Landscaping Rules in Newport News, VA (2026)
4 verified landscaping rules for Newport News, Virginia, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Tree Trimming
Any utility company trimming a tree, shrub or other planting on Newport News city property, including street trees and rights-of-way, needs a written permit from the parks and recreation director first. City Code Sec. 40.3-4 covers electric, telephone, telegraph and cable TV companies specifically; trimming without a permit is a Class 1 misdemeanor, with each tree counted as a separate offense.
Newport News City Property Tree Trimming Permit
Some RestrictionsNewport News City Code § 40.3-4
Sec. 40.3-4. - Trimming by utility companies. No electric light company, telephone company, telegraph company, cable television company or other entity authorized to occupy city property shall trim any tree, shrub, landscape planting or other vegetation located on city property without a permit from the director. ... Sec. 40.3-8. - Violations. (a)Violations of this chapter shall constitute Clas...
Tree Removal & Heritage Trees
Removing, cutting, girdling or otherwise destroying a tree, shrub or other planting on Newport News city property takes a written permit from the parks and recreation director, or from the department of engineering when the work is inside a city right-of-way. City Code Sec. 40-3.3 sets the rule; skip the permit and the removal is a Class 1 misdemeanor, charged separately for every tree involved.
Newport News City Property Tree Removal Permit
Some RestrictionsNewport News City Code § 40-3.3(a), (c)
Sec. 40-3.3. - Pruning, removing, damaging, etc., generally. (a)No person shall, without a permit from the director, prune, spray, remove, destroy, cut, girdle or deface any tree, shrub, landscape planting or other vegetation located on city property or injure the same by root cutting or exposure or by placing any chemical or substance on the ground around such tree, shrub, landscape planting o...
Weed Ordinances
Newport News caps grass and weeds at ten inches within 150 feet of any building under section 13-150(a), and treats anything over fifteen inches anywhere on the lot as a presumed violation. Ignore a mailed notice and the city cuts it, then bills the owner $150 in administrative costs plus the actual cost of the work.
Newport News Grass and Weed Height Limit
Some RestrictionsNewport News City Code § 13-150(a)
Accumulation of grass or weeds. It shall be unlawful for any person responsible for real property within the city, including the area adjoining such property extending to the curb line or paved portion of the roadway, to permit the accumulation of grass or weeds. Grass or weeds exceeding a height of ten (10) inches on such property within one hundred fifty (150) feet of any building shall be co...
Water Restrictions
Once Newport News declares a Stage 2 drought warning, watering lawns, shrubbery, trees, or other vegetation with city water is restricted to the hours between 8:00 p.m. and 10:00 a.m., unless you use recycled water, an alternate source, or a hand-held container of three gallons or less.
Newport News Drought Lawn Watering Hours
Some RestrictionsNewport News City Code § 42-94(3)
The use of city water for watering of shrubbery, trees, lawns, grass, plants, and other vegetation, except when using an alternate water source, recycled water, or a hand-held container not exceeding three (3) gallons in capacity. Any such watering shall be limited to the hours between 8:00 p.m. and 10:00 a.m.(4)The use of city water in the operation of any ornamental fountains, artificial wate...