Landscaping Rules in Gaithersburg, MD (2026)
8 verified landscaping rules for Gaithersburg, Maryland, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Grass Height Limits
Grass and weeds exceeding 12 inches in height violate Montgomery County housing code standards (Chapter 26, Section 26-9) enforced within Gaithersburg city limits. The county Department of Housing and Community Affairs (DHCA) handles complaints for rental properties, while Gaithersburg's own Neighborhood Services division enforces on owner-occupied and commercial properties. When a violation is identified through complaint or proactive inspection, the property owner receives a written notice to correct the condition within 7 to 14 days. Failure to mow within the compliance window results in the city or county hiring a contractor to cut the vegetation and billing the full cost to the property owner. If the bill remains unpaid, the cost becomes a lien against the property and can be collected through the tax sale process. Vacant lots receive particular scrutiny during the April through October growing season, when code enforcement officers conduct regular sweeps of known problem properties. HOA communities throughout Gaithersburg may impose stricter grass height requirements than the 12-inch county standard.
Gaithersburg Grass Height Limits
Some RestrictionsTree Trimming
Trees overhanging public sidewalks and streets in Gaithersburg must maintain a minimum clearance of 8 feet above sidewalks and 14 feet above streets to ensure safe passage for pedestrians and vehicles. Property owners are responsible for trimming their own trees that encroach into these clearance zones, even if the trunk is on private property. Roadside trees planted within the public right-of-way along county-maintained roads are regulated under Montgomery County Code Chapter 49 (Roadside Trees) and require a permit from the county Department of Transportation before any cutting, trimming, or removal work is performed. A concurrent permit from the Maryland Department of Natural Resources is also required for roadside tree work under the state Roadside Tree Law (Natural Resources Article 5-406). Private trees on residential property can generally be trimmed without a government permit, as long as the work does not kill the tree and does not involve a specimen tree protected under the Forest Conservation Law (Chapter 22A). Utility companies including Pepco and BGE maintain their own trimming rights along power line corridors.
Gaithersburg Tree Trimming Regulations
Some RestrictionsMontgomery County DOT – Roadside Tree Protection Law; Street Tree Protection Law 41-12
MCDOT Division of Highway Services maintains over 250,000 trees in the dedicated county right of way and another 200,000 in rural areas. Any tree growing in a street right-of-way is a county-owned tree. Note that it is not always obvious where the street right-of-way ends and private property begins. The line can be several feet into a front yard beyond the edge of the sidewalk or street. The c...
Tree Removal & Heritage Trees
Gaithersburg enforces the Montgomery County Forest Conservation Law (Chapter 22A), the Roadside Tree Law (Chapter 49), and the Tree Canopy Law (Chapter 55), creating one of the strongest tree protection frameworks in the Washington DC metropolitan area. Permits are required for removing roadside trees or any trees on properties subject to active forest conservation plans. Development projects must meet specific tree canopy coverage targets, and the county has established a long-term goal of achieving 70 percent tree canopy coverage countywide. The Forest Conservation Law applies to all development activity on lots of 40,000 square feet (roughly one acre) or larger and requires submission and approval of a forest conservation plan before any clearing or grading begins. The Tree Canopy Law (Chapter 55) requires new subdivision and site plan development to plant or preserve a minimum percentage of tree canopy based on the zoning district. For individual residential lots under 40,000 square feet, a property owner may generally remove a private tree without a county permit, but HOA covenants, site plan conditions, and any recorded forest conservation easements may impose additional restrictions that survive from the original development approval.
Gaithersburg Tree Removal and Canopy Ordinance
Heavy RestrictionsWeed Ordinances
Weeds and rank vegetation exceeding 12 inches in height are prohibited on all properties within Gaithersburg under Montgomery County Code Chapter 26 (Section 26-9). The Gaithersburg Neighborhood Services division enforces weed and vegetation complaints on owner-occupied and commercial properties within city limits, while the county Department of Housing and Community Affairs (DHCA) handles rental properties. The enforcement process follows the same notice-and-abatement procedure used for grass height violations: a written notice with a 7 to 14 day compliance window, followed by city or county abatement at the owner's expense if not corrected. Separately and significantly, the Montgomery County Pesticide Law (Bill 52-14, effective January 1, 2018) restricts the use of cosmetic (non-essential) pesticides on lawns, playgrounds, mulched areas, and childcare facilities throughout the county, including Gaithersburg. This means many conventional weed-killing herbicides such as glyphosate-based products cannot be applied on residential lawns. Organic and EPA 25(b) exempt-product alternatives must be used instead for routine lawn weed control, fundamentally changing how Gaithersburg homeowners manage weeds.
