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Fort Smith, AR Landscaping Rules: Artificial Turf (2026)

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

Key Facts

Applies to
New multifamily/commercial/industrial sites
Rule
Required landscaping must be living
Artificial plants
Expressly prohibited
Scope limit
Not ordinary single-family yards

Summary

In Fort Smith's design guidelines for new multifamily, commercial, and industrial development, Sec. 27-602-3(F)(2) bans artificial plants in required landscaping: all plant material must be living.

Artificial plants are prohibited. All plant materials shall be living plants.

View official code

Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 4).

Full Breakdown

Sec. 27-602-1 applies these design guidelines to new multifamily, nonresidential development in residential zones, and to transitional, commercial, and industrial development citywide, plus qualifying rehab projects that grow a building's footprint by 50 percent or more. Within that scope, Sec. 27-602-3(F) sets landscape material rules: subsection F.2 flatly bans artificial plants and requires all plant material in required landscaped areas to be living. The section also lists approved tree, shrub, and groundcover species (F.1, H-K) that qualify. Nothing in Fort Smith's code carves out an exception for artificial turf specifically, it falls under the same living-plants mandate as any other synthetic landscape material.

Violations & Fines

Installing artificial turf, plastic plants, or other synthetic landscape material within a required landscape area on a covered project violates Sec. 27-602-3(F)(2); the planning department can require it be replaced with living plants.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can a Fort Smith business install artificial turf in its required landscaping?
No. Sec. 27-602-3(F)(2) requires all plant material in required landscape areas to be living, and artificial plants are expressly prohibited.
Does this rule apply to a homeowner's private yard?
Only if the property is new multifamily, commercial, or industrial development under Sec. 27-602-1; ordinary single-family yards outside that scope aren't covered.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Fort Smith

Parking Rules: Street Parking LimitsSome RestrictionsParking Rules: RV & Boat ParkingSome RestrictionsWeed OrdinancesSome RestrictionsTree Removal & Heritage TreesSome RestrictionsParking Rules: Driveway RulesSome RestrictionsParking Rules: EV ChargingFew RestrictionsParking Rules: Loading ZonesSome RestrictionsParking Rules: Abandoned VehiclesSome Restrictions

All Fort Smith rules

How Fort Smith compares: Most Artificial Turf-Friendly Cities·Compare Fort Smith to another location·View the Arkansas landscaping rules overview

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