Landscaping Rules in Salem, OR (2026)
4 verified landscaping rules for Salem, Oregon, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Tree Trimming
Property owners in Salem must maintain and prune trees, shrubs, or other plants on their land that project into City property, including over streets and sidewalks, under SRC 86.015(c). If an owner neglects that duty after a written order from the Director, the City can prune or remove the growth itself and bill the property owner for the cost.
Salem Duty to Prune Overhanging Trees
Some RestrictionsSalem Revised Code § 86.015(c)
(c)Pruning of trees projecting into City property. It is the responsibility of the property owner to maintain and prune trees, shrubs, or other plants on private property that project into City property in accordance with applicable administrative rules. If the Director determines pruning of any such tree, shrub, or plant is deemed necessary, the Director shall have the power to prune or cause ...
Tree Removal & Heritage Trees
SRC 808.030 requires a City tree and vegetation removal permit before cutting a significant tree, a riparian-corridor tree, or a tree on a lot of 20,000 square feet or more, processed as a Type I application, with 17 listed exceptions covering hazards, utilities, and emergencies.
Salem Tree and Vegetation Removal Permits
Significant RestrictionsSalem Revised Code § 808.030
(a)Applicability.(1)Except as provided in subsection (a)(2) of this section, no trees or native vegetation protected under SRC 808.015, SRC 808.020, or SRC 808.025 shall be removed unless a tree and vegetation removal permit has been issued pursuant to this section... (b)Procedure type. A tree and vegetation removal permit is processed as a Type I procedure under SRC chapter 300.
Weed Ordinances
Salem caps weeds and grass at ten inches: SRC 50.025 defines 'noxious vegetation' as weeds or grass over ten inches, rank or dead growth, poison oak, hemlock, or ivy, or hazardous thickets, and SRC 50.705 makes it unlawful for an owner to let that vegetation stand on any premises or the street right-of-way abutting it.
Salem Noxious Weed and Grass Height Limit
Some RestrictionsSalem Revised Code §§ 50.025, 50.705
Noxious vegetation means weeds more than ten inches in height; grass more than ten inches in height; rank or dead vegetation; poison oak, poison hemlock, poison ivy; hazardous thickets; or other rank, noxious, and dangerous vegetation that is a health hazard, a fire hazard, or a traffic hazard because it impairs the view of a public right-of-way or otherwise makes use of the public right-of-way...
Water Restrictions
Salem bars knowingly or negligently wasting public system water and lets the Director curtail water use citywide during a shortage or emergency, with a second citation during curtailment risking a flow restrictor or service termination.
Salem Water Waste and Curtailment Rules
Some RestrictionsSalem Revised Code §§ 72.240, 72.250
Sec. 72.240. - Water waste prohibited. (a)It is unlawful to allow waste of water provided through the public water system by knowingly or negligently causing, authorizing or permitting such water to escape from its intended beneficial use into any river, creek, natural watercourse, depression, lake, reservoir, storm sewer, street, highway, road, or ditch. ... Sec. 72.250. - Water curtailment au...
Looking for Marion County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Salem city rules.
Landscaping Rules in Marion County →