Columbia, MO Landscaping Rules: Native Plants (2026)
Key Facts
- Exception
- Native landscapes skip 12-in. mowing rule
- Condition
- Control non-native invasive plants
- Condition
- Remove dead vegetation by March 21
- Still applies
- §11-252(a) nuisance rules
Summary
Columbia, Missouri exempts managed native landscapes from its 12-inch mowing rule if the yard controls invasive plants and clears dead native vegetation by March 21 each year.
Managed native landscapes which may or may not have gone to seed or developed to maturity are permitted provided that the native landscape meets all requirements in section 11-252(a) of this Code, non-native invasive plants are controlled, and dead native vegetation is removed annually by March 21st.(2)All urban agricultural crops, agricultural crops, community gardens and vegetable gardens are permitted provided that they meet all requirements in section 11-252(a) of this Code and that all dead crops are removed after harvest.(3)Ornamental plant landscapes are permitted provided that they meet all requirements in section 11-252(a) of this Code and that all dead ornamental plants are removed annually by November 1st. (Ord. No. 23769, § 1, 2-4-19)
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 138).
Full Breakdown
Section 11-252(b)(1) of the Columbia, Missouri Code of Ordinances lets residents in Boone County's city of Columbia replace a mowed lawn with a managed native landscape, even one that has gone to seed or matured, without violating the citywide 12-inch turf height rule. The exception applies only if the native landscape still meets the general landscape-management requirements of § 11-252(a) (no vermin harborage, no sight-line or right-of-way obstruction), non-native invasive plants are controlled, and dead native vegetation is removed every year by March 21. The Code defines a 'native landscape' as one built exclusively from plants indigenous to Missouri's geographic area.
Violations & Fines
Failing to meet the exception's conditions strips the native-landscape defense; the yard reverts to a nuisance under § 11-253, with abatement and a special taxbill against the property under § 11-256.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I plant a native, no-mow yard in Columbia, Missouri instead of mowing?
Does a native garden in Boone County's city of Columbia still have to follow any rules?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Columbia
Compare Columbia to another location·View the Missouri landscaping rules overview
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