Gaithersburg Weed Ordinance
Some RestrictionsWater Restrictions
Gaithersburg is served by WSSC Water (Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission), the bi-county water and sewer utility for Montgomery and Prince George's counties. Mandatory outdoor watering restrictions activate during drought emergencies declared by the Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) under COMAR 26.03.04. Outside of declared drought conditions, no permanent watering schedule is imposed on Gaithersburg residents, unlike many western and southern cities that enforce year-round irrigation schedules. During a drought watch, voluntary conservation is requested. During a drought warning, odd-even address watering schedules may take effect. During a full drought emergency, all non-essential outdoor water use is prohibited, including lawn irrigation, car washing, and filling swimming pools. WSSC may also impose excess-use surcharges during declared emergencies. Gaithersburg falls entirely within the Chesapeake Bay watershed, which adds an environmental conservation dimension to all water management and fertilizer policies under the Maryland Fertilizer Use Act of 2011.
Gaithersburg Water Restrictions
Some RestrictionsRainwater Harvesting
Rainwater harvesting is legal and actively encouraged in Gaithersburg and throughout Maryland. The state offers a Rain Barrel Tax Credit that provides a subtraction modification on Maryland state income tax for the cost of purchasing and installing qualifying rain barrels. Montgomery County promotes rain barrel installation as part of its Chesapeake Bay watershed stormwater management strategy. No permit is required for standard residential rain barrels (typically 55 gallons) connected to gutter downspouts. WSSC charges a Water Quality Protection Charge (WQPC) based on the amount of impervious surface on a property, and homeowners who install rain barrels, rain gardens, or other on-site stormwater management practices may qualify for a credit reducing their annual WQPC assessment. The county RainScapes Rebate Program offers financial incentives of up to $2,500 per residential property for stormwater management projects including rain barrels, rain gardens, permeable pavement, dry wells, and conservation landscaping with native plants. These programs reflect the strong policy emphasis on reducing stormwater runoff to protect the Chesapeake Bay.
Gaithersburg Rainwater Harvesting Rules
Few RestrictionsNative Plants
Gaithersburg and Montgomery County actively promote native plant landscaping as a core strategy for Chesapeake Bay watershed restoration, stormwater management, and pollinator habitat support. The county RainScapes Rebate Program offers financial incentives of up to $2,500 per residential property for conservation landscaping projects that incorporate native species, which reduce stormwater runoff, filter pollutants, and support native bees, butterflies, and birds. Maryland law (Environment Article 9-1701) protects homeowners' rights to install native plant and pollinator-friendly gardens, preventing HOAs from imposing outright bans on native landscaping even when community covenants otherwise regulate yard appearance. The Montgomery County Pesticide Law (Bill 52-14) indirectly supports native plant ecosystems by restricting the use of cosmetic pesticides on residential lawns, reducing chemical exposure to pollinators and other beneficial insects. The county Department of Environmental Protection maintains a recommended native plant list specifically curated for the Piedmont region where Gaithersburg is located, and several city parks feature native plant demonstration gardens showcasing appropriate species.
Gaithersburg Native Plant Policies
Few RestrictionsArtificial Turf
Gaithersburg does not prohibit artificial turf on residential properties, and no city or Montgomery County ordinance specifically bans or restricts synthetic grass installation for homeowners. No building permit is typically required for residential artificial turf unless the installation involves significant grading or drainage modifications. However, several practical considerations affect Gaithersburg homeowners considering artificial turf. Depending on the drainage backing material, artificial turf may be classified as impervious or semi-impervious surface, which could affect stormwater management calculations if the turf area combined with existing impervious surfaces (driveway, patio, roof footprint) exceeds county Environmental Site Design (ESD) thresholds for the lot. Large turf installations may also trigger adjustments to the WSSC Water Quality Protection Charge. Many Gaithersburg neighborhoods are governed by HOAs with architectural review requirements that may restrict or require approval for artificial turf installation, so checking community covenants before purchasing materials is essential. Unlike drought-prone western states, Montgomery County does not offer water conservation rebates for artificial turf since the region generally has adequate rainfall.
Gaithersburg Artificial Turf Regulations
Few RestrictionsLooking for Montgomery County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Gaithersburg city rules.
Landscaping Rules in Montgomery County →