Landscaping Rules in Lexington, KY (2026)
5 verified landscaping rules for Lexington, Kentucky, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Tree Trimming
Street trees in Lexington-Fayette's right-of-way must be kept clear of sidewalks and streets, minimum overhead clearance is 7 feet over sidewalks, 12 feet over ordinary streets, and 14 feet over truck routes, and owners bear the maintenance duty, while severe 'topping' cuts are separately banned.
Lexington Street Tree Clearance Standard
Some RestrictionsLexington-Fayette Code of Ordinances § 17B-8
Owners of street trees shall provide reasonable care and maintenance to trees within the urban county government right-of-way or tree planting easement, including as appropriate, watering, pruning, insect control and removal of dead or diseased limbs, and removal of any vine or other invasive plant or growth that masks potential defects of the tree. It shall be unlawful for the owner or occupan...
Tree Removal & Heritage Trees
No one may remove a street tree over 3 inches in diameter from Lexington-Fayette's right-of-way without a permit from the division of environmental services. Permits issue routinely for dead or dying trees but only in special circumstances for a live one, and the division can also order removal itself.
Lexington Street Tree Removal Permit Rule
Significant RestrictionsLexington-Fayette Code of Ordinances § 17B-3
No person shall remove a tree larger than three (3) inches in diameter, measured at a point four and one-half (4½) feet above the ground within the urban county government right-of-way without obtaining a permit from the division of environmental services. The permit shall be granted provided the tree to be removed is dead or dying. The division of environmental services may issue permits for t...
Weed Ordinances
Lexington-Fayette makes it unlawful for any owner to let weeds or grass grow past 10 inches anywhere on a property, including the strip between the sidewalk and the street, and repeat violators within two years face escalating civil fines up to $1,500 on top of the standard $100-to-$2,500 nuisance fine.
Lexington 10-Inch Weed and Grass Limit
Some RestrictionsCode of Ordinances § 12-2
Weed shall mean any plant, bush, vine and other vegetation, whether classified as edible or not, that grows in an aggressive or invasive manner and/or is unmaintained, undesirable, or may cause blight on the property. ... It shall be unlawful for the owner to permit any weeds, or grass, edible or not, to grow to a height exceeding ten (10) inches anywhere on such premises, including those porti...
Native Plants
Lexington-Fayette's nuisance code carves out an explicit exemption for native, naturalized landscaping from its weed and grass height rule. Under Sec. 12-2, plantings intended for food, fiber, pollinator habitat, erosion control, stormwater management or soil health are not treated as a nuisance, provided the property owner keeps managing the site rather than letting it go wild.
Lexington's Native Plant Naturalization Exemption
Few RestrictionsLexington-Fayette Urban County Government Code of Ordinances § 12-2
This section shall also not apply to native plantings for the purpose of intentional naturalization, which includes plantings used for food or fiber, for aesthetic purposes, to attract or promote pollinators, to offset and control soil loss or erosion, to promote storm water control or water conservation, or to improve the soil. Naturalization does not include vegetation abandonment which is de...
Composting
Lexington-Fayette regulates backyard compost piles through its general nuisance code. Sec. 12-2 requires every compost pile on a property to sit in a clearly definable area, stay out of ordinary public view, and avoid becoming a magnet for vermin, insects or animals, or a nuisance, health hazard, safety issue or fire concern in its own right.
Lexington Compost Pile Placement Rules
Some RestrictionsLexington-Fayette Urban County Government Code of Ordinances § 12-2
Any compost pile located on a property must be maintained in a clearly definable area and out of ordinary public view. It shall not attract vermin, insects or animals nor shall it create a nuisance, health hazard, safety issue or fire concern.