Invasive Plant Rules in Polk County, IA (2026)
2 county-level rules, plus city-specific rules for 1 city in Polk County, Iowa.
Verified from official government sources
Prohibited Species
Polk County's landscaping rules flatly bar species known to be invasive in Iowa from any required bufferyard or site landscaping plan in the unincorporated county. Table 10.5 names Japanese and European barberry, Russian and autumn olive, burning bush, four honeysuckle species, common and glossy buckthorn, and several fast-spreading trees as excluded.
Invasive Plants Barred from Landscaping, Polk County
Significant RestrictionsPolk County Zoning Ordinance, Art. 10, Div. 5, Sec. 1(A), Table 10.5
Section 1. Plant Materials (A) For each bufferyard listed, a specific combination of canopy trees, understory trees, evergreen trees and shrubs is required and is listed in Table 10.1. A list of plant species grouped by these categories is presented in Table 10.5. Other plant species with a similar character that are recommended for Zone 5a according to the USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map are al...
Tree-of-Heaven Removal
Unincorporated Polk County's zoning ordinance excludes tree of heaven (Ailanthus altissima) from the approved plant list developers must use to meet required landscaping bufferyards. The species is named directly on the county's restricted invasive tree list under Table 10.5.
Tree of Heaven Barred From Polk County Bufferyards
Light RestrictionsPolk County Zoning Ordinance, Art. 10, Div. 5, Sec. 1(A); Table 10.5 (Plant List)
(A) For each bufferyard listed, a specific combination of canopy trees, understory trees, evergreen trees and shrubs is required and is listed in Table 10.1. A list of plant species grouped by these categories is presented in Table 10.5. Other plant species with a similar character that are recommended for Zone 5a according to the USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map are also permitted upon prior appr...
Invasive Plant Rules by City in Polk County
1 cities in Polk County have their own invasive plant rules rules. Each link goes to that city's dedicated page with code citations.
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