Landscaping Rules in Hendersonville, TN (2026)
8 verified landscaping rules for Hendersonville, Tennessee, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Grass Height Limits
The City of Hendersonville has adopted the 2021 International Property Maintenance Code (IPMC) by Ordinance No. 2025-05, enforced by the Property Maintenance Inspector (615-590-4662) at 3 Executive Park Drive. Under IPMC § 302.4 (Weeds), all premises and exterior property must be maintained free from weeds or plant growth in excess of the jurisdictionally adopted maximum (Hendersonville enforces the IPMC default of 10 inches absent a higher local figure). Tall grass and litter on private property are handled jointly by Property Maintenance and Zoning Enforcement.
Hendersonville TN Grass & Weed Height — IPMC 2021 (Property Maintenance)
Some RestrictionsTree Trimming
Hendersonville has been a Tree City USA community for 32 years (designated by the Arbor Day Foundation through 2023) and also received a Tree City USA Growth Award (26 years), so it maintains a tree care ordinance and an annual community forestry budget of at least $2 per capita. The City does not require a permit for routine pruning of healthy trees on private residential property. Pruning of public/right-of-way trees and trees within Old Hickory Lake's USACE-managed shoreline buffer requires advance authorization. Tennessee common law (UT Extension SP687) allows an adjoining landowner to trim overhanging branches back to the property line.
Hendersonville TN Tree Trimming — Tree City USA Standards, Common-Law Boundary Rule
Some RestrictionsTree Removal & Heritage Trees
The City of Hendersonville Planning Department issues a Tree Removal Permit (application and checklist available under Application & Submittal Information). Tree Survey and Tree Removal documents are required components of a Land Disturbance Permit ($50 application fee + $10,000/acre surety), making tree-removal review mandatory for any site triggering land disturbance. On unregulated single-family residential lots, removal of a healthy tree generally does not require a City permit, but trees within the USACE-managed Old Hickory Lake shoreline buffer require federal approval. TCA § 43-28-312 imposes double (negligent) and triple (intentional) damages for unauthorized cutting of another's timber.
Hendersonville TN Tree Removal — Tree Removal Permit Required on Regulated Sites
Some RestrictionsWeed Ordinances
Hendersonville regulates weeds through the 2021 International Property Maintenance Code (adopted by Ord. No. 2025-05). IPMC § 302.4 prohibits weeds or plant growth in excess of the adopted maximum and defines 'weeds' as 'all grasses, annual plants and vegetation' other than cultivated flowers and gardens. There is no standalone Tennessee statewide residential noxious-weed list; the Tennessee Invasive Plant Council (TN-IPC, formerly TN-EPPC) publishes the authoritative invasive-plant list used statewide and routinely cited in municipal tree and landscape ordinances. Enforcement is by the City Property Maintenance Inspector.
Hendersonville TN Weed Ordinance — IPMC § 302.4 + TN-EPPC Invasive List
Some RestrictionsWater Restrictions
Hendersonville is served by the Hendersonville Utility District (HUD), an independent utility serving more than 45,000 people in 14,000 homes/businesses across the greater Hendersonville area. HUD draws from Old Hickory Lake (Cumberland River system) via its intake near Rockland Park, treating water at a state-of-the-art plant dedicated in 2014. The City of Hendersonville does not own or operate water utilities. Tennessee has no statewide outdoor-watering schedule, and HUD does not impose routine year-round watering restrictions. White House Utility District serves portions of the area.
Hendersonville TN Water Restrictions — HUD / Old Hickory Lake Supply
Few RestrictionsRainwater Harvesting
Rainwater harvesting is legal and unregulated for residential non-potable use throughout Tennessee, including Hendersonville. There are no volume limits, no permit requirements, and no equipment/inspection requirements at the state level. The Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC) Permanent Stormwater Management Manual recognizes rainwater harvesting (Chapter 5.4.10) as an approved Stormwater Control Measure. Hendersonville's Title 18 stormwater program (revised September 10, 2024) treats green infrastructure favorably for development-site stormwater credits.
Hendersonville TN Rainwater Harvesting — Legal & Unrestricted Under Tennessee Law
Few RestrictionsNative Plants
Hendersonville does not mandate native landscaping on private residential property, but the City's landscape standards require that 'for each development site, at least 75 percent of the trees required to be planted under the provisions of this article shall be native species.' The Tree Selection Notes template on the Planning Department's submittal page guides applicants in selecting native and adapted species. Tennessee's state tree is the tulip poplar (Liriodendron tulipifera) per TCA § 4-1-305. Property owners may remove TN-IPC-listed invasive species without City restriction.
Hendersonville TN Native Plants — 75% Native Standard on Required Plantings
Some RestrictionsArtificial Turf
The City of Hendersonville does not have a specific ordinance prohibiting or regulating artificial turf on residential lots. Synthetic turf may be installed in rear and side yards without City permits. In required landscape areas under the City's landscape standards (street trees, bufferyards, parking-lot interior landscaping, screening), live plant material is required and artificial turf typically does not satisfy required-plantings standards. HOA covenants are commonly the operative restriction on synthetic turf in Hendersonville subdivisions and are enforceable independent of City rules.
Hendersonville TN Artificial Turf — No Specific Prohibition; Landscape Standards Apply
Few RestrictionsLooking for Sumner County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Hendersonville city rules.
Landscaping Rules in Sumner County →