Landscaping Rules in Walton County, GA (2026)
4 rules for unincorporated Walton County, Georgia.
Verified from official government sources
Tree Removal & Heritage Trees
In unincorporated Walton County, any land development permit application must include a tree protection plan under Land Development Ordinance Section 12-2-100. Single-family and duplex residential lots, agricultural and forestry operations, and legitimate timber harvesting are exempt. Diseased, hazardous, dying, dead or insect-infested trees may be removed once that condition is confirmed by the County extension service, the state forestry commission, an arborist or an urban forester.
Walton County Tree Removal Permit Rules
Some RestrictionsWalton County Land Development Ordinance § 12-2-100
B.Applicability1.The terms and provisions of this section shall apply to any activity on real property which requires the issuance of a development permit, excluding the development of single family detached and duplex single-family residential lots (except as required in the development guidelines for the Open Space Conservation District, and excluding the construction of public roads and util...
Weed Ordinances
In unincorporated Walton County, it is unlawful for the owner or occupant of a single-family dwelling to let grass, weeds or uncultivated vegetation in the yard around the home grow taller than twelve inches. Heavily wooded lots too dense for mowing equipment and legitimate agricultural uses such as hayfields, pastures and gardens are exempt from the limit.
Walton County Grass and Weed Height Limit
Some RestrictionsWalton County Land Development Ordinance § 11-6-120(B)
It shall further be unlawful for the owner or occupant of any single-family dwelling to allow grass, weeds or uncultivated vegetation in the exterior yards surrounding the dwelling to obtain a height in excess of twelve (12) inches. Heavily wooded lots where equipment cannot maneuver on the lot because of density are exempt from this Section. Also exempt are legitimate agricultural uses includi...
Water Restrictions
In unincorporated Walton County, the Outdoor Water Use Ordinance sets a daily watering window of 4:00 p.m. to 10:00 a.m. and assigns watering days by address: odd-numbered addresses water Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday, even-numbered addresses water Monday, Wednesday and Saturday. Georgia EPD drought declarations tighten the schedule further, and violations bring citations in magistrate court.
Walton County Outdoor Watering Schedule
Some RestrictionsWalton County Code § 39-254
Outdoor watering for purposes of planting, growing, managing, or maintaining ground cover, trees, shrubs, or other plants may occur only between the hours of 4:00 p.m. and 10:00 a.m. (12:00 midnight to 10:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. to 12:00 midnight). ... Except for outdoor water use for (i) the landscape activities listed in paragraph (a)(1) above, (ii) those activities exempted under paragraph (a)...
Composting
Walton County does not regulate compost bins by size or design; it simply lists 'gardening and composting' as a permitted accessory use. Land Development Ordinance Section 5-2-110 allows it outright in the Agricultural and Rural Estate districts, and Section 5-2-120 carries that same permission into the R1, R2, R3, and manufactured home park residential districts.
Backyard Composting Rules, Walton County
Few RestrictionsWalton County Land Development Ordinance §§ 5-2-110, 5-2-120
A.The following accessory uses and structures shall be permitted in the A-Agricultural and Rural Estate Districts, including similar uses and structures:1.Garages for the parking of automobiles, decks, garbage pads, and storage buildings subject to the following conditions: ... 6.Gardening and composting. ... Section 5-2-120 - Accessory Uses in Residential Districts A.The following residential ...
All Walton County ordinances
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