Auburn, AL Landscaping Rules: Native Plants (2026)

Auburn does not impose a city-wide ordinance requiring homeowners to plant native species in their yards; private landscaping choices are generally left to the property owner. Instead, the City encourages native and climate-appropriate planting through its Tree Commission and Urban Forestry programs. Auburn is a recognized Tree City USA community, and the Tree Commission provides free trees in celebration of Arbor Day and at the City's annual Christmas Parade, and runs a Tree Steward Program recognizing residents who support Auburn's tree canopy. Tree planting and giveaways are timed to the dormant season (roughly November through February), which aligns with Alabama Arbor Week in the last week of February, the recommended window for planting while trees are dormant. For species selection, regional resources from Auburn University's School of Forestry and Wildlife Sciences and the Alabama Cooperative Extension System (e.g., "A Key to Common Native Trees of Alabama") identify native families well suited to the area, such as oaks, hickories, and pines. For new commercial and larger development projects, the City's zoning ordinance contains tree-planting and landscape standards (species, quantity, and protection of existing trees), but those development standards are separate from any requirement on individual existing homes. Homeowners wanting recommended native species can contact the Tree Commission or Urban Forestry staff.