8 county-level rules, plus city-specific rules for 1 city in District of Columbia, District of Columbia.
Verified from official government sources
DC limits grass and weeds to 8 inches under the Property Maintenance Code (12-G DCMR 302). The Housing Code (14 DCMR 800.10) prohibits untended vegetation over 10 inches. Enforcement season runs May through October, with fines of $500 or more for violations.
DC strongly protects its urban forest under the Urban Forest Preservation Act and Tree Canopy Protection Act. A permit from DDOT's Urban Forestry Division is required to prune or remove any street tree. Heritage Trees (100+ inch circumference) cannot be removed.
DC has strong tree removal protections. Trees 44-100 inches in circumference require a removal permit from DDOT's Urban Forestry Division. Heritage Trees over 100 inches cannot be removed. The Urban Forest Preservation Act mandates replacement planting for removed trees.
The Department of Buildings enforces DC's weed and vegetation standards under DCMR Title 14 section 802 and DC Code section 8-2103. Grass and weeds over 4 inches on residential property and 10 inches on vacant lots trigger notices of violation. DC also maintains a noxious weed list through DOEE and conducts annual abatement sweeps on vacant parcels.
DC does not have a permanent outdoor watering ban. DC Water may impose seasonal restrictions during drought conditions. DOEE promotes water conservation through voluntary programs and incentives. The District encourages rain gardens and permeable surfaces.
DC strongly encourages rainwater harvesting and offers incentives through the DOEE RiverSmart Homes program, including subsidized rain barrels for as little as $45. Rain barrels up to 500 gallons are exempt from plumbing permits. Cisterns over 500 gallons or connected to indoor plumbing require Department of Buildings permits. Harvested water can be used for irrigation and non-potable uses.
DOEE RiverSmart Homes Program — Rain Barrels & Stormwater Features
RiverSmart Homes can help install features that reduce stormwater runoff. We help install approximately 1,500 features on residential properties each year. That includes rain barrels, trees, and native plant gardens, and removing hard surfaces. [...] RiverSmart Features: RiverSmart Homes offers five different features that help reduce stormwater runoff from a property. Participants receive a fr...
DC actively encourages native plant landscaping through the RiverSmart Homes program (DOEE) which subsidizes native garden installations, rain gardens, and tree plantings. There is no District mandate for native species, but DOEE publishes a recommended Native Plant List. HOAs cannot prohibit managed native gardens that comply with property maintenance standards.
DOEE RiverSmart Homes — BayScaping Native Plant Gardens
RiverSmart Features: RiverSmart Homes offers five different features that help reduce stormwater runoff from a property. Participants receive a free stormwater audit, which determines their eligibility for the following: [...] BayScaping: DOEE will install native plant gardens (BayScaping) for a copayment of $200 per 120 square foot BayScape (limit two gardens per property); Permeable Pavers an...
DC generally discourages but does not ban artificial turf on private property. DOEE's Stormwater Management Guidebook excludes synthetic turf from counting toward pervious surface credits, and the Tree Protection Act (DC Code 8-651) restricts turf installation in tree protection zones. Some historic districts prohibit visible artificial turf. PFAS concerns have driven calls for municipal and school use bans.
21 DCMR Chapter 5 §§ 501–547, 599 — Stormwater Management Regulations
Large development projects in the District of Columbia must manage stormwater runoff post-construction by installing on-site and off-site Best Management Practices (BMP) such as green roofs, rain gardens, cisterns, and permeable pavement. There is also flexibility to comply with part, or sometimes all, of the stormwater requirements off-site by using Stormwater Retention Credits (SRCs). For ful...
1 cities in District of Columbia have their own landscaping rules rules. Each link goes to that city's dedicated page with code citations.
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