The City of Indianapolis encourages native planting areas and offers a free registration that exempts a properly maintained native planting area from a weed citation, even though such areas often have vegetation over twelve inches tall.
Because Indianapolis treats grass or weeds over twelve inches tall as a high-weeds nuisance, a deliberate native planting area would otherwise risk a citation. To resolve this, the City's Native Plant Program lets owners register a native planting area for free. The owner submits a registration form (with a sketch, photos, and a list of plant species) to nativeplants@indy.gov or the Native Plant Program at 200 E. Washington St., Suite 1401; at least 70% of the planting area must be native plant species. Once approved the owner receives a 'Registered Native Planting Area' sign and an acceptance letter and must maintain the site per the City's Maintenance Guidance, control invasive species, avoid planting in utility/drainage easements and road right-of-way areas, and re-register every three years (new seed plantings get a one-year approval, extended to three after re-evaluation).
An unregistered planting area over twelve inches tall can receive a high-weeds citation. A registered, properly maintained native planting area is protected from a weed citation; failure to maintain it per the agreement or to re-register can forfeit that protection.
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