Landscaping Rules in Portland, OR (2026)
7 verified landscaping rules for Portland, Oregon, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Tree Trimming
Portland requires property owners to keep tree branches trimmed to 7.5 feet above sidewalks and 11 feet above roadways, with 14 feet on major traffic streets.
Tree Clearance Over Streets in Portland
Some RestrictionsPortland City Code § 11.60.060(D)(1)-(2)
1. Sidewalk clearance. Branches of trees extending over sidewalks may not be less than 7½ feet above the sidewalk. 2. Roadway clearance. Branches of trees extending into any public or private roadway may not be less than 11 feet above the pavement. Moreover, on any street designated as a Regional Trafficway, Major City Traffic Street, District Collector, or a one-way street where parking has...
Tree Removal & Heritage Trees
Portland requires tree-for-tree replacement for most permitted removals under Title 11, stepping up to inch-for-inch replacement for large or high-volume removals, with a payment-in-lieu option into the city's Tree Planting and Preservation Fund.
Portland Tree Replacement After Removal
Some RestrictionsPortland City Code § 11.40.060
Generally, the City Administrator will require replacement of trees removed under a tree permit as specified in Subsection A. However, the City Administrator may instead allow payment into the Tree Planting and Preservation Fund as specified in Subsection B., or may waive or reduce the replacement requirement as specified in Subsection C. A. Tree replacement specifications. 1. Quantity. Speci...
Weed Ordinances
Portland requires property owners to cut grass and weeds in lawn areas whenever they exceed a prevailing height of 10 inches, treating overgrowth as a public nuisance under the city's property maintenance code.
Portland Overgrown Lawn Height Limit
Some RestrictionsPortland City Code § 29.20.010(F)
Cut and remove and keep cut and removed all weeds and grass that are located in lawn areas and have a prevailing height of more than 10 inches. G. Nuisance plants. Eradication, as defined in Subsection 29.10.020 V., is required of all plants identified on the Nuisance Plants List. The City Administrator will adopt administrative rules detailing implementation and enforcement of this provision....
Water Restrictions
Portland has no standing odd-even watering schedule. Instead, the City Administrator can order mandatory water curtailment during a shortage or emergency, with rules issued administratively and enforced by fines up to $500 a day.
Portland Water Curtailment During Shortages
Some RestrictionsPortland City Code § 21.80.010
A. The City Administrator may require curtailment when: 1. The City has a water shortage or an imminent water shortage; or 2. An emergency threatens the water supply. B. Before requiring curtailment, and to determine how much the community must reduce water use, the City Administrator must consider: 1. Public health and safety; 2. Equity; 3. Community economic conditions; 4. Water system...
Rainwater Harvesting
Portland's zoning code lets water collection cisterns 6 feet or less in height extend fully into required side and rear setbacks in single-dwelling zones, while taller cisterns face the standard 20 percent setback encroachment limit and a 3-foot lot-line buffer.
Portland Rainwater Cistern Setback Rules
Some RestrictionsPortland City Code § 33.110.220(C)(3)(d)
The following minor features of a building may extend into the entire required building setbacks: a. Utility connections attached to the building that are required to provide services such as water, electricity, and other similar utility services; b. Gutters and downspouts that drain stormwater off a roof of the structure; c. Stormwater planters that are no more than 2-1/2 feet above the ground...
Native Plants
Portland's property maintenance code defines a 'naturescaped' yard as one planted predominantly with native plants, and exempts dead bushes, trees, and stumps on a naturescaped property from the standard debris-removal requirement.
Portland Naturescaped Native Yard Allowance
Light RestrictionsPortland City Code § 29.20.010(H)(3)
3. All dead bushes, dead trees, and stumps with the exception of such material that: a. Is being maintained as part of a naturescaped property; b. Does not result in a nuisance as otherwise defined in this chapter; and c. Is located on a property that is otherwise substantially in compliance with this Chapter; 4. All trees that are dead, dying or dangerous and are determined by the City For...
Composting
Portland residents get weekly curbside compost collection through the city's franchised haulers, but contaminating the compost cart with plastic bags, diapers, Styrofoam, pet waste, or solid waste is a code violation.
Portland Residential Composting Rules
Some RestrictionsPortland City Code § 17.102.295
It is a violation of Chapter 17.102 for any customer to: A. Place in a recycling cart, recycling container or recycling bin any plastic bag, diapers, pet waste, Styrofoam, wood, food, yard debris, or any solid waste; or, B. Place in a compost cart or compost container any plastic bag, diapers, pet waste, Styrofoam, or any solid waste.
Looking for Multnomah County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Portland city rules.
Landscaping Rules in Multnomah County →