Landscaping Rules in Washington County, MN (2026)

2 rules for unincorporated Washington County, Minnesota.

Verified from official government sources

Note: These county rules apply to unincorporated areas of Washington County. If you live within an incorporated city, that city's own rules apply: see the city list below.

Tree Removal & Heritage Trees

Washington County requires a Certificate of Compliance before clearing 20,000 square feet or more of trees and other woody plants in any 12-month period. Clearing tied to a permitted building project, activity under 20,000 square feet, or land within a finally platted subdivision needs no permit. Removing trees on slopes steeper than 25 percent, in wooded floodplains, wooded wetlands, or stream corridors is banned outright.

Washington County Land-Clearing Permit for Tree Removal

Some Restrictions

Washington County Development Code, Chapter Two § 1.7(1), (3)(A)

(1) Required Permit: Certificate of Compliance. Land clearing of twenty thousand (20,000) square feet or more is permitted provided that a Certificate of Compliance is issued. A permit is not required for clearing trees and other woody plants in an area less than twenty thousand (20,000) square feet, for clearing activities associated with a construction project provided a building permit is is...

Full ordinance details →Official source ↗

Composting

Washington County lets residents run a backyard compost pile without a county license, but caps its size at ten cubic yards. Ordinance No. 202 exempts Backyard Compost Sites from the Solid Waste Management Ordinance's facility-licensing sections as long as the pile stays under that limit and does not become a nuisance.

Washington County Backyard Compost Pile Limits

Light Restrictions

Washington County Solid Waste Management Ordinance No. 202, § 12.0 (Backyard Compost Sites)

Backyard Compost Sites. A Backyard Compost Site shall be considered exempt from the requirements of Sections 7, 8, 12.1, 12.2, 12.3, 12.4 and 12.5 and may be allowed on a land parcel without a license under this Ordinance. Backyard Compost Sites must comply with the following requirements: a. Size of the Compost pile shall not exceed ten (10) cubic yards in size; and b. Operation of the site sh...

Full ordinance details →Official source ↗

All Washington County ordinances

See every category we cover for Washington County: parking, noise, fences, fires, animals, pools, and more.

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