Landscaping Rules in Huntsville, AL (2026)
5 verified landscaping rules for Huntsville, Alabama, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Tree Trimming
Huntsville requires vegetation along streets, sidewalks, and alleys to be pruned to the intersection-visibility clearance standard in Section 25-462, with the city engineer able to order corrections and cite violators for a misdemeanor.
Huntsville Tree Trimming Over Streets, Sidewalks
Some RestrictionsSec. 27-56
The pruning clearances applicable to sidewalks, streets, allies, or any other rights-of-way, traffic control signals or signs, and all street lighting shall be in accordance with the standards adopted in section 25-462 of this Code.
Tree Removal & Heritage Trees
Anyone who removes a public tree six inches or larger in diameter must replant new trees in approximately equal numbers, in a spot approved by the city forester, whether or not a permit was obtained first.
Huntsville Requires Replacement Trees for Removals
Some RestrictionsHuntsville Code of Ordinances Sec. 27-51(d)(2)
Replacement of trees removed by permit. Any person or agency removing trees, by permit, which are six inches or more in d.b.h. shall provide for the planting of new trees in approximately equal numbers and in appropriate locations mutually agreed upon by the city forester and the person obtaining the permit. Failure to obtain a permit when one would be required for removal of a tree shall not r...
Weed Ordinances
Huntsville caps grass and weeds at 8 inches on lots inside a platted subdivision (12 inches on property adjacent to one) as a public nuisance, enforced by the Community Development Division with citations and lien-backed mowing.
Huntsville Weed and Tall Grass Height Limit
Some RestrictionsSec. 27-91.
...any growth of grass or weeds, other than ornamental growth, which exceeds a height of eight inches growing upon any lot or parcel of land within any platted, subdivided, or improved residential, commercial or industrial subdivision, and any growth of grass or weeds, other than ornamental growth, which exceeds a height of 12 inches on property adjacent to a platted, subdivided, or improved re...
Water Restrictions
Huntsville only restricts lawn watering days when its utility declares a water alert or warning stage, at which point sprinkler use is limited to odd or even calendar days matching your street address.
Huntsville Lawn Watering Day Restrictions
Some RestrictionsSec. 26-675
Stage II, mandatory compliance, water alert. Upon implementation by the general manager of Huntsville Utilities...irrigation utilizing individual sprinklers from hoses, or buried sprinkler systems for the purpose of watering lawns, gardens, landscaped areas, trees, shrubs and other plants is prohibited except on designated water use days, which shall be as follows: Odd-numbered street addresses...
Composting
Huntsville lets residents compost yard waste and food scraps at home without a permit, but Sec. 22-43 makes it unlawful to run a compost operation "in such a manner so as to create a nuisance or danger to public health, sanitation or welfare." There's no size or setback limit written into the ordinance: enforcement is complaint-driven.
Huntsville Home Composting Nuisance Rule
Some RestrictionsHuntsville Code of Ordinances Sec. 22-43
It shall be unlawful for any person to engage in home composting operations in such a manner so as to create a nuisance or danger to public health, sanitation or welfare.
Looking for Madison County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Huntsville city rules.
Landscaping Rules in Madison County →