Landscaping Rules in Plano, TX (2026)
6 verified landscaping rules for Plano, Texas, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Tree Trimming
Plano puts the trimming duty on the property owner, not the city: Code of Ordinances § 15-117(c) makes it unlawful for anyone owning property next to a parkway area, the strip between the curb and the sidewalk, to fail to prune, trim, and maintain the trees, shrubs, and landscaping there. If the owner doesn't, the city can do the work and bill the owner.
Plano Requires Owners to Trim Parkway Trees
Some RestrictionsPlano Code of Ordinances § 15-117(c)
It is unlawful for each person owning property adjacent to the parkway area to fail to prune, trim and maintain the trees, shrubs and landscaping in the parkway area adjacent to their property. The city, without incurring liability, reserves the right to prune, trim or remove any tree, shrub or landscaping located in the parkway area. City costs incurred for pruning, trimming, or removing trees...
Tree Removal & Heritage Trees
Plano requires an approved Tree Preservation Plan before any tree 8 inches DBH or larger is removed on vacant, undeveloped, or redeveloping property. Protected trees must be preserved or replaced inch-for-inch, and the city can halt construction with a stop-work order.
Plano, Texas Tree Preservation and Replacement Requirements
Significant RestrictionsPlano Zoning Ordinance § 17.800.4-.8 (Tree Preservation and Protection)
No clear-cutting of land is allowed without a permit. The approved Tree Preservation Plan is the permit for the removal of trees subject to this ordinance. No tree 8 inches in DBH or larger may be removed unless it is located in areas specifically exempted in Sec. 17.800.3 or the city has approved removal. ... Trees that are 8 to 30 inches in caliper shall be replaced at an inch-to-inch rate. T...
Weed Ordinances
Plano treats weeds and rank vegetation over 12 inches as a public nuisance under Chapter 14. Owners must abate within the 7-10 day notice period, or the city cuts and bills the owner, placing a lien if unpaid.
Plano Weed Ordinance
Light RestrictionsTex. Health & Safety Code Sec. 342.004, 342.006
Sec. 342.004. MUNICIPAL POWER CONCERNING WEEDS OR CERTAIN PUBLIC NUISANCES. The governing body of a municipality may require the owner of real property in the municipality to keep the property free from weeds, brush, and a condition constituting a public nuisance as defined by Section 343.011(c)(1), (2), or (3). Sec. 342.006. WORK OR IMPROVEMENTS BY MUNICIPALITY; NOTICE. (a) If the owner of pro...
Water Restrictions
Plano's Drought and Emergency Response Plan lets the city manager cap landscape irrigation to set days per week once Stage 1 is triggered, splitting the city by even- and odd-numbered addresses and banning daytime watering in cooler months, with heavier cuts in Stages 2 and 3.
Plano Landscape Watering Day Restrictions
Some RestrictionsPlano Code of Ordinances § 21-59.2
The city manager may also implement the following mandatory requirements on customers... Landscape watering with sprinklers or irrigation systems is limited to no more than two (2) days per week between April 1 and October 31; and no more than one (1) day per week between November 1 and March 31. Designated days are determined by the even or odd numbered service address for the property. All Ho...
Rainwater Harvesting
TX Property Code 202.007 blocks HOAs and cities from banning rainwater harvesting. Plano encourages rain barrels with no permit needed; cisterns tied to indoor plumbing require a permit and backflow prevention.
Plano Rainwater Harvesting Rules
Few RestrictionsTex. Property Code Sec. 202.007 (Certain Restrictive Covenants Prohibited - Rainwater, Drought-Resistant Landscaping)
Sec. 202.007. CERTAIN RESTRICTIVE COVENANTS PROHIBITED. (a) A property owners' association may not include or enforce a provision in a dedicatory instrument that prohibits or restricts a property owner from:(1) implementing measures promoting solid-waste composting of vegetation, including grass clippings, leaves, or brush, or leaving grass clippings uncollected on grass;(2) installing rai...
Native Plants
Plano's zoning code requires landscaping installed under a reviewed landscape plan to use trees and plants that are native to the area or well adapted to local soil and climate, with at least 50% of required landscape trees and plants pulled from the Planning Department's Approved Plant List, under Zoning Ordinance Sec. 17.500.
Plano Native Plant Landscaping Rules
Some RestrictionsPlano Zoning Ordinance § 17.500
17.500 Landscape Design Requirements (ZC2016-001; Ord. No. 2016-5-4). Required trees and plants shall be native to this area, or well adapted, and suitable for local soil and climate conditions. A minimum of 50% of the required landscape trees and plants must come from the Planning Department's Approved Plant List. Landscape design shall exhibit the application of water conservation through cre...
Looking for Collin County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Plano city rules.
Landscaping Rules in Collin County →