Landscaping Rules in Lynchburg, VA (2026)
4 verified landscaping rules for Lynchburg, Virginia, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Tree Trimming
Lynchburg requires owners and occupants of property bordering a street to prune overhanging trees, shrubs and vegetation so they clear at least 8 feet over sidewalks and 14 feet over the street. The urban forester enforces the standard and can order pruning within a set deadline.
Lynchburg Street Tree Clearance Rule
Some RestrictionsLynchburg City Code Sec. 38-3(a)
(a)Duty of occupant: It shall be the duty of any person or persons owning or occupying real property bordering on any street upon which property there may be trees, shrubs, weeds and other vegetation, to prune such trees, shrubs, weeds and vegetation in such manner that they will not obstruct or shade the streetlights, obstruct the passage of pedestrians on sidewalks, obstruct vision of traffic...
Tree Removal & Heritage Trees
Removing a tree from a Lynchburg treelawn, the strip between the sidewalk and street, requires a permit application filed with the urban forester first. The permit also obligates the applicant to replace the removed tree to the city's arboricultural standards at their own expense.
Lynchburg Treelawn Tree Removal Permit
Some RestrictionsLynchburg City Code Sec. 38-8(b)
No person shall remove a tree from the treelawn for the purpose of construction, or for any other reason, without first filing an application and procuring a permit from the urban forester, and without replacing the removed tree or trees in accordance with the adopted arboricultural specifications. Such replacement shall meet the standards of size, species and placement as provided for in a per...
Weed Ordinances
Lynchburg's weed control ordinance defines "weeds" as any grass or other vegetation over 12 inches tall, excluding cultivated gardens and undisturbed woodland, and bars owners from letting weeds reach nuisance-level growth on any property in the city. The department of community planning and development gives ten calendar days' notice to cut before declaring a lot "neglected property" and cutting it at the owner's expense.
Lynchburg's 12-Inch Weed Height Limit
Some RestrictionsLynchburg City Code §§ 26-28.1(c), 26-28.2
"Weeds" shall include any plant, grass or other vegetation (herbaceous or woody) over 12 inches in height, excluding trees, ornamental shrubbery, vegetable and flower gardens purposefully planted and maintained by the property owner or occupant free of weed hazard or nuisance, cultivated crops, or undisturbed woodland not otherwise in violation. ... It shall be unlawful for the owner or owners,...
Water Restrictions
When the city manager declares a Stage 2 water emergency, Lynchburg bans watering lawns, shrubs and other outdoor vegetation between 8:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m., with narrow exceptions for new lawns, nurseries and hand-watering with small buckets. Violators face escalating civil fines and possible water shutoff.
Lynchburg Watering Restrictions in Water Emergency
Significant RestrictionsLynchburg City Code Sec. 39-94(b)(1)
(1)The watering of shrubbery, trees, lawns, grass, plants, or any other vegetation, except indoor plantings, greenhouse or nursery stocks and except limited watering for new lawns and watering by commercial nurseries of freshly planted plants upon planting and once a week for five weeks following planting. Athletic fields are also exempt but shall only be watered to match the evaporation-transp...