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Nashua, NH Invasive Plant Rules: Prohibited Species (2026)

Some Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified September 2026

Key Facts

Applies to
VMPR Overlay District buffer plantings only
Standard
Native species required, invasive species barred
Buffer width
50 feet minimum along district boundary
Enforced by
Planning Board and Administrative Officer

Summary

Nashua's Veterans Memorial Parkway Redevelopment Overlay District bars any state-listed invasive species from required buffer plantings, mandating native species instead under the city's Land Use Code.

All plantings shall be native species and any invasive species as listed by the State of New Hampshire shall be prohibited. [9] All plantings must have a hardiness suitable for the Nashua region as defined by the USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map.

(b) Planting minimums.

Planting Minimums Deciduous Trees Evergreen Trees Shrubs Height at planting 12 feet 6 feet 2 feet Caliper at planting

View official code

Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4805762; v29 updated 2026-02-10; through 02-10-2026).

Full Breakdown

Nashua's Land Use Code creates the Veterans Memorial Parkway Redevelopment (VMPR) Overlay District and requires a 50-foot vegetated buffer along its outer boundary next to residential neighborhoods. Within that buffer, § 190-26.2(F)(5)(a)[8] states plainly: all plantings must be native species, and "any invasive species as listed by the State of New Hampshire shall be prohibited." The Planning Board sets the buffer's exact vegetation and planting requirements. This mandate is specific to VMPR-zoned redevelopment near the Nashua River; the city's general landscaping standards elsewhere only encourage, not require, native species.

Violations & Fines

Violation blocks buffer approval and can halt development plan approval; the Administrative Officer and Planning Board enforce compliance as part of subdivision and site plan review for VMPR projects.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Nashua ban invasive plants citywide?
No. The only mandatory invasive-species ban is in the VMPR Overlay District's required buffer plantings under Land Use Code § 190-26.2. Elsewhere the code only encourages native species in landscaping.
Which invasive species are prohibited?
Any species on the State of New Hampshire's current invasive species list. The ordinance incorporates that state list by reference rather than naming specific plants.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Nashua

Fence Regulations: Height LimitsSome RestrictionsNoise Ordinances: Aircraft NoiseSignificant RestrictionsParking Rules: Towing & Impound RightsSignificant RestrictionsParking Rules: Loading ZonesSome RestrictionsFence Regulations: Material RestrictionsSignificant RestrictionsAnimal Ordinances: Cat RulesSome Restrictions

All Nashua rules

Compare Nashua to another location·View the New Hampshire invasive plant rules overview

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