Landscaping Rules in Washington, DC (2026)
6 verified landscaping rules for Washington, District of Columbia, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Tree Removal & Heritage Trees
In Washington, D.C., cutting down, topping, girdling, or otherwise destroying any Special Tree, one with a trunk circumference of 55 inches or more, without a Mayor-issued removal permit is unlawful under the Urban Forest Preservation Program.
D.C. Special Tree Removal Permit Required
Some RestrictionsD.C. Code § 8-651.04(a), (d)
(a) It shall be unlawful for any person or nongovernmental entity, without a Special Tree removal permit issued by the Mayor, to top, cut down, remove, girdle, break, or destroy any Special Tree. ... (d) A violation of subsection (a) of this section, or a failure to comply with the conditions contained in a Special Tree removal permit, shall constitute a violation subject to a fine of not less ...
Weed Ordinances
In Washington, D.C., property owners must cut weeds down once they reach 4 inches after a Department notice, or face a $10 daily fine until compliance.
Washington D.C. Weed Height Removal Duty
Some RestrictionsD.C. Code § 8-301
It shall be the duty of the owner, occupant, or agent in charge of any land in the City of Washington, or in the more densely populated suburbs of said City, to remove from such land any weeds thereon of 4 or more inches in height within 7 days (Sundays and legal holidays excepted) after notice from the Director of the Department of Human Services so to do, and upon failure to comply with such ...
Rainwater Harvesting
DC's Green Area Ratio zoning rules let builders count rainwater harvesting toward the required landscaping score, but only if the system meets exact conditions: water features must run on at least 50% harvested rainwater, and stormwater used for irrigation must meet DOEE treatment standards for spray systems.
DC Rainwater Harvesting Landscape Credit
Some Restrictions11 DCMR Subtitle C § 603.11 (Green Area Ratio, Chapter 6)
603.11 Harvesting stormwater for irrigation shall meet the following conditions: (a) If the irrigation type is spray, applicants shall follow treatment standards set forth in the current District Department of Energy and Environment's Stormwater Management Guidebook; and (b) If the irrigation type is drip, no additional treatment of stormwater is required. ... Water features shall meet the fol...
Native Plants
Under D.C.'s Green Area Ratio (GAR) rules, developers get landscape credit for native plants only if the species is listed in a federal native-plant guide or backed by two published references, and only if it is not on the region's invasive-species list.
DC Native Plant Credit for Green Area Ratio
Some Restrictions11 DCMR-C § 603.9, 603.12
603.9 Native plant species shall meet the following conditions: (a) The plants are listed in the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's Native Plants for Wildlife Conservation Landscaping: Chesapeake Bay Watershed guide; or (b) The applicant provides two (2) references in current publications showing that the plant is native to the region. ... 603.12 Plant species shall not be listed on the U.S. Fish...
Artificial Turf
DC's zoning code expressly excludes artificial turf from counting as a "pervious surface," so it earns no landscaping credit toward the Green Area Ratio a property must meet in most zones. The rule applies to new buildings and major renovations everywhere except R and RF (single-family and rowhouse) residential zones.
Washington DC Artificial Turf Yard Rules
Some Restrictions11 DCMR Subtitle B § 100.2
Pervious Surface: A surface that allows the percolation of water into the underlying soil. ... Pervious surfaces do not include any structure or building, any porch or deck that limits the covered lot surface from absorbing water, or any outdoor stairs, on-grade surface sports court, swimming pool, artificial turf, sidewalk or patio constructed of concrete, asphalt, brick, compacted gravel or o...
Composting
Backyard composting is explicitly protected in Washington, D.C.: a 'properly maintained compost pile' is carved out of the rodent-control definition of prohibited yard-waste debris under D.C. Code § 8-2103.01(2)(B), and a composting facility, defined at § 8-1051(1), doesn't need the solid waste facility permit other waste operations require, under § 8-1053(h)(2).
D.C. Backyard Compost Pile Exemption
Light RestrictionsD.C. Code § 8-2103.01(2); § 8-1051(1); § 8-1053(h)(2)
"Debris" means any of the following: (A) Construction or demolition waste that is not stored in a rodent-proof container and not removed after 14 days or longer; (B) Yard waste and branches that are not bundled and set out for waste collection, but not yard waste placed in a properly maintained compost pile; and (C) Fire wood that is stored next to a building or left in loose piles on the groun...