Cincinnati, OH Landscaping Rules: Native Plants (2026)

Section 731-4 of the Cincinnati Municipal Code lifts the height restrictions of § 731-3 for natural plants that form a Managed Natural Landscaped Area, defined in § 731-1-M as designed, self-sustaining plant communities requiring minimal artificial care that serve a purpose such as attracting wildlife, controlling soil loss, stabilizing soil fertility, pest control, government stormwater programs, educational studies, or food production. The exemption applies only on privately owned, occupied residential property, and on contiguous properties under the same ownership. Two hard limits apply regardless of the exemption: the planted area must be set back at least 3 feet from all property lines, roads, alleys and driveways, unless a fence or similar barrier separates the property from adjoining residential lots, in which case natural landscaping may run to the property line inside the sidewalk, and any vegetation in the right-of-way strip between the sidewalk and the street (other than trees) must stay under 10 inches regardless of the exemption.

The landscaping also may never overhang or encroach onto adjoining public or private property, sidewalks, streets, or alleys. Because the exemption is an affirmative defense to a § 731-3 height citation, a property owner cited for tall vegetation should be prepared to show the planting meets the § 731-1-M definition and the setback conditions of § 731-4 when answering a notice under § 731-6. The ordinance was added by Ord. No. 149-2011, effective June 11, 2011, and has not been substantively amended since.