Marion County, OR Landscaping Rules: Native Plants (2026)
Key Facts
- Native-plant rule
- No county requirement or ban
- Xeriscape
- Allowed on private land
- Explicit exclusion
- Ornamental landscape grasses
- Limit
- No fire/traffic hazard or noxious weeds
- Also check
- City and HOA landscape standards
Summary
Marion County does not require any particular plants and does not ban native or xeric landscaping. Ornamental landscape grasses that are not a fire or traffic hazard are expressly excluded from the nuisance-vegetation rule, so water-wise plantings are allowed.
This definition does not include agricultural crops, endangered riparian grasses that have not come to seed, wetland grasses that do not constitute a fire hazard or a traffic hazard and ornamental grasses commonly used for landscaping that do not constitute a fire hazard or a traffic hazard.
Official source re-checked September 8, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: current through Ordinance 1489, passed April 15, 2026).
Full Breakdown
There is no county mandate to plant turf versus native species. Marion County's Nuisance Vegetation ordinance (MCC 8.15) targets weeds and grasses over 10 inches and hazardous growth, but its definition expressly excludes agricultural crops, endangered riparian grasses that have not seeded, and ornamental grasses commonly used for landscaping that do not constitute a fire or traffic hazard. So intentional native, pollinator and xeriscape plantings are fine if kept from becoming a fire or sight-line hazard or harboring listed noxious weeds. Salem, Keizer and Woodburn may still impose city landscape standards, and subdivision covenants can require minimum landscaping or approved plant lists.
Violations & Fines
No county fine for native or drought-tolerant landscaping itself. Enforcement only arises if the planting becomes hazardous nuisance vegetation over 10 inches, a traffic hazard, or contains uncontrolled noxious weeds.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I replace my lawn with native low-water plants?
Do city or HOA rules override this?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Marion County
Compare Marion County to another location·View the Oregon landscaping rules overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.