Landscaping Rules in Peoria, IL (2026)
6 verified landscaping rules for Peoria, Illinois, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Tree Trimming
Every Peoria property owner bordering a street with overhanging trees must keep branches trimmed to a minimum seven feet above sidewalks and 16 feet above streets under City Code Sec. 29-5, and must also prune so branches don't block streetlights, traffic signs, signals, or intersection sightlines, or the city arborist can order the trimming done.
Peoria IL Street Tree Clearance Rules
Some RestrictionsPeoria City Code § 29-5
It shall be the duty of any person owning or occupying real property bordering on any street upon which property there may be trees, to prune such trees in such manner that they will not obstruct or shade the streetlights, obstruct the passage of pedestrians on sidewalks, obstruct vision of traffic signs, traffic signals, or obstruct view of any street or alley intersection. The minimum clearan...
Tree Removal & Heritage Trees
Removing a healthy public tree from the parkway in front of a Peoria property isn't a property owner's unilateral call: City Code Sec. 29-4(b) requires the city arborist to confirm the tree is healthy, then approval from the Peoria Urban Forestry Advisory Board, and the owner must reimburse the city for the tree's value using the Arbor Day Foundation's calculator.
Peoria IL Parkway Tree Removal Permit
Significant RestrictionsPeoria City Code § 29-4(b)
If a property owner desires to remove a tree that is found to be healthy by the city arborist the property has to get approval of the Peoria Urban Forestry Advisory Board. The property owner will be required to reimburse the city the value of the tree as determined by the Arbor Day Foundation National Tree Benefit Calculator.
Weed Ordinances
Peoria caps weeds and grass at ten inches tall on any property under City Code Section 13-1's definition, and Section 13-77 bans letting weeds grow at all. Owners of occupied lots get five days' notice to cut after the city sends written notice; vacant lots are warned by newspaper publication each spring.
Peoria IL Weed Height Limit: 10 Inches
Some RestrictionsCity Code §§ 13-1, 13-3, 13-4, 13-77
Weeds means all noxious vegetation and all grasses, annual plants and vegetation other than trees or shrubs which exceed a height or length of ten inches; provided, however, this term shall not include cultivated flowers, gardens and native plants. ... It shall be unlawful for any owner or person in control of any real property to permit the growth of weeds thereon. ... Upon the failure of the ...
Rainwater Harvesting
Peoria's stormwater technical guidance approves rain barrels and rain cisterns as water reuse systems developers can use to meet the city's mandatory volume control requirement for new construction. Design rules require a 10-foot setback from building foundations and a 72-hour drain-down window.
Peoria IL Rain Barrels as Stormwater BMPs
Light RestrictionsPeoria, IL Code of Ordinances § 9.5-303-14
Water reuse systems can either be above-ground or underground, and may be gravity-drained or pump-evacuated... There are several common variations of these systems available that include: Rain barrels, Rain cisterns (above-ground and underground), Underground storage (tanks, vaults, or other manufactured products)... The minimum setback for water reuse systems should be 10 feet from the nearest...
Native Plants
Peoria's weed ordinance defines weeds as noxious vegetation and grasses over ten inches tall, but Sec. 13-1 expressly carves out cultivated flowers, gardens, and native plants. A yard planted in native species is not "weeds" for code-enforcement purposes, no matter its height.
Peoria IL Native Plants Exempt From Weed Rule
Few RestrictionsPeoria City Code § 13-1
Weeds means all noxious vegetation and all grasses, annual plants and vegetation other than trees or shrubs which exceed a height or length of ten inches; provided, however, this term shall not include cultivated flowers, gardens and native plants. ... Native plants means ones that occur naturally in a particular region, ecosystem, or habitat without direct or indirect human intervention. ... C...
Composting
Peoria allows composting on community garden and urban farm sites only inside a container, using material generated on that same site. Section 5.3.2.G of the Unified Development Code states composting 'must be in a container, limited only to the materials generated on site and must be used on site,' the identical rule appearing under both the Community Garden and Urban Farm standards.
Peoria IL Community Garden Composting Rule
Some RestrictionsPeoria UDC § 5.3.2.G.1.a.vii; § 5.3.2.G.2.a.ix
vii.Composting: Must be in a container, limited only to the materials generated on site and must be used on site. [Community Garden standard, 5.3.2.G.1.a.vii] ... ix.Composting: Must be in a container, limited only to the materials generated on site and must be used on site. [Urban Farm standard, 5.3.2.G.2.a.ix]
Looking for Peoria County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Peoria city rules.
Landscaping Rules in Peoria County →