Landscaping Rules in New Bedford, MA (2026)
2 verified landscaping rules for New Bedford, Massachusetts, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Tree Removal & Heritage Trees
New Bedford has no stand-alone tree-cutting permit for private land, but any project large enough to require Site Plan Review must be designed to minimize removal of trees six inches in caliper or larger, while the Commissioner of Public Infrastructure separately controls all public shade trees as tree warden.
New Bedford Site Plan Tree Removal Standard
Light RestrictionsZoning Ordinance § 5471(i); Code of Ordinances § 2-231(i)
5471. Meet the following minimum design requirements:i.Minimize the volume of cut and fill, the number of removed trees six-inch caliper or larger, the length of removed stone walls, the area of wetland vegetation displaced, the extent of stormwater flow increase from the site, soil erosion, and the threat of air and water pollution; ... Sec. 2-231(i): The commissioner of public infrastructure ...
Weed Ordinances
New Bedford caps grass, bushes, and weeds along sidewalks and street frontage at three inches under Code of Ordinances § 22-18. Owners get 72 hours after written notice from a city inspector to cut plant growth down or clear it off the walkway before fines start.
New Bedford 3-Inch Weed Height Limit
Some RestrictionsNew Bedford, MA Code of Ordinances § 22-18
Every owner of land abutting upon any street or public place in the city shall cause the removal of all grass, bushes, weeds and all other plant growth, except for trees provided or approved by the city's forestry division or public works department or successor departments, from directly above any bricked, blacktopped, cement, cobbled, paved, slated or other installed sidewalk material and fro...
Looking for Bristol County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement New Bedford city rules.
Landscaping Rules in Bristol County →