East Baton Rouge Parish, LA Landscaping Rules: Native Plants (2026)
Key Facts
- Homeowner mandate
- None to plant natives
- Large-site mitigation
- Native Class A trees
- Replacement rate
- Two per tree removed
- Where it applies
- Sites over 2.5 acres
- Governing code
- UDC Chapter 18
Summary
There is no rule forcing homeowners to plant native species, but the UDC uses native trees in its standards: mitigation for removed significant trees on large sites must be native Class A trees, and development landscaping must meet Chapter 18 planting requirements.
For mitigation of removed significant trees, each tree removed beyond the 80% allowance, the owner or developer shall plant two replacement native Class A trees.
Full Breakdown
East Baton Rouge Parish does not mandate native-plant yards for ordinary homeowners. Native-plant policy appears in the Unified Development Code's tree standards. Under UDC Section 18.6.1, when land clearing or development occurs on property larger than 2.5 acres and significant trees are removed beyond the allowance, the owner must plant two replacement native Class A trees for each such tree. Chapter 18 more broadly sets landscape-design standards for qualifying developments, including required street trees, parking-lot trees, and buffer plantings drawn from approved Class A, B, and C tree lists. Individual residential lots are not required to install specific native species.
Violations & Fines
Non-compliance with UDC Chapter 18 landscaping or the Sec. 18.6.1 native-tree mitigation requirement is enforced through the development-review and certificate-of-completion process, not homeowner fines.
Frequently Asked Questions
Must my yard use native plants?
When are native trees required?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in East Baton Rouge Parish
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