Landscaping Rules in Marion County, OR (2026)
6 county-level rules, plus city-specific rules for 1 city in Marion County, Oregon.
Verified from official government sources
Tree Trimming
Marion County requires no permit to trim trees on your own property, but vegetation that blocks the view of a public right-of-way is a traffic-hazard nuisance you must cut back. In Salem, trimming near intersections must keep vision-clearance areas open.
Tree Trimming Rules in Marion County, Oregon
Some RestrictionsMarion County Code 8.15.030 (Nuisance Vegetation definition)
...vegetation that is a traffic hazard because it impairs the view of a public right-of-way or otherwise makes use of public right-of-way hazardous.
Tree Removal & Heritage Trees
Unincorporated Marion County requires no permit to remove a private tree. Inside the City of Salem, protected trees and native vegetation may not be removed without a tree and vegetation removal permit, with limited exceptions for utilities, hazards and routine maintenance.
Tree-Removal Permits in Salem and Marion County
Some RestrictionsSalem Revised Code 808.030 (Tree and vegetation removal permits)
Except as provided in subsection (a)(2) of this section, no trees or native vegetation protected under SRC 808.015, SRC 808.020, or SRC 808.025 shall be removed unless a tree and vegetation removal permit has been issued pursuant to this section.
Weed Ordinances
Within the unincorporated Salem-Keizer urban growth boundary, Marion County Code 8.15 defines nuisance vegetation as weeds and grasses more than 10 inches tall, dead or dying vegetation, poison oak, and fire or traffic hazards. Owners must abate it within 10 days of a county notice. Cities set their own grass
Weeds and Tall Grass Rules in Marion County
Some RestrictionsMarion County Code 8.15.030
Nuisance vegetation means, but is not limited to, weeds and grasses more than 10 inches in height; dead or dying vegetation; poison oak; hazardous thickets; other rank, noxious, and dangerous vegetation that is a health hazard or a fire hazard.
Water Restrictions
Marion County itself sets no residential watering schedule. In Salem, the Public Works Director may curtail water use whenever a supply shortage or emergency threatens delivery, and Salem has activated drought-stage outdoor-watering limits in recent years.
Lawn Watering and Drought Rules in Salem and Marion County
Some RestrictionsSalem Revised Code 72.250 (Water curtailment authority)
When the Director determines that a water supply shortage exists or is imminent or any other emergency exists or is imminent which threatens the ability of the City to deliver essential water to its customers, the Director may curtail the use of water.
Rainwater Harvesting
Oregon law lets you collect rain and snowmelt from a rooftop or other artificial impervious surface without a water right. Marion County has no ordinance banning rain barrels; large tanks or indoor plumbing may need a building or plumbing permit.
Rainwater Harvesting in Marion County, Oregon
Some RestrictionsORS 537.141(1)(h)
The following water uses do not require an application under ORS 537.130 or 537.615, a water right permit under ORS 537.211 or a water right certificate under ORS 537.250: ... (h) The collection of precipitation water from an artificial impervious surface and the use of such water.
Native Plants
Marion County does not require any particular plants and does not ban native or xeric landscaping. Ornamental landscape grasses that are not a fire or traffic hazard are expressly excluded from the nuisance-vegetation rule, so water-wise plantings are allowed.
Native and Drought-Tolerant Landscaping in Marion County
Some RestrictionsMarion County Code 8.15.030 (Nuisance Vegetation definition)
This definition does not include agricultural crops, endangered riparian grasses that have not come to seed, wetland grasses that do not constitute a fire hazard or a traffic hazard and ornamental grasses commonly used for landscaping that do not constitute a fire hazard or a traffic hazard.
Landscaping Rules by City in Marion County
1 cities in Marion County have their own landscaping rules rules. Each link goes to that city's dedicated page with code citations.
All Marion County ordinances
See every category we cover for Marion County: parking, noise, fences, fires, animals, pools, and more.
Marion County Ordinance Hub →