9 county-level rules, plus city-specific rules for 3 cities in Pierce County, Washington.
Verified from official government sources
Unincorporated Pierce County has no numeric lawn-height limit, but overgrown vegetation that harbors vermin, blocks sight lines, or becomes a fire or health hazard can be abated as a public nuisance under PCC Chapter 8.08, and noxious weeds must be controlled under RCW 17.10.140.
Routine pruning of ordinary yard trees is unregulated, but trees retained under an approved county landscape or tree-conservation plan must be pruned to code, and significant and legacy trees may only be pruned by a professional tree service under PCC 18J.15.130.
PCC 18J.15.130.C.3
Pruning of Significant and Legacy trees shall be done by a professional tree service only. All plant materials shall be pruned and trimmed as necessary to maintain a healthy growing condition or to prevent primary limb failure.
Removing a tree from an ordinary private lot outside a development or critical area is generally unregulated, but trees retained under an approved conservation or landscape plan cannot be removed except as a documented hazard, and county-wide clearing limits restrict how much vegetation a site can lose.
PCC 18J.15.130.C.4.a
Trees required to be retained pursuant to an approved conservation plan, landscape plan, or other similar plan or requirement shall not be removed, unless it is demonstrated to the satisfaction of the Planning and Public Works Department that a hazard exists to public health or safety, the safety of public or private property, or the health of surrounding trees.
Every Pierce County landowner has an enforceable duty under RCW 17.10.140 to eradicate class A noxious weeds and control listed class B and C weeds. The Pierce County Noxious Weed Control Board (PCC Chapter 8.24) inspects, orders control, and can abate at the owner's cost.
RCW 17.10.140(1)
Except as is provided under subsection (2) of this section, every owner must perform or cause to be performed those acts as may be necessary to: (a) Eradicate all class A noxious weeds; (b) Control and prevent the spread of all class B noxious weeds designated for control in that region within and from the owner's property.
Pierce County government sets no county-wide residential watering schedule; outdoor watering rules are set by your water provider — mainly Tacoma Water and local water districts — which can impose voluntary or mandatory curtailment during shortages under their own utility ordinances.
Rooftop rainwater collection is broadly allowed in Washington, and Pierce County has no ordinance prohibiting residential rain barrels or cisterns; larger systems or those used for potable or plumbed uses may trigger plumbing-permit and Health Department review.
Pierce County encourages native and drought-tolerant plantings and requires native-vegetation retention on many development sites, but homeowners are free to choose their own yard plants; the mandates apply to development landscape and clearing plans, not existing private landscaping.
PCC 18J.15.070.B.6.a
Installation of vegetative groundcover that is native and drought-tolerant is encouraged but not required within the planting area. Native and drought-tolerant vegetation shall be considered.
Pierce County has no ordinance specifically prohibiting or permitting synthetic/artificial turf on residential lots. Installation must still meet general zoning, impervious-surface, stormwater, and critical-area rules that apply to any ground-cover change.
Backyard residential composting is allowed and encouraged in Pierce County with no permit, but a compost pile that creates odor, attracts vermin, or otherwise becomes a public nuisance can be abated under PCC Chapter 8.08; large-scale composting is a permitted solid-waste facility.
PCC 8.08.050.F
Property where solid waste has accumulated or is handled, stored, treated, processed, or buried except for properly permitted solid waste handling sites or facilities... and solid waste securely stored in receptacles or containers designed to prevent threats to human health or safety or to the environment.
3 cities in Pierce County have their own landscaping rules rules. Each link goes to that city's dedicated page with code citations.
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