Landscaping Rules in Fargo, ND (2026)
5 verified landscaping rules for Fargo, North Dakota, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Tree Trimming
Fargo Municipal Code § 19-0202 requires owners of property adjoining public rights-of-way to keep trees, shrubs, and vegetation pruned so they don't interfere with travel on streets, avenues, alleys, and sidewalks.
Fargo Owners Must Prune Trees Over Sidewalks
Some RestrictionsFargo Municipal Code § 19-0202
It shall be the duty of all property owners to keep trees, shrubs and other vegetation which are located on private property and adjoin public property or public rights-of-way pruned so as to avoid interference with travel on streets, avenues, alleys, and sidewalks.
Tree Removal & Heritage Trees
Fargo requires a written permit from the city forester before anyone plants, removes, cuts, or prunes any tree or shrub within a street, alley, boulevard, or public right-of-way, with violations treated as infractions.
Fargo Public Tree Removal Permit Required
Some RestrictionsFargo Municipal Code § 19-0203
No person, firm or corporation shall hereafter plant, cause to be planted, remove, destroy, cut, deface, prune, or interfere with any tree or shrub within the limits of any street, alley, boulevard or other public way of the city...without first having obtained a written permit from the city forester.
Weed Ordinances
Fargo law caps grass and weed growth at eight inches on private lots, alleys, and street rights-of-way, with the health department empowered to mow noncompliant properties and bill the owner for the cost.
Fargo's 8-Inch Grass Height Limit
Some RestrictionsFargo Municipal Code § 11-0805
No stagnant water shall be allowed to stand or remain, noxious or other weeds, or grass allowed to grow more than eight inches (8") in length upon or along the line of any railroad, street, highway, alley, public place, along or upon any vacant or other lot or real estate parcel, public or private, or other place within the city. For purposes of this article, "noxious weeds" shall mean any spec...
Water Restrictions
Fargo's water department can impose a lawn and garden irrigation schedule once the city commission declares a drought severity phase, under regulations issued by the enterprise director.
Fargo Lawn Watering Drought Restrictions
Some RestrictionsFargo Municipal Code § 16-0904
The enterprise director is authorized to promulgate regulations describing restrictions and limitations on the use of water as well as affirmative action to be required by persons using water for one or more of the five drought severity phases, approved by a resolution of the board of city commissioners. The regulations may also include a schedule for irrigation or watering of golf courses, gar...
Composting
Fargo allows backyard compost piles as an exception to its rubbish-nuisance ban, but only if the pile is properly contained and doesn't turn into a health nuisance.
Fargo Backyard Composting Rules
Light RestrictionsFargo Municipal Code § 11-0801
The collection, storage, or presence of such substances shall be deemed a nuisance and shall be abated by the health officer or his designee. This section does not apply to accumulation or storage of vegetation or other organic material in a properly contained compost pile unless in the opinion of the health officer, or his designee, such compost pile becomes a public health nuisance.
Looking for Cass County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Fargo city rules.
Landscaping Rules in Cass County →