Landscaping Rules in Waco, TX (2026)
5 verified landscaping rules for Waco, Texas, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Tree Trimming
Waco property owners can't let a tree canopy hang low over the street: Section 25-52 requires any limb that overhangs the strip between the property line and curbline to be trimmed to at least 14 feet of clearance above the street, and further if needed to keep sightlines to traffic signals and signs open for 200 feet.
Waco Requires 14-Foot Street Tree Clearance
Some RestrictionsWaco, Tex., Code of Ordinances § 25-52
Sec. 25-52. - Overhangs. It shall be unlawful for any person to maintain, permit or allow to be maintained or permitted the limbs of trees growing on property within the city, or any other object or plant, to overhang or grow above the area between the property line and curbline of any abutting street unless trimmed or maintained to a minimum clearance of 14 feet above the street level at the n...
Tree Removal & Heritage Trees
Waco has no citywide tree-protection ordinance. Its only codified tree-preservation rule sits in the Brazos River Corridor overlay district, where developers earn landscape credit for keeping significant trees: each preserved caliper inch counts as 1.5 caliper inches of required tree planting.
Waco Tree Preservation: Brazos River Corridor Overlay Only
Light RestrictionsWaco, Tex., Code of Ordinances § 28-813.7 (Tree preservation)
In order to encourage the preservation of significant trees and continued growth of smaller trees, the following credit toward the total landscape area and minimum caliper inches per acre required is possible. ... (2) Each one caliper inch of a preserved significant tree shall count as 1.5 caliper inches of required tree planting per section 28-813.4.
Weed Ordinances
Waco Code of Ordinances section 16-61 bars weeds, grass, or other vegetation from growing over 12 inches anywhere inside the city limits. Code Compliance gives seven days to cut it; ignore the notice and the city mows the lot, bills the owner, and files a property lien.
Waco Weeds and Grass Over 12 Inches Prohibited
Some RestrictionsWaco Code of Ordinances § 16-61; §§ 16-66, 16-67 (Ch. 16, Art. II, Div. 3)
Sec. 16-61. - Application of division. No person may allow weeds, grass, or other vegetation to grow in excess of 12 inches upon property within the city limits. ... Sec. 16-67. - Enforcement. If the owner, occupant, lessee or person in control of property in the city does not comply with the requirements within seven days after receiving the notice of violation the city will either: (1) Refer ...
Water Restrictions
Waco's Water Conservation and Drought/Emergency Contingency Plan imposes mandatory landscape watering days once the city manager declares a drought stage. Under Stage 1, triggered when Lake Waco falls to 457 feet msl (about 80% capacity), outdoor watering is capped at two days a week by street-address digit and banned citywide from 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Waco Drought-Stage Watering Day Limits
Some RestrictionsWaco, Tex., Code of Ordinances § 26-98(b)(3)c (Drought/Emergency Contingency Plan, Stage 1 mandatory restrictions)
For all accounts, all landscape and other outdoor water usage at each service address shall be limited to two days a week based on the last digit in the physical street address, according to the schedule identified directly below; however, landscape and other outdoor water usage is prohibited from 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.: Last Digit of Address / Allowed Landscape Water Days: Odd Number (1,3,5,7...
Native Plants
Waco's site development standards require developers to preserve existing mature trees (six inches or greater in caliper) and a named list of native species, from live oak and bald cypress to Texas persimmon and mountain laurel, by avoiding clear-cutting outside the construction footprint and retaining vegetation in required yards, open space, and buffer areas.
Waco Requires Preservation of Native, Mature Vegetation
Some RestrictionsWaco, Tex., Code of Ordinances § 28-217
Existing mature vegetation (trees of six inches or greater in caliper) or native vegetation (including live oak, spanish oak, cedar elm, shin oak, bald cypress, post oak, or black walnut and small native trees such as Texas madrone, black cherry, Texas mountain laurel, evergreen sumac, Mexican buckeye, flameleaf sumac or Texas persimmon) shall be preserved through: (1)Avoidance of clear-cuttin...