Landscaping Rules in Richland, WA (2026)
4 verified landscaping rules for Richland, Washington, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Tree Trimming
Richland requires the owner of property next to a public right-of-way tree to keep its branches pruned for sufficient vertical clearance over the adjoining sidewalk and street, under RMC § 22.14.080(A)(2)(a)(iii); topping, heading or shearing those trees is barred without the municipal arborist's approval.
Richland Street Tree Clearance Pruning Duty
Some RestrictionsRichland Municipal Code § 22.14.080(A)(2)(a)
2. Routine Tree Maintenance. a. Pruning of trees located on public rights-of-way adjacent to the owner's private real property. i. Prune and maintain such trees according to ANSI A300; ii. Topping, heading, shearing or rounding over are not acceptable forms of tree pruning and are not allowed on public trees unless first approved by the municipal arborist; iii. Except as otherwise determined by...
Tree Removal & Heritage Trees
Removing, pruning, cutting or otherwise disturbing any tree on Richland's public rights-of-way requires a permit from the municipal arborist under RMC § 22.14.090. No fee is charged, but the arborist can set conditions, and a removed street tree must be replaced or paid for under RMC § 22.14.110.
Richland Street Tree Removal Permit
Some RestrictionsRichland Municipal Code § 22.14.090
No person may perform any of the acts in the following subsection, without first obtaining from the municipal arborist a permit for which no fee shall be charged, and nothing in this section shall be construed to exempt any person from the requirements of obtaining any additional permits as required by law. A. Actions Requiring Permit. 1. Plant trees on public rights-of-way or in any public pla...
Weed Ordinances
In the City of Richland, Washington, grass and weeds on a property that grow past six inches, or die and are left standing, are a declared public nuisance under Richland Municipal Code § 10.04.040(P). Larger parcels over an acre may substitute a 20-foot firebreak where vegetation up to 12 inches is allowed. Development Services enforces the limit through the city's nuisance abatement process.
Richland Six-Inch Weed Height Limit
Some RestrictionsRichland Municipal Code § 10.04.040(P), (P)(1)
P. All grasses, weeds, or other vegetation growing or which has grown and died, determined to be a fire or safety hazard or a nuisance to persons, shall not exceed six inches in height measured above the ground except as follows: 1. Any parcel of land or contiguous segregated parcels of land which when combined represent a parcel larger than one acre in size, may comply with these requirements ...
Water Restrictions
In the City of Richland, Washington, RMC § 18.16.020 makes it unlawful to use more water for irrigation than reasonably necessary and requires customers to fix leaking pipes and keep water off impervious rights-of-way. During a declared water-supply emergency, RMC § 18.16.035 imposes a mandatory watering schedule, letting even-numbered addresses irrigate on even calendar days and odd-numbered addresses on odd days, escalating to a full ban.
Richland, WA Irrigation and Watering Restrictions
Some RestrictionsRichland Municipal Code §§ 18.16.020, 18.16.035
It shall be the duty of each customer to eliminate waste of water supply by repairing, or causing to be repaired, any defective or leaking pipes or plumbing fixtures, and to take all reasonable measures to prevent application of water to impervious surfaces in the public rights-of-way. No person shall use more water for irrigation, culinary purposes, or other uses than is reasonably necessary. ...
Looking for Benton County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Richland city rules.
Landscaping Rules in Benton County →