Landscaping Rules in Shelby County, TN (2026)
4 county-level rules, plus city-specific rules for 1 city in Shelby County, Tennessee.
Verified from official government sources
Tree Trimming
The Memphis and Shelby County Unified Development Code requires pruning of required landscape trees to follow ANSI A300 standards and prohibits topping, lollipopping, or meatballing that harms a tree's natural form on development sites.
Tree Trimming Rules in Shelby County
Some RestrictionsMemphis & Shelby County UDC Sub-Section 4.6.4F(2)(b)
Necessary pruning and trimming must be in accordance with the American National Standards for Tree Care Operations... and may not be interpreted to include topping of trees through removal of crown material or the central leader, or any other similarly severe procedures such as lollipopping or meatballing that cause irreparable harm to the natural form of the tree.
Tree Removal & Heritage Trees
The Memphis and Shelby County Unified Development Code requires a tree removal permit or an approved alternative before clearing trees on non-exempt parcels, with a notice of intent, a tree survey, and removals limited by the tree removal matrix.
Tree Removal Permits in Shelby County
Heavy RestrictionsMemphis & Shelby County UDC Sub-Section 6.1.2B(2)
No more than 45 and no less than ten working days before the removal of any existing tree a notice of intent must be filed with the Zoning Administrator; Before the removal of any existing tree, a tree survey shall be submitted to the Zoning Administrator for review.
Weed Ordinances
Shelby County Code section 44-88(b) prohibits allowing high weeds or grass to accumulate so as to permit urban blight in unincorporated areas. Section 44-87 defines urban blight from uncut weeds and undergrowth. Complaints are enforced through the Environmental Court, and the county Vegetation Control section abates overgrowth along county rights-of-way.
Shelby County Weeds & Overgrown Grass Rules
Heavy RestrictionsShelby County Code sec. 44-87 (definition of urban blight)
Urban blight means a condition existing on property such as weeds, grass, undergrowth and uncut shrubbery without apparent or patent supervision by an owner or tenant so that the exterior of property is in disrepair, contains excessive amounts of high weeds, tall grass, unkempt greenery and undergrowth about the premises.
Native Plants
The Memphis and Shelby County Unified Development Code favors native landscaping, directing that trees and shrubs be predominately hardy Tennessee native species and providing an approved native-plant list for naturalized screens and buffers.
Native Plants in Shelby County
Few RestrictionsMemphis & Shelby County UDC Sub-Section 4.6.4
The species may be expanded but are intended to provide guidance in selecting predominately hardy Tennessee native species.
Landscaping Rules by City in Shelby County
1 cities in Shelby County have their own landscaping rules rules. Each link goes to that city's dedicated page with code citations.
All Shelby County ordinances
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