Monroe County municipalities encourage native plantings for stormwater and pollinator habitat. NY DEC Native Plant list guides species selection. NY General Obligations Law §5-321-a does not preempt HOA aesthetic rules but reasonable native gardens typically allowed.
NY DEC and Cornell Cooperative Extension (Monroe County office in Brighton) promote native plant landscaping for pollinator and stormwater benefits. Rochester, Brighton, and Pittsford have adopted stormwater pollution prevention plans (SWPPPs) under NY SPDES MS4 permit that encourage native plantings. Rochester's Climate Action Plan targets native/pollinator species for municipal properties. NY has no statewide HOA preemption for native gardens (unlike California or Florida), so HOA aesthetic rules in Monroe County subdivisions may restrict unconventional landscaping — residents should review CC&Rs. Invasive species listed under 6 NYCRR Part 575 (Japanese knotweed, purple loosestrife, autumn olive) are regulated. Monroe County Stormwater Coalition offers rain garden/native plant rebates.
Most natural landscapes compliant with weed ordinances exempt. HOA fines for non-compliance with aesthetic CC&Rs: enforceable in NY. Invasive species dumping/sale: DEC enforcement under Part 575.
Monroe County, NY
City of Rochester prohibits on-street parking 2 AM to 6 AM year-round under Municipal Code §111-5 (alternate side not in effect; blanket overnight ban). Resi...
Monroe County, NY
Monroe County towns specify approved fence materials in zoning codes. Wood, vinyl, chain-link, and wrought iron standard. Barbed wire banned in residential z...
Monroe County, NY
NY State Uniform Code (Residential Code §R404) requires engineered design for retaining walls over 4 feet measured from bottom of footing. Monroe County muni...
Brighton, NY
The Town of Brighton (Monroe County) does not single out beekeeping in its zoning code, but Brighton's animal-keeping rules in Chapter 203 (District Use Regu...
Monroe County, NY
Monroe County does not have a separate countywide smoke-alarm ordinance; smoke-alarm requirements come from the New York State Uniform Fire Prevention and Bu...
Monroe County, NY
Monroe County is not designated a high wildfire hazard area. No defensible space requirements. NY DEC Part 215 brush burn ban (March 16 – May 14) is the prim...
See how Brighton's native plants rules stack up against other locations.
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