9 county-level rules, plus city-specific rules for 1 city in Rutherford County, Tennessee.
Verified from official government sources
Unincorporated Rutherford County's Tall Weeds and Grass Ordinance keeps grass and weeds below fifteen inches on lots of two acres or less and within 25 feet of any street. Inside the City of Murfreesboro the limit is twelve inches.
Rutherford County Tall Weeds and Grass Ordinance (Nov. 13, 2008), Sec. 1
weeds and other similar regulated vegetation shall be kept cut, clipped or controlled through chemical means as frequently as necessary to ensure that weeds, rank grass, and noxious growths do not exceed a height of fifteen (15) inches.
Murfreesboro's Tree Preservation Ordinance bars topping or pruning street, park, and other public trees without City Arborist authorization. Trimming a healthy tree entirely on your own private property needs no city permit. Unincorporated county has no tree-trimming rule.
Murfreesboro City Code Sec. 34-6(d) (Tree Preservation Ordinance)
As a normal practice it shall be unlawful for any person, firm, public utility, or city department to top any street tree, park tree, or other tree on public property.
Removing a street or public tree in Murfreesboro requires City Arborist authorization. A tree on private property may be removed without a city permit unless it is declared a public nuisance. Unincorporated Rutherford County has no tree-removal ordinance.
Murfreesboro City Code Sec. 34-8(a) (Public Nuisances)
Any tree, shrub, or other plant, or portion thereof, whether located on city-owned property or on private property, which by reason of location or condition constitutes an imminent danger to the health, safety, or welfare of the general public.
The City of Murfreesboro makes it unlawful to let weeds or grass grow over twelve inches, and requires yards be kept free of rubbish and refuse. Unincorporated Rutherford County's separate ordinance caps growth at fifteen inches.
City of Murfreesboro Property Maintenance (Resident Information Sheet)
It is unlawful to allow weeds to grow and grass to grow in excess of 12 inches in height.
Rutherford County and its water providers have not imposed mandatory watering restrictions; conservation is voluntary. Tennessee sets no statewide homeowner watering ban. During drought, the county and utilities such as the Consolidated Utility District ask residents to cut non-essential water use.
Rutherford County EMA — Drought guidance
County officials have not yet had to restrict water use, but we highly recommend that you consider ways to reduce your consumption and conserve whenever possible.
Neither Rutherford County nor the City of Murfreesboro restricts residential rainwater harvesting, and Tennessee places no ban on collecting rooftop rainwater. Rain barrels and cisterns for outdoor irrigation are legal; large or plumbed systems follow the state plumbing code.
Neither Rutherford County nor Murfreesboro requires homeowners to plant native or drought-tolerant species. Landscaping and buffer plantings are required only for certain new commercial and subdivision developments under zoning, not for existing home lawns.
No Rutherford County or Murfreesboro ordinance bans residential artificial turf. Synthetic grass is generally allowed on private yards; development landscaping standards and any HOA covenants may impose conditions. Tennessee has no statewide turf statute.
Backyard composting is legal in Rutherford County and Murfreesboro; there is no mandatory residential organics-diversion program. A compost pile must not become rubbish, refuse, or a vermin or odor nuisance, and yards must be kept clean under property maintenance rules.
City of Murfreesboro Property Maintenance — Rubbish and Refuse
Please keep your yard free of rubbish, refuse, vegetation, trash or garbage.
1 cities in Rutherford County have their own landscaping rules rules. Each link goes to that city's dedicated page with code citations.
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Rutherford County Ordinance Hub →