Landscaping Rules in Prince George's County, MD (2026)
7 rules for unincorporated Prince George's County, Maryland.
Verified from official government sources
Tree Trimming
Trimming trees on your own private property in Prince George's County generally needs no county permit. But any tree in a public road right-of-way is protected: Maryland's Roadside Tree Law (Natural Resources Article 5-406) makes it illegal to trim a roadside tree without a permit from the DNR Forest Service.
PG County Tree Trimming Rules
Some RestrictionsMD Natural Resources Article § 5-406(b)
A person may not cut down, trim, mutilate, or in any manner injure any roadside tree, except as authorized by this section, without a permit from the Department.
Tree Removal & Heritage Trees
Clearing 10,000 square feet or more of woodland on a Prince George's County lot triggers the Woodland and Wildlife Habitat Conservation Division and requires an approved Tree Conservation Plan before any cutting starts. Smaller residential jobs and lots under 40,000 square feet can qualify for a Letter of Exemption instead.
Prince George's County Tree Removal Permit Rules
Significant RestrictionsPrince George's County Code Sec. 25-119(a)(1)(A)
Except as provided in (b) below, this Woodland and Wildlife Habitat Conservation Division applies to: (A) All DRD applications and grading permit applications, excluding applications which propose residential construction activity resulting in the disturbance of less than 10,000 square feet of woodlands on a single lot of any size or linear project that do not have a previously approved and val...
Weed Ordinances
In Prince George's County, grass or weeds over 12 inches tall is a violation of the County Code. Owners get a written notice and 10 calendar days to cut before DPIE has the property mowed at the owner's expense, with the cost added to the tax bill as a lien.
PG County: Grass and Weeds Over 12 Inches Prohibited
Heavy RestrictionsPG County Code § 13-237
All property shall be kept free from weeds in excess of twelve (12) inches in height except where prohibited by other applicable laws.
Water Restrictions
Prince George's County has no permanent lawn-watering schedule. Water is supplied by WSSC Water, and in humid Maryland outdoor watering is unrestricted in normal conditions. Watering limits apply only when the State declares a drought, when Level One rules can prohibit lawn watering.
PG County Water Restrictions (WSSC Water)
Few RestrictionsMDE Level One Mandatory Water Use Restrictions
Level One restrictions include prohibitions against watering of lawns, automated watering of gardens, washing paved areas and non-commercial washing or cleaning of mobile equipment including automobiles, trucks, trailers and boats.
Rainwater Harvesting
Prince George's County pays $2 per gallon of stored capacity for rain barrels and cisterns under its Stormwater Management and Residential Resilience Retrofit Program, up to a $6,000 lifetime cap per residential property, with no pre-approval needed for rain barrels.
PG County Rain Barrel and Cistern Rebate Rules
Few RestrictionsPrince George's County Code § 32-201.03(d),(j)
Sec. 32-201.03. - Rebates. (d)Lifetime rebate ceilings per property are $6,000 for residential projects and $20,000 for commercial, multi-family dwelling, home-owners associations, condominium associations, civic associations, non-profit entities and not-for-profit organizations. An applicant may do multiple projects until the rebate ceilings are met....(j)The following techniques will be made ...
Native Plants
When a Tree Conservation Plan is required for development in Prince George's County, every required planting must use native plant species rather than ornamental or exotic stock. The mandate applies to afforestation, reforestation, and any replanting done to satisfy the county's woodland conservation thresholds.
Prince George's County Native Plant Rule
Some RestrictionsPrince George's County Code Sec. 25-121(a)(9)-(10)
(9)Native plants shall be used for all required plantings.(10)Invasive non-native vegetation shall be evaluated for management and for potential credit per Section 25-122(d)(5) toward meeting the requirements of this Division when identified in the review of an FSD or NRI.
Composting
Prince George's County's property-maintenance code excludes yard and lawn clippings from the legal definition of "rubbish" as long as they sit in an established compost pile. Sec. 13-231(7) otherwise counts grass clippings as combustible waste subject to mandatory container disposal, so a maintained backyard compost pile is the way to keep clippings on-site without a disposal or nuisance violation.
Prince George's County Compost Pile Exemption
Light RestrictionsPrince George's County Code § 13-231(7)
"(7)Rubbish shall mean all solid waste consisting of both combustible waste (including, but not limited to, paper, cardboard, wood, cloth, bedding material, lawn and yard clippings not located in an established compost pile, and dead trees and limbs to include any hazardous or uprooted trees) and noncombustible waste (including, but not limited to, metals, glass, crockery, tin cans, junked appl...
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