Landscaping Rules in Guilford County, NC (2026)
6 county-level rules, plus city-specific rules for 2 cities in Guilford County, North Carolina.
Verified from official government sources
Tree Trimming
The county sets no general rule for trimming trees on your own single-family lot. Trimming is regulated only where trees satisfy required landscape planting yards or sit inside protected stream (riparian) buffers, where removal of trees is limited.
Tree Trimming Rules in Guilford County, NC
Some RestrictionsGuilford County UDO Sec. 15-56, 6.2 (Tree Preservation)
General: Any existing tree or group of trees which stands within or near a required planting area and meets or exceeds the standards of this Ordinance may be used to satisfy the tree requirements of the planting area. The protection of tree stands, rather than individual trees, is strongly encouraged. Trees of greater age shall be prioritized.
Tree Removal & Heritage Trees
Unincorporated Guilford County has no stand-alone tree-cutting permit; clearing more than one acre, disturbing highly erodible soil in a watershed critical area, or working inside a Tier 1 or Tier 2 watershed critical area instead triggers UDO Section 9.2.A.1's land-disturbance Plan approval before any clearing starts.
Guilford County Tree Clearing Permit Rules
Some RestrictionsGuilford County UDO Sec. 9.2.A.1 (adopted via County Code Sec. 15-56)
1. Plan Required. No person shall undertake any land-disturbing activity subject to this Ordinance without first obtaining a Plan approval therefor from Guilford County, if the land-disturbing activity: a. Exceeds one (1) acre. b. Will take place on highly erodible soils with a "k" factor greater than .36 in a watershed critical area. c. Includes a permanent runoff control structure in a waters...
Weed Ordinances
Sec. 15-79(h) of Guilford County's Minimum Housing Standards requires every yard and exterior property area to stay free of noxious or health-detrimental weeds and plant growth, tying compliance to the county's separate Health Hazards Regulations. The Public Officer enforces it with warnings, citations and misdemeanor charges, not a fixed inch limit.
Guilford County Weed & Vegetation Height Rules
Some RestrictionsGuilford County Code Sec. 15-79(h)
(h) Noxious Weeds or Uncontrolled Vegetation. Every yard and all exterior property areas shall be kept free of species of weeds or plant growth which are noxious or detrimental to health, and shall be maintained in compliance with the Regulations Governing Health Hazards and Potential Health Hazards in Guilford County.
Native Plants
Guilford County does not mandate native plants for private yards, but its Unified Development Ordinance sets planting standards for required landscape and buffer yards on larger developments, including canopy, understory, and shrub counts.
Native Plants and Landscaping in Guilford County, NC
Some RestrictionsGuilford County UDO Sec. 15-56, 6.2 (Planting Standards)
Canopy trees must be a minimum of eight (8) feet high and two (2) inches in caliper, measured six (6) inches above grade, when planted....Understory trees must be a minimum of four (4) feet high and one (1) inch in caliper, measured six (6) inches above grade, when planted.
Artificial Turf
Guilford County has no ordinance banning or specifically regulating artificial turf on residential lots. Because turf is an impervious-type surface, it may count toward built-upon-area limits in protected watershed districts and stream buffers.
Artificial Turf in Guilford County, NC
Some RestrictionsGuilford County UDO Sec. 15-56, 9.1.F (Watershed Performance Standards)
Development in all WS-IV watersheds, except the Lower Randleman Lake, shall not exceed seventy percent (70%) maximum built-upon area. Development in the Lower Randleman Lake Watershed shall not exceed fifty percent (50%) maximum built-upon area.
Composting
Backyard composting for your own yard and food waste is allowed; the county has no ordinance banning home compost bins. The public-nuisance code does bar accumulations of putrescible waste and open dumps that draw pests.
Backyard Composting in Guilford County, NC
Some RestrictionsGuilford County Code Sec. 15.5-2(1)(b)
An open place of collection of solid waste, garbage, food waste, animal waste, or any rotten or putrescible matter of any kind;
Landscaping Rules by City in Guilford County
2 cities in Guilford County have their own landscaping rules rules. Each link goes to that city's dedicated page with code citations.
All Guilford County ordinances
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