Landscaping Rules in Dubuque, IA (2026)
5 verified landscaping rules for Dubuque, Iowa, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Tree Removal & Heritage Trees
Dubuque requires written permission from the city manager before anyone plants or removes a tree in the public right of way, under City Code Section 6-8-1(A). A companion provision, Section 10-1-2(B), separately requires a permit from the city forester before an abutting property owner removes diseased trees or dead wood on that same right of way.
Dubuque Right-of-Way Tree Removal Permit
Significant RestrictionsDubuque City Code Section 6-8-1(A)
A. Planting And Removal; Permission Required: It shall be unlawful for any person, firm or corporation to plant or remove trees in the public right of way without the written permission of the city manager or the city manager's designee, and upon such terms and conditions as the city manager shall require.
Weed Ordinances
Dubuque City Code section 6-8-2 makes it the duty of every property owner to keep any lot or parcel free of dense weeds, vines, brush or other vegetation that creates a health, safety or fire hazard, and it declares such growth a public nuisance. The section sets no numeric height limit; the standard is the hazard itself, enforced through certified-mail notice, a hearing right and city cutting with cost recovery.
Dubuque Weed Abatement Nuisance Ordinance
Some RestrictionsDubuque City Code § 6-8-2
A. Duty Of Owner To Remove: It shall be the duty of the owner of any lot or parcel of land within the limits of the city to maintain the same free and clear of any dense growth of weeds, vines, brush or other vegetation that may constitute a health, safety or fire hazard and any such growth is hereby declared a public nuisance. ... B. Notice To Owner To Remove; Hearing; Costs: Whenever the city...
Rainwater Harvesting
In the City of Dubuque, developers may count cisterns and rain barrels that capture roof and downspout water toward the two-or-more low impact development tools required for site stormwater management. There is no separate ban or permit fee just for installing one.
Dubuque Rainwater Harvesting as Stormwater Tool
Few RestrictionsDubuque City Code § 16-13-3-4
Stormwater management systems shall be designed in accordance with the requirements of title 14, chapter 12 of this code, as amended. The site, including parking lots, shall be developed using two (2) or more of the following low impact development tools or other best management practices approved by the city engineer: ... ... G. Rainwater Harvesting Systems: Cisterns and rain barrels that harv...
Native Plants
In the City of Dubuque, native plantings count as one of the low impact development tools a site can use to meet the two-or-more stormwater management requirement. Native species are recognized for cutting runoff and irrigation needs, not restricted or mandated on their own.
Dubuque Native Plantings Stormwater Credit
Few RestrictionsDubuque City Code § 16-13-3-4
The site, including parking lots, shall be developed using two (2) or more of the following low impact development tools or other best management practices approved by the city engineer: ... ... J. Native Plantings: Use of native plants to reduce the need for irrigation and reduce runoff. Native plants also slow runoff and improve infiltration or filtration with their deep, fibrous root systems.
Composting
Dubuque only treats a backyard compost pile as legal, not a public nuisance, if it stays under 5 feet tall and 75 square feet, sits screened from the street, and keeps a 20-foot gap from a neighbor's house and 3 feet from the property line under City Code § 6-4-2.
Dubuque Compost Pile Size And Setback Rules
Some RestrictionsDubuque City Code §§ 6-4-2, 6-4-3(A)(2)
COMPOST PILE: ... A collection of yard waste and kitchen food wastes, but specifically excluding bones, meat, fat, grease, oil, raw dog or cat manure, which collection in nonmanufactured composting units is screened from the street view, is located in a confined area, is no taller than five feet (5') high and no larger than seventy five (75) square feet in area, is located more than twenty feet...