Landscaping Rules in Rock Hill, SC (2026)
6 verified landscaping rules for Rock Hill, South Carolina, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Tree Trimming
Rock Hill requires every property owner or occupant to keep the trees, shrubs, and other woody plants on their land pruned and safe. City Code § 28-91 makes maintenance the owner's duty, and § 28-92(4) sets the trigger: a tree that obstructs pedestrian or vehicle traffic, or is not kept clear at least eight feet over a sidewalk and 14 feet over a roadway, is a declared public nuisance.
Tree Clearance Over Rock Hill Sidewalks and Streets
Some RestrictionsRock Hill City Code §§ 28-91, 28-92(4)
It shall be the responsibility of every property owner or occupant to maintain the trees, shrubs and other woody plants on the owner's property in a safe and healthy manner, and to keep trees properly pruned and trimmed so as to avoid hazards to persons, property and other vegetation. ... The following are hereby declared to be public nuisances under this chapter: ... (4)Any tree or portion the...
Tree Removal & Heritage Trees
Rock Hill requires a permit before anyone removes, alters, or treats a 'public tree,' meaning a street tree or a tree on city-owned property. City Code § 28-62 makes it unlawful for anyone other than the city forester, the forester's agent, or a supervised contractor to remove, plant, transplant, or otherwise affect a public tree, or to work within its dripline, without first applying to and receiving approval from the forester.
Permit to Remove a Public Tree in Rock Hill
Significant RestrictionsRock Hill City Code § 28-62(a)
(a)Actions requiring permit. It shall be unlawful for any person except the forester, an agent of the forester, or a contractor under the jurisdiction and supervision of the forester to perform any of the following acts or contract with another person to perform any of the following acts without first obtaining a permit, except as otherwise provided in this section:(1)Remove, alter or treat any...
Weed Ordinances
Rock Hill, South Carolina bans letting weeds, grass or similar vegetation reach 12 inches or more on any improved residential or commercial lot under City Code § 10-292(a), calling that height a nuisance and vermin hazard. Unimproved vacant lots get an 18-inch limit on the buffer strip next to developed property under § 10-292(b).
Rock Hill Grass and Weed Height Limit
Some RestrictionsRock Hill City Code § 10-292(a)
Sec. 10-292. - Overgrown property. (a)Improved property. It shall be unlawful for any owner or occupant of a business building, single dwelling or multiple dwelling, or any property improved for residential or commercial use, to allow weeds, grass or similar vegetation to grow to a height of 12 inches or more. Such height constitutes a hazard or nuisance, real or potential, for harborage of ver...
Water Restrictions
Once Rock Hill, South Carolina declares a Stage 2 drought, sprinklers and irrigation systems are cut to two days a week on an odd-even address schedule, and only between 9:00 p.m. and 5:00 a.m. Newly seeded or sodded lawns get a short grace period before the same schedule applies to them too.
Rock Hill Odd-Even Watering Day Rule
Some RestrictionsRock Hill City Code § 29-275(2)e.1
Limit the use of sprinklers, irrigation systems or other remote landscape watering devices to two days per week, staggering days based on odd and even addresses, between the hours of 9:00 p.m. and 5:00 a.m. Designated days will be recommended by the city's drought response representative and approved by the city manager.
Rainwater Harvesting
Rock Hill, South Carolina does not restrict harvesting rainwater. The city's stormwater ordinance expressly lists harvested rainwater among the discharges exempt from its illegal-discharge prohibitions, and its drought conservation rules affirmatively encourage reuse water and rain sensors as landscaping best practices.
Rock Hill Rainwater Harvesting Allowance
Few RestrictionsRock Hill City Code § 29-306(7)b
The following discharges are exempt from discharge prohibitions established by this article: Water line flushing or other potable water sources, landscape irrigation or lawn watering, harvested rainwater, diverted stream flows, rising groundwater, uncontaminated groundwater infiltration to storm drains, uncontaminated pumped groundwater, foundation or footing drains (not including active ground...
Composting
Rock Hill's Zoning Ordinance treats composting as an accessory use tied to community, private, or institutional gardens. Under § 5.3.5.4(C)(3), plastic compost bins and loose compost piles must be screened from public view of adjacent properties and streets, using screen fencing or vegetative screening tall enough to hide the bin or pile within a year of planting.
Rock Hill, SC Compost Bin Screening Rules
Light RestrictionsZoning Ordinance of the City of Rock Hill § 5.3.5.4(C)(3)
3. Compost bins and piles: Plastic compost bins and loose compost piles must be screened from public view of adjacent properties and roads through screen fencing that is tall enough to obscure the bin or pile or vegetive screening that will be tall enough to obscure the bin or pile within one year of planting.
Looking for York County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Rock Hill city rules.
Landscaping Rules in York County →