Clackamas County does not mandate native-plant landscaping for private yards, but strongly encourages it and requires native-vegetation retention in protected riparian and habitat corridors. Local partners like WeedWise and the Clackamas River Basin Council promote native plantings.
There is no county ordinance forcing homeowners to plant natives in ordinary yards. However, in mapped Habitat Conservation Areas (ZDO 706) and Water Quality Resource Areas (ZDO 709), the county requires retaining and, where disturbed, restoring native vegetation buffers along streams. ZDO 1002.04 requires that development retain 'buffers or filter strips of natural vegetation along all river and stream banks.' Voluntary programs support native landscaping: the Clackamas River Basin Council's Shade Our Streams program plants native shrubs and trees at streamside sites, and the Soil & Water Conservation District offers native plant guidance. For most residents, native landscaping is encouraged and beneficial, not legally required.
No penalty for non-native yard plants. Failing to restore required native buffers in a protected corridor during development can trigger restoration conditions and enforcement.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
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Clackamas County parks close at night: entrance gates are locked from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m., quiet hours run 10 p.m. to 7 a.m., and no one under 18 may camp over...
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Clackamas County's ZDO addresses light trespass through Subsection 1005.04, which requires outdoor lighting to be shielded and directed so light stays within...
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Clackamas County has no formal 'dark-sky' overlay, but ZDO Subsection 1005.04 requires outdoor lighting not to direct light skyward: fixtures must shield and...
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In unincorporated Clackamas County, garage-sale signs are temporary signs under ZDO Section 1010. A sign 3 square feet or less needs no permit, temporary sig...
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Clackamas County confirms 'the size and placement of political signs are not regulated by election law.' In the unincorporated county, campaign signs follow ...
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A tiny home on a foundation is treated as a dwelling or ADU under Clackamas County's ZDO (Section 839 for ADUs). A tiny house on wheels is an RV and cannot b...
See how Clackamas County's native plants rules stack up against other locations.
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