Lakeville, MN Landscaping Rules: Native Plants (2026)

Native and natural landscaping is permitted in Lakeville. Because the city's general standard caps grass and weeds at 8 inches (Code 4-1-3), an owner or occupant in a residential district who wants a natural-landscaping approach — where native grasses and forbs may exceed 8 inches — must apply for a natural landscaping permit, subject to review and approval by the Zoning Administrator. The application includes a statement of intent and purpose, a scaled site plan showing wetlands, wetland buffers, required buffer yards, stormwater basins, drainageways, or public waters on the property, and the name and address of the person responsible for maintaining the natural landscaping. This local process is reinforced by Minnesota Statutes 412.925, which requires statutory and home-rule cities to allow an owner or authorized occupant to install and maintain a managed natural landscape — a planned, intentional, maintained planting of native or nonnative grasses, wildflowers, forbs, ferns, shrubs, or trees, including rain gardens and meadow vegetation. Such landscapes may exceed 8 inches and may have gone to seed but must be maintained and cannot include noxious weeds. Lakeville also encourages native plantings through incentive programs, including Lawns to Legumes (up to $350 after a 25% cost match to create pollinator habitat) and the Landscaping for Clean Water native-garden rebate.