Madison does not require homeowners to use native plants. For development sites, the Zoning Ordinance requires living trees, shrubs, or ground cover approved by the City and mandates permanent ground cover on all required landscaped areas, listing suitable species and capping inorganic cover at 10 percent.
There is no ordinance requiring native or indigenous species on a private residential lot; plant choice is up to the owner. On development and parking-area landscaping, Section 7-5 requires areas not covered by buildings or pavement to be landscaped per the Plant Material Standards, and requires grass or other permanent ground cover installed and maintained on all parts of the required landscaped area. Permitted ground covers include low plants like Liriope, English ivy, and periwinkle, plus organic mulches; inorganic materials such as pebbles or pavers may not exceed 10 percent of the landscaped area. Species must be approved by the Planning Director.
No penalty for plant choice on private lots. Development landscaping that fails the standards can hold up a certificate of occupancy and is bond-secured.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
Madison, AL
Madison's public parks are open from sun-up until roughly 30 minutes after sunset, and lighted areas close 15 minutes after the lights go off. Being in a par...
Madison, AL
Madison's Zoning Ordinance caps light spilling onto neighboring property: no more than 0.2 foot-candles onto residential property, 1.0 in mixed-use, and 1.5 ...
Madison, AL
Madison has no formal International Dark-Sky designation, but its Zoning Ordinance requires full cut-off, shielded outdoor fixtures that shine light downward...
Madison, AL
A garage-sale sign in Madison is a temporary yard sign: up to 6 square feet and 6 feet tall in residential zones, not illuminated, and never placed in a publ...
Madison, AL
Madison regulates political signs content-neutrally as temporary yard signs. In residential zones each sign may be up to 6 square feet and 6 feet tall, with ...
Madison, AL
Madison's Zoning Ordinance has no tiny-home-specific category. A small permanent dwelling must meet the standards of its zoning district, and a backyard tiny...
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