Landscaping Rules in St. Louis, MO (2026)
5 verified landscaping rules for St. Louis, Missouri, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Tree Trimming
St. Louis requires trees, shrubs and plants citywide to be kept clear of streets, sidewalks, traffic signs and intersections, and lets the Forestry Commissioner order an owner to fix or remove growth that blocks them.
St. Louis Tree Clearance Over Streets
Some RestrictionsSt. Louis Revised Code § 22.48.140
The Commissioner shall determine and maintain standards for appropriate height and spatial clearances for all City trees so as to allow the safe use or occupancy of the space around said tree. Such standards shall include, but not be limited to, height and spatial clearances for streets, sidewalks, alleys, building and other structures, traffic control signs and devices, street and alley lights...
Tree Removal & Heritage Trees
Removing a tree from City-owned land or the street right-of-way requires a 'permit to maintain' from the Forestry Commissioner plus a reforestation fee: trees on private property aren't covered by this permit.
St. Louis City Tree Removal Permit
Some RestrictionsSt. Louis Revised Code § 22.48.110.A
No person shall directly or indirectly perform maintenance, including, but not limited to, pruning, spraying or removal, on any City tree without first obtaining a permit ("permit to maintain") from the Commissioner.
Weed Ordinances
St. Louis prints two weed-height rules in its Revised Code. Chapter 11.04 declares unattended vegetation and noxious weeds a public nuisance at seven (7) inches or more on any lot or lands, with the Forestry Commissioner in charge. The amended Property Maintenance Code, in section 302.4, requires premises and exterior property to be free from weeds or plant growth in excess of eight inches.
St. Louis Weed Ordinance: Seven-Inch and Eight-Inch Height Limits
Some RestrictionsSt. Louis Revised Code § 11.04.040; § 25.32.020 (Property Maintenance Code § 302.4)
Russian, Canadian, or common thistle, wild lettuce, wild mustard, wild parsley, ragweed, milkweed, ironweed, poisonous plants or shrubs, and all other unattended vegetation and noxious weeds which have attained a height of seven (7) inches or more growing or being upon any lot or lands within the City, ... are hereby declared a public nuisance. Every owner, occupant, or person in control of any...
Rainwater Harvesting
St. Louis homeowners in one- and two-family dwellings can install a rainwater collection tank up to 65 gallons, or interconnected tanks totaling 200 gallons, without hiring a licensed Master Drainlayer.
St. Louis Rainwater Harvesting Tank Rules
Some RestrictionsSt. Louis Revised Code § 25.04.020 (adopting Uniform Plumbing Code § 118.3, homeowner rainwater-tank exception)
Rainwater collected from exterior downspouts to a collection container and the overflow from such container piped to a discharge point shall be installed as licensed and permitted by this Code by a Licensed Master Drainlayer. Exception: ... B)For one and two family attached residential dwellings the homeowner is authorized to install a single tank of not more than sixty-five (65) gallons or a s...
Composting
St. Louis encourages residents to mulch or compost grass clippings and yard waste at home instead of using city refuse containers, with no permit or bin standard required under the code.
St. Louis Yard Waste Composting Rules
Few RestrictionsSt. Louis Revised Code § 11.85.020
The owners of residential properties who legally use City refuse containers shall also be encouraged to recycle grass clippings and other yard waste by mulching or composting the material in accordance with established regulations and best practices. Any yard waste that cannot be disposed of using environmentally friendly methods shall be collected and placed in refuse containers marked "yard w...