Landscaping Rules in Nashua, NH (2026)
8 verified landscaping rules for Nashua, New Hampshire, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Grass Height Limits
Nashua does not set a fixed inch-height standard for residential grass in its Revised Ordinances (ecode360 NA2698). Overgrown grass, weeds, and other vegetation are addressed through the City's nuisance-abatement framework administered by Code Enforcement (Building Safety Department) and through the landscape-maintenance provisions of Chapter 190 Article XXVII for sites subject to an approved landscape plan. Site landscape material that is required as part of an approved site plan must be maintained in a healthy, growing condition and replaced when necessary.
Nashua Grass Height — No Fixed Inch Standard; Nuisance Vegetation Abated by Code Enforcement
Some RestrictionsTree Trimming
The Nashua Board of Public Works has cognizance, direction and full control of the planting and care of trees standing in the streets and public ways. Routine pruning of healthy trees on private property is not subject to a Nashua permit. Trees within the public right-of-way, on parks, or other public land are maintained by the City; residents must obtain Board of Public Works authorization before pruning, removing, or otherwise altering a street tree or other public tree. Eversource and other utilities prune for line clearance under their easements.
Nashua Tree Trimming — Board of Public Works Controls Trees in Streets and Public Ways
Some RestrictionsTree Removal & Heritage Trees
Tree removal on private residential property in Nashua is generally not subject to a City removal permit, except where the tree is in a designated wetland or wetland buffer (Article XI of Chapter 190), within required landscape material under Article XXVII, designated for retention on an approved site plan, or in a regulated conservation area. The Board of Public Works has full control over the removal of any tree standing in a Nashua street or public way. NH RSA 231:145 governs the declaration and removal of public-highway trees deemed nuisances.
Nashua Tree Removal — Private Lots Generally Permitted; Public Trees Require Board Approval
Some RestrictionsWeed Ordinances
Nashua does not publish a separate prohibited-species list in its Revised Ordinances (ecode360 NA2698). Overgrown weeds and noxious vegetation are abated under the City's general nuisance authority enforced by Code Enforcement (Building Safety Department). New Hampshire's statewide prohibited invasive plant list is administered by the NH Department of Agriculture, Markets & Food under RSA 430:53 and Agr 3800, which makes it unlawful to collect, transport, import, export, move, buy, sell, distribute, propagate, or transplant any listed prohibited invasive plant species.
Nashua Weed Ordinances — Nuisance Abatement; No Local Prohibited-Species List
Some RestrictionsWater Restrictions
Nashua is served by Pennichuck Water Works (Pennichuck Corporation), a publicly owned utility under the Pennichuck East Utility / Pennichuck Water umbrella. Pennichuck enforces a four-level water restriction schedule that operates year-round: Level 1 odd/even house-number lawn watering; Level 2 two assigned days per week between 5:00 a.m. and 8:00 a.m.; Level 3 one assigned day per week between 5:00 a.m. and 8:00 a.m.; Level 4 total outdoor water ban. Hand-held hoses and watering cans are permitted for vegetable and flower gardens any day. Small kiddie pools (6 feet or less in diameter, 12 inches deep or less) may be filled any day.
Nashua Outdoor Water Use — Pennichuck Water Works 4-Level Restriction Schedule
Heavy RestrictionsRainwater Harvesting
Rainwater harvesting is legal in Nashua. New Hampshire has no statute prohibiting residential rain barrels, cisterns, or roof-runoff capture, and NH DES actively promotes rain-barrel use through its Soak Up the Rain New Hampshire program. Nashua does not impose a permit on a simple downspout-fed rain barrel. Plumbed cisterns connected to building plumbing — particularly for indoor non-potable reuse — require permits from the Nashua Building Safety Department and must comply with the NH State Building Code (IPC Chapter 13 / Appendix C) and NH DES rules for backflow prevention on any cross-connection with the Pennichuck public water supply.
Nashua Rainwater Harvesting — Legal; State Promotes Soak Up the Rain Program
Few RestrictionsNative Plants
Nashua does not mandate native plants in private landscapes. Chapter 190 Article XXVII Landscaping requires that all shade trees in required landscape material be hardy for the Nashua botanical zone and encourages inclusion of existing trees in the landscape design. Public outreach through the Nashua Conservation Commission and NH DES Soak Up the Rain program promotes native and pollinator-friendly plantings, particularly in wetland buffers and the Nashua River and Merrimack River corridors. New Hampshire has no statewide HOA xeriscape protection statute.
Nashua Native Plants — Encouraged, Not Mandated; NH Has No HOA Xeriscape Statute
Few RestrictionsArtificial Turf
The Nashua Revised Ordinances do not contain a code provision specifically prohibiting or permitting artificial turf in residential or commercial landscapes. Where landscape material is required under Chapter 190 Article XXVII, the standards reference living plant material — trees, shrubs, and ground cover — so synthetic turf cannot substitute for required landscape area on a site-plan-approved development. On private single-family residential lots, artificial turf is permitted, but installations with impermeable backing may count as impervious surface for stormwater and wetland-buffer calculations under Article XI and the City's NPDES MS4 stormwater rules.
Nashua Artificial Turf — Not Specifically Regulated; Site-Plan Landscapes Require Living Plants
Few RestrictionsLooking for Hillsborough County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Nashua city rules.
Landscaping Rules in Hillsborough County →