Landscaping Rules in Lincoln, NE (2026)
5 verified landscaping rules for Lincoln, Nebraska, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Tree Trimming
Lincoln's Parks and Recreation Department may trim any street tree without a permit to keep a ten-foot clearance over sidewalks and a fourteen-foot clearance over streets and alleys used by vehicles.
Lincoln Street Tree Clearance Rule
Some RestrictionsLincoln Municipal Code § 12.20.060
Further, the city may trim all trees in or upon any street, parkway, sidewalk space, or other public way so that there is a clearance of ten feet over sidewalks and fourteen feet over the portion of public streets and alleys used for vehicular traffic. (Ord. 18168 §7; April 28, 2003: Ord. 16111 §1; May 11, 1992: P.C. §12.20.035: Ord. 11310 §1; March 24, 1975: Ord. 10129 §6; March 22, 1971).
Tree Removal & Heritage Trees
Any tree planting, trimming, spraying, or removal along Lincoln streets, parkways, or sidewalks is done by the city itself, at the city's discretion: private work requires a written permit from the Parks and Recreation Director.
Lincoln Street Tree Permit Requirements
Significant RestrictionsLincoln Municipal Code § 12.20.030 (Maintenance of Street Trees)
...the trimming, spraying, removing, and destroying of all trees now existing, the selecting, planting, trimming, spraying, removing, and destroying of all street trees hereafter planted in or upon any street, parkway, sidewalk space, or other public way within the city, shall be done by and at the expense of the city and at its discretion and by no other person; provided, the Director may, in ...
Weed Ordinances
Lincoln caps weeds and worthless vegetation at six inches on any property, including the abutting half of streets and alleys, or the Weed Control Authority cuts it and bills the owner.
Lincoln Weed Height Limit: 6 Inches
Some RestrictionsLincoln Municipal Code § 8.46.010 (Owner of Real Estate to Remove Weeds)
It shall be the duty of every owner of real estate in the city to cut and clear, or clear, such real estate, together with one-half of the streets and alleys abutting thereon, of all weeds or worthless vegetation whenever such weeds or worthless vegetation shall extend more than six inches above the ground.
Water Restrictions
Lincoln Water System enforces a tiered Water Management Plan with odd/even address watering schedules. Voluntary conservation runs May through September. Mandatory restrictions can be activated during drought. No watering on Mondays is encouraged to replenish supply.
Landscaping: Water Restrictions
Some RestrictionsLincoln Water Management Plan (Lincoln Municipal Code Chapter 17.26); Sections I-III, Drought Water Conservation Phases
Water Management Plan (Revised 5/94, 4/00, 5/01, 3/12/03, 4/22/13, 8/21/15, 5/4/22). I. Introduction - A. Declaration of Purpose of Plan: The City of Lincoln first adopted the Water Management Plan in 1994 to provide guidance for imposing water conservation. The purpose of this Plan is to: (1) keep water use within pumping capacity and delivery capability, based on recommendations of the Lincol...
Composting
Lincoln lets homeowners compost in residential zones but bans backyard piles within 25 feet of a neighboring dwelling, off-site materials, meat, dairy, and animal or human waste.
Lincoln Residential Composting Rules
Some RestrictionsLincoln Municipal Code § 5.41.190
Conditions detrimental to the public health, safety and welfare related to residential composting shall also include: 1. Composting of any organic materials that are not generated or derived from the same premises. 2. Composting activity within twenty-five feet of any dwelling unit off the premises. 3. Composting that produces any odor that is detectable off the premises by an odor detection a...
Looking for Lancaster County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Lincoln city rules.
Landscaping Rules in Lancaster County →