Landscaping Rules in Grand Forks, ND (2026)
5 verified landscaping rules for Grand Forks, North Dakota, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Tree Trimming
Grand Forks City Code makes every property owner and tenant responsible for trimming shade trees along the public street or avenue they adjoin so branches never block travel or tangle with utility wires. Under Section 17-0203 the city engineer and city forester can step in and cut back any tree between the sidewalk and curb whenever the utility lines need protecting, without waiting on the property owner to act first.
Grand Forks Tree Trimming Duty Near Streets
Some RestrictionsGrand Forks City Code §§ 17-0202, 17-0203
17-0202. - Duty of tenants to trim. It shall be the duty of all persons, whether owners or tenants, to keep the shade trees along the public streets and avenues adjoining such property trimmed in such a manner that said trees shall not interfere with travel on said streets and avenues and also so as to not interfere with the utility wires within the city. ... 17-0203. - Authority to trim. The c...
Tree Removal & Heritage Trees
The City of Grand Forks declares any elm tree infected with Dutch elm disease a public nuisance, and the Park Commission of the Grand Forks Park District can inspect and remove it. On private property the owner gets five days' notice before removal, but that notice can be waived.
Grand Forks Diseased Elm Tree Removal Authority
Significant RestrictionsGrand Forks City Code §§ 10-0301, 10-0302
In the interests of the general welfare of the City of Grand Forks and the citizens thereof, any elm tree within the City of Grand Forks which is infected with, or hereafter becomes infected with Dutch elm disease is declared to be a public nuisance. ... The Park Commission of the Park District of the City of Grand Forks is hereby authorized, directed and empowered to inspect any tree within th...
Weed Ordinances
Grand Forks caps grass and weeds at eight inches under section 10-0703, declaring anything predominantly taller a public nuisance on every lot, right-of-way, berm and boulevard in the city between April 1 and November 1 each year. Section 10-0704 makes exceeding that height unlawful for the owner or occupant, and the public health department can abate the nuisance and assess the cost against the property.
Grand Forks Tall Grass and Weed Height Limit
Some RestrictionsGrand Forks City Code §§ 10-0703, 10-0704
10-0703. - Declaration of public nuisance. All tall grass and weeds predominantly exceeding eight (8) inches in height growing within the limits of the city are hereby declared to be a public nuisance, except as otherwise provided herein. ... by cutting or destroying them as required herein between April 1 and November 1 of each year. ... 10-0704. - Unlawful act. (1)It shall be unlawful for the...
Water Restrictions
Grand Forks City Code Article 3 of Chapter XV lets the city representative, with the city administrator's concurrence, impose mandatory water conservation measures, including irrigation and watering restrictions, whenever drought or a supply shortage threatens the city's water system. The specific rules apply through a drought management and demand reduction plan the city adopted by reference.
Grand Forks Drought Water Conservation Authority
Some RestrictionsGrand Forks City Code §§ 15-0301, 15-0302, 15-0303, 15-0304
Environmental conditions such as drought or other uncontrollable circumstances can disrupt the normal availability of the city's water supply. ... Upon a determination by the city representative that the city's water supply is insufficient or inadequate because of: A drought that results in source water shortage; a general water supply shortage; the treatment capacity of the Grand Forks water t...
Native Plants
In the City of Grand Forks, the planning director can approve alternative landscaping plans that swap required plantings for native plants, grasses and naturalized features like stone, mounding, swales, raingardens or bio-swales, instead of forcing a standard bufferyard or parking-lot planting layout.
Grand Forks Native Plant Landscaping Rule
Few RestrictionsGrand Forks City Code § 18-0309(11)(A)(4)(a)
(11)Administrative approval for practical landscaping improvements.(A)The planning director has authority to allow flexibility to the requirements of this section to enable: ... 4.Flexibility to approve alternative planting plans that include:(a)Native plants (included grasses) along with naturalized landscape features such as stone, mounding, or swales and/or stormwater management features suc...