trees and vegetation that are to be preserved shall be completely encircled and enclosed within a fen...
Weed Ordinances
The Town of Cary bars any responsible person from letting vegetation grow past eight inches near streets, sidewalks, or buildings, with exceptions carved out for heavily wooded lots and defined landscaped areas.
Cary 8-Inch Vegetation Height Limit
Some RestrictionsCary Code of Ordinances § 18-6(a)
No responsible person shall allow or maintain any vegetation to exceed eight inches in height unless it is located: (1) Within a heavily wooded lot or landscaped area; or (2) More than 100 feet from any abutting street, alley, greenway, bicycle path/lane, or sidewalk; or (3) More than 100 feet from any adjoining property which contains a dwelling or commercial building; or (4) More than 50 feet...
Water Restrictions
The Town of Cary limits outdoor irrigation from its water system to alternate days assigned by street address, with hand-held watering exempt.
Cary Alternate-Day Watering Rule
Some RestrictionsCary Code of Ordinances § 36-80
No person shall use potable water supplied by the town water system to irrigate the landscape on any property except on alternate days assigned to that property for irrigating the landscape. The days of the week on which irrigation of the landscape can take place at a particular property shall be determined by that property's street address. The Town Manager or designee shall develop a Standard...
Rainwater Harvesting
The Town of Cary's alternate-day watering rule for landscape irrigation applies only to potable town water, so harvested rainwater is unrestricted for lawn or garden use.
Cary NC Rainwater Harvesting for Irrigation
Few RestrictionsCary Code of Ordinances § 36-80(b)
No person shall use potable water supplied by the town water system to irrigate the landscape on any property except on alternate days assigned to that property for irrigating the landscape. The days of the week on which irrigation of the landscape can take place at a particular property shall be determined by that property's street address. The Town Manager or designee shall develop a Standard...
Native Plants
The Town of Cary exempts intentionally planted landscaped areas and heavily wooded lots from its 8-inch vegetation height cap, letting Wake and Chatham County residents keep native or naturalized plantings instead of mowed turf.
Cary Natural Landscape Exemption
Light RestrictionsCary Code of Ordinances § 18-6(a), (b)(2)
No responsible person shall allow or maintain any vegetation to exceed eight inches in height unless it is located: (1) Within a heavily wooded lot or landscaped area... Landscaped areas and heavily wooded lot vegetation shall not grow upon, overhang, or otherwise encroach into the public right-of-way nor into adjoining properties.
Composting
Cary allows residential composting of on-site waste as long as the pile sits at least 25 feet from any dwelling, excludes meat, dairy, and most pet waste, and creates no odor or pests.
Cary, NC Backyard Composting Rules
Some RestrictionsCary Code of Ordinances § 18-15(b)-(d)
Waste materials being composted must be generated on the property where the composting takes place. Composting activity shall not occur within 25 feet of any structure which is used for dwelling purposes unless being done with the permission of the owner of the structure. Materials being composted shall not include human body wastes; meat or dairy waste products; or fecal wastes from dogs, cats...
Looking for Wake County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Cary city rules.
Landscaping Rules in Wake County →