Landscaping Rules in Gwinnett County, GA (2026)
5 rules for unincorporated Gwinnett County, Georgia.
Verified from official government sources
Tree Trimming
Owners of unincorporated Gwinnett properties with required street trees must trim and prune them to International Society of Arboriculture standards, keeping trees healthy along non-residential road frontages under UDO Chapter 620.
Gwinnett County Street Tree Pruning Duty
Some RestrictionsGwinnett County UDO § 620-40(E), (I)
E.Street trees shall be cared for and maintained by the owner of the property on which they are located, except in developments where the property owners association provides maintenance and care.F.A Right-of-Way Encroachment Maintenance Agreement shall be provided by the developer for street trees located within the right-of-way.G.A maintenance responsibility statement shall be provided on the...
Tree Removal & Heritage Trees
Developers in unincorporated Gwinnett County must retain or replant trees to reach 16 Tree Density Units per acre -- 20 in Overlay Districts, 24 for limited land disturbance.
Gwinnett County Tree Density Replacement Standard
Some RestrictionsGwinnett County UDO § 630-30.1.A
On each property for which a Tree Preservation and/or Replacement Plan is required, existing trees shall be retained and new trees shall be planted such that the property shall attain or exceed a Tree Density Standard of 16 Tree Density Units per acre, or 20 Tree Density Units per acre as specified in the Overlay Districts, or 24 Tree Density Units per acre for limited land-disturbing activitie...
Weed Ordinances
Gwinnett County caps grass, weeds and uncultivated vegetation on unincorporated lots at 12 inches under Code § 14-286(a), and separately bars letting yard trimmings pile up on the street and requires unpaved front yards to stay covered enough to resist erosion. Large agricultural and single-family parcels are carved out of the height limit.
Gwinnett County 12-Inch Weed Height Limit
Some RestrictionsGwinnett County Code of Ordinances § 14-286(a)-(c)
(a)Premises and exterior property shall be maintained free from grass, weeds, or uncultivated vegetation in excess of 12 inches in height. Exceptions: (1)Any parcel zoned RA-200 (Agriculture-Residence District) that is greater than one acre in size.(2)Any parcel within a single-family residential zoning classification that is greater than three acres in size.(b)Property owners abutting a right-...
Water Restrictions
Gwinnett County bans wasting water under County Code Sec. 106-59, which defines waste as any use that sends a trail of flowing water more than 50 feet off the property, irrigating for more than 20 minutes during precipitation, or failing to fix a controllable leak. The county's Department of Water Resources enforces the rule with escalating fines, citations and, in repeat cases, termination of water service.
Gwinnett County Water Wasting Ban
Some RestrictionsGwinnett County Code § 106-59
Wasting water is prohibited if such usage leaves a trail of flowing water for more than 50 feet off the property. Water waste also includes irrigation for more than 20 minutes during precipitation, and failure to repair a controllable leak. Water wasting, including water wasting by users otherwise exempted from drought restrictions by the Rules, is subject to fines, penalties, and enforcement u...
Composting
Gwinnett County's solid waste code expressly allows residential service unit owners to compost on their own property.
Gwinnett County Permits Home Composting
Few RestrictionsGwinnett County Code § 82-63(d)
Composting by residential service unit owners is expressly permitted pursuant to this article.(e)A residential service unit owner which holds a vacant structure permit or a boarding-up permit from the county shall be refunded or exempted from any residential service fee for solid waste collection and disposal services during the period of time which the permit is valid. Should such vacant struc...
All Gwinnett County ordinances
See every category we cover for Gwinnett County: parking, noise, fences, fires, animals, pools, and more.
Gwinnett County Ordinance Hub →