Lakewood, OH Landscaping Rules: Native Plants (2026)

Lakewood has no ordinance banning native or naturalized landscapes, and Codified Ordinance 1379 / §521.08 explicitly targets only noxious weeds and uncultivated vegetation — intentional ornamental plantings including prairie, meadow, and pollinator beds are not violations when maintained. To avoid enforcement confusion under the 8-inch grass/weed rule, residents should define bed edges with mulch, stone, or border plantings and keep taller species (Echinacea, Rudbeckia, Asclepias, switchgrass) grouped in clearly intentional beds rather than scattered through a lawn. The Lakewood Department of Public Works and the Lakewood Sustainability Program actively promote the Pollinator Pathway initiative and partner with the Cuyahoga Soil and Water Conservation District on rain gardens that filter runoff before it reaches Lake Erie via the combined sewer outfall. Ohio EPA recognizes native plantings as a best management practice for NPDES Phase II stormwater compliance (OAC 3745-39), which Lakewood adheres to as a small MS4 community.