Landscaping Rules in Forsyth County, NC (2026)
3 county-level rules, plus city-specific rules for 1 city in Forsyth County, North Carolina.
Verified from official government sources
Tree Removal & Heritage Trees
Winston-Salem/Forsyth County requires tree preservation on development, not on routine homeowner tree removal. Any project needing a land-disturbing (erosion control) permit must meet UDO tree-preservation standards; single homeowners doing non-construction tree work are exempt.
Tree Removal Permits for Development in Forsyth County
Some RestrictionsWinston-Salem/Forsyth County UDO Section B.3-4.2
Any development project or building permit requiring a land disturbing permit (erosion control permit), either issued through the Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Inspections Office or the North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources (NCDENR), unless otherwise exempted by the Unified Development Ordinance (UDO), must comply with the Tree Preservation requirements of UDO Section B....
Weed Ordinances
Forsyth County's Minimum Housing Standards require that yards and areas surrounding an occupied dwelling be kept free of noxious weeds and plant growth that harm health or shelter insects and rodents. The rule sits inside the county's sanitation standards for dwellings, enforced by the housing administrator, not a stand-alone grass-height code.
Weed & Tall Grass Rule in Forsyth County
Some RestrictionsForsyth County Code Sec. 7-117(f)
Sec. 7-117. - Minimum standards for sanitation. (f)Noxious weeds and tall grass. Yards and areas surrounding a dwelling shall be kept free of species of weeds or plant growth which are noxious or detrimental to health or provide breeding places for insect or rodent infestation.
Native Plants
Since 2024 Winston-Salem lets residents replace lawns with registered Natural Landscape Areas of native plants. Turf grass must stay under eight inches, areas need a 5-foot setback and defined borders, and registration is required if plants will exceed eight inches.
Native Plant and Natural Landscape Areas in Winston-Salem
Some RestrictionsWinston-Salem City Code Sec. 62-2(c)(7)
Natural Landscape Registration is required if a proposed landscape includes grasses that exceed or are expected to exceed 8 inches in overall height. Registration applications shall be submitted to the City Sustainability Department... Turf grass is eliminated, and native plants, trees and shrubs are planted.
Landscaping Rules by City in Forsyth County
1 cities in Forsyth County have their own landscaping rules rules. Each link goes to that city's dedicated page with code citations.
All Forsyth County ordinances
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