Maple Grove, MN Landscaping Rules: Native Plants (2026)

Native and natural landscaping in Maple Grove is governed largely by Minnesota Statutes 412.925, which applies to statutory and home-rule cities and requires them to permit property owners to install and maintain a managed natural landscape on privately owned land. The statute defines a managed natural landscape as a planned, intentional, and maintained planting of native or nonnative grasses, wildflowers, forbs, ferns, shrubs, or trees, including rain gardens, meadow vegetation, and ornamental plantings. Within such a landscape, plants and grasses may exceed eight inches in height and may be in seed form, which is the key exemption from the standard eight-inch turf-height rule the city otherwise enforces. The statute is explicit that the protection covers intentional, maintained landscapes and does not extend to a turf-grass lawn that has simply been left unattended and allowed to revert to weeds. Noxious weeds must still be controlled even within a managed natural landscape, so listed plants like Canada thistle or leafy spurge are not protected. Maple Grove separately requires, under its zoning landscaping standards, that disturbed yard areas be established with sod or seed and that turfed areas be irrigated, so a homeowner converting a conventional lawn to prairie or pollinator plantings should plan the area as a deliberate managed natural landscape and may want to confirm any setback, screening, or plan expectations with the city. Maple Grove residents pursuing native plantings can also seek financial help through statewide programs such as Lawns to Legumes and watershed cost-share funds.