Snohomish County does not require native landscaping for homeowners, but Title 30 rewards it: development landscape plans that use Puget Sound indigenous species can lower the required evergreen share, and buffer enhancement with Pacific Northwest natives helps meet tree-canopy standards.
For new residential development in urban growth areas, SCC 30.25.016(6) requires replanted tree canopy to be at least 50 percent evergreen species, but that evergreen share drops to 37.5 percent when the deciduous mix is composed exclusively of species indigenous to the Puget Sound region (excluding Alder). Under SCC 30.25.016(8), an applicant may reduce canopy requirements by enhancing critical-area buffers through removing invasive species and noxious weeds and planting vegetation indigenous to the Pacific Northwest, spaced for maximum survivability. The county also runs a Native Plants program through its Noxious Weed / Surface Water programs. There is no mandate for private homeowners to plant natives, and no ordinance restricting a resident's plant choices (aside from prohibited noxious weeds).
No penalty for plant selection. These are development-plan incentives, not homeowner mandates; only prohibited noxious weeds are enforceable (RCW 17.10).
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
Snohomish County, WA
Snohomish County prohibits cruelty, neglect, and abandonment of animals under SCC 9.12.080. Failing to provide adequate food, water, shelter, sanitation, med...
Snohomish County, WA
Snohomish County's animal code does not set a general backyard wildlife-feeding ban. Feeding large carnivores such as bears and cougars is prohibited by Wash...
Snohomish County, WA
Where hours are not otherwise posted, Snohomish County parks are open daily from 6:00 a.m. until dusk. No one may be present in a county park while it is clo...
Snohomish County, WA
In unincorporated Snohomish County outdoor lighting must be hooded or shaded so that direct light does not glare onto surrounding property or rights-of-way. ...
Snohomish County, WA
Unincorporated Snohomish County has no formal dark-sky ordinance, but its development standards require outdoor lighting to be hooded or shaded so direct lig...
Snohomish County, WA
In unincorporated Snohomish County a single-family residence may display one unlighted name sign up to two square feet per face. Real-estate signs advertisin...
See how Snohomish County's native plants rules stack up against other locations.
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