9 county-level rules, plus city-specific rules for 2 cities in Guilford County, North Carolina.
Verified from official government sources
Unincorporated Guilford County sets no specific grass-height number. Its minimum-housing code instead requires every yard be kept free of noxious weeds or plant growth detrimental to health. Cities like Greensboro and High Point set their own tall-grass limits.
Guilford County Code Sec. 15-79(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.
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.
Guilford 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.
There is no county permit to remove trees on a private single-family lot. Removal is limited only inside protected riparian buffers (where no new clearing is allowed) and where trees are required landscaping on larger developments.
Guilford County UDO Sec. 15-56, 9.1.I (Stream Buffers)
No new clearing, grading, or development shall take place, nor shall any new building permits be issued in violation of this Ordinance.
The county's minimum-housing code requires every yard to be kept free of noxious weeds or plant growth detrimental to health. Separately, a public-nuisance ordinance bars accumulations of debris, dumping, and putrescible matter on land.
Guilford County Code Sec. 15.5-2
The following...acts and conditions are found, deemed and declared to constitute a detriment, danger and hazard to the health, safety, morals and general welfare of the inhabitants of the county and are found, deemed and declared to be public nuisances wherever the same may exist: (1) A promiscuous dump of any kind...
Guilford County itself does not run a drinking-water utility and sets no lawn-watering ordinance. Outdoor-watering limits come from your city water provider's drought stages (Greensboro, High Point) triggered by NC drought conditions.
Rain barrels and cisterns are legal; Guilford County has no ordinance banning or restricting rainwater capture. Greensboro even offers a residential rain-barrel rebate. North Carolina broadly encourages rainwater harvesting for irrigation.
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.
Guilford 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.
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.
Guilford 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.
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.
Guilford 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;
2 cities in Guilford County have their own landscaping rules rules. Each link goes to that city's dedicated page with code citations.
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