Landscaping Rules in Middletown, OH (2026)
4 verified landscaping rules for Middletown, Ohio, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Tree Trimming
In the City of Middletown, Ohio, owners must trim trees, plants or shrubs overhanging a public street, sidewalk or right-of-way to a clearance of 12 feet over the street and 9 feet over the sidewalk. Owners who ignore a City notice face a lien for the cost of corrective work plus a minor misdemeanor fine.
Middletown, Ohio Street Tree Trimming Rules
Some RestrictionsMiddletown Code of Ordinances § 1030.01
The owner shall trim or cause the tree, plant or shrub to be trimmed so that a clear height of 12 feet between the lowest branches of the same and the street or alley level is maintained, and so that a clear height of nine feet between the lowest branches of the same and the sidewalk, lateral strip or other public right-of-way is maintained.
Tree Removal & Heritage Trees
In the City of Middletown, Ohio, developers in the Business Center (BC) District must preserve deciduous trees six inches DBH or larger under Code § 1216.05. Removal is allowed only for specific exemptions, and preserved trees can be credited toward density and buffering requirements.
Middletown Tree Preservation in BC District
Some RestrictionsMiddletown Code of Ordinances § 1216.05
§ 1216.05 TREE PRESERVATION. ... (a) Site planning efforts must preserve natural vegetative areas, to the maximum extent possible through the placement of buildings, streets, and parking areas. (b) Tree preservation is required in the BC District as follows: (1) All deciduous trees measuring at least a six inches DBH shall be preserved unless such trees are exempted as follows: ... ... B. Trees...
Weed Ordinances
Middletown caps grass and weeds at six inches on any lot in the city; taller growth is declared a public nuisance under Chapter 678. Owners and occupants must cut or spray noxious weeds and remove the debris, or face a fourth-degree misdemeanor with a minimum $150 fine plus city abatement costs billed as a tax lien.
Weed and Grass Height Limit in Middletown, Ohio
Some RestrictionsMiddletown Code of Ordinances § 678.01(b); § 678.02(b); § 678.99(a)
(b) NOXIOUS WEEDS shall mean and include any and all grass, weeds and wild plants exceeding six inches in height. ... § 678.02 WEED CONTROL. ... (b) No owner, occupant, or person in control of any lot or lands within the City shall fail to comply with any of the provisions of this section. ... § 678.99 PENALTY. (a) Whoever violates the provisions of § 678.02 of this chapter is guilty of a...
Native Plants
Middletown lets property owners skip the citywide weed-height rule by certifying a native-plant landscape with the Development Code Administrator under § 678.06. The planted area must sit at least ten feet from rights-of-way and property lines and cover no more than half the lot, using only the roughly sixty native species the code lists by name.
Natural Landscaping Permit in Middletown, Ohio
Some RestrictionsMiddletown Code of Ordinances § 678.06(a)
§ 678.06 NATURAL LANDSCAPING. ... (a) Notwithstanding the provisions of § 678.02, an owner, occupant or person in control of lots or land within the City may maintain native vegetation in planned landscapes in accordance with the provisions of this division. (1) A landscape plan must be submitted to the Development Code Administrator of the City. ... (2) The planned landscape must use nat...
Looking for Butler County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Middletown city rules.
Landscaping Rules in Butler County →