Landscaping Rules in Kirkwood, MO (2026)
5 verified landscaping rules for Kirkwood, Missouri, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Tree Removal & Heritage Trees
Removing a street tree in Kirkwood's right-of-way is not a homeowner's call. Section 24-3 requires a permit to remove, reviewed by the Urban Forester, and if the tree is not a safety hazard the request goes to the Kirkwood Urban Forestry Commission, which can recommend approval, require a replacement tree, or deny removal outright.
Kirkwood Public Tree Removal Permit
Significant RestrictionsKirkwood Code of Ordinances § 24-3(c)(2)
(2) Permit to remove. If a property owner desires to remove a public tree located in the right-of-way adjacent to their property, the property owner shall apply for a permit to remove. The Urban Forester, or appointed representative, shall review the application and inspect the tree. The review shall result in one of the following: a. If the tree requested for removal is determined to be a haza...
Weed Ordinances
Kirkwood caps grass and weeds on private property at seven inches under Code § 16-2(i). Anything taller, including growth on privately owned land that carries a public easement such as a street right-of-way, is declared a nuisance the City can order cut and, if ignored, cut itself at the owner's expense.
Kirkwood Weed and Grass Height Limit
Some RestrictionsKirkwood Code of Ordinances § 16-2(i)
Any weeds on private property over seven inches in height. As used herein, the term "private property" includes property owned privately but subject to a public easement, including dedicated street rights-of-way.
Water Restrictions
During a declared water supply emergency, Kirkwood cuts outdoor watering to protect the system. A Level I alert limits sprinklers and hoses to an odd-even schedule tied to your street address; a Level II alert bans all outdoor watering outright, allowing only indoor uses like drinking, cooking, and hygiene.
Kirkwood Odd-Even Outdoor Watering Alert
Significant RestrictionsKirkwood Code of Ordinances § 23-120.1
Level I water alert. Only the use of water for the following: personal hygiene, cooking, dishwashing, clothes washing, and consumption by persons and animals, and outdoor watering subject to the following regulation: Homes with a street address ending with an even number may use water for outdoor purposes on even-numbered dates. Homes with a street address ending with an odd number may use wate...
Native Plants
Kirkwood's landscaping code encourages using and maintaining native plant materials on new development sites, per § 25-58(d) of the Zoning and Subdivision Code, though it sets no native-species quota. The same subsection does mandate minimum sizes for canopy trees, understory trees, evergreens and shrubs, and requires a landscaping plan for projects under Planning and Zoning Commission review.
Kirkwood Native Plant Landscaping Rule
Few RestrictionsKirkwood Code of Ordinances § 25-58(d)
Planting requirements. A list of desirable and undesirable tree species can be found in the document titled "Street Tree Selections for Kirkwood," a copy of which can be obtained from the Department of Public Services. The use and maintenance of native plant materials is encouraged.
Composting
Kirkwood limits compost piles to five feet in height and caps their footprint by lot size, from 100 to 400 square feet. Piles must sit at least five feet from property lines and 20 feet from a neighbor's home, patio, or pool.
Kirkwood Backyard Compost Pile Rules
Some RestrictionsKirkwood Code of Ordinances § 10-6(a), (c)
§ 10-6. Compost piles. ... (a) Maintenance. All compost piles shall be maintained using approved composting procedures and shall meet the following provisions: (1) Compost piles or compost bins shall be no taller than five feet and no larger in area than: a. 100 square feet for lots 7,500 square feet and less. b. 200 square feet for lots over 7,500 square feet to 15,000 square feet. c. 250 squa...
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County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Kirkwood city rules.
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