Laredo, TX Landscaping Rules: Composting (2026)

Article V of Chapter 13, adopted by Ord. No. 2017-O-045, lets residents create home gardens, community gardens, and district gardens, and Sec. 13-86(b) expressly allows those gardens to use composting, hydroponics, and aquaponics. Sec. 13-85 defines composting as 'relatively stable decomposed organic matter for use in agricultural and other growing practices, usually consisting of materials such as grass, leaves, yard waste, worms, and raw and uncooked kitchen food wastes,' but the definition specifically excludes bones, meat, fat, grease, oil, raw manure, and milk products from what may go into a compost pile.

Sec. 13-86(e) is the operative standard: the composting area must be contained, must not produce offensive odors or attract flies or vermin, and must be located as reasonably as possible so it is not visible from abutting properties. Sec. 13-86(d) bars the use of synthetic inputs anywhere in a home, community, or district garden, including the compost area. Sec. 13-86(a) additionally requires that all vegetation be kept trimmed and that produce not be allowed to rot on the property, and Sec. 13-86(c) confirms that establishing a garden, including its composting area, does not require a zoning change or a special use permit.

Any accessory structure built to support composting, such as a small shed, is treated as an 'accessory structure' under the Laredo Land Development Code and must meet that code's setback rules.