New Castle County encourages native plantings through the UDC landscape manual. DNREC promotes Delaware native species. No ordinance requires native plants for single-family homes, but commercial developments must meet native species percentages.
New Castle County UDC Article 5 landscape standards and the county's Landscape Manual recommend native Delaware species such as black-eyed Susan, eastern redbud, and Virginia sweetspire for new development landscaping. Commercial and multifamily projects must meet minimum native or non-invasive species percentages (typically 50%) in required landscape buffers. Single-family homes face no native-plant mandate. Delaware's Plants Invasive to State list identifies species like Callery pear, bamboo, and English ivy that may be prohibited in new plantings. The Delaware Native Plant Society and Delaware Center for Horticulture offer plant lists. Homeowners may convert lawns to native meadows or pollinator gardens, but unincorporated county landscapes must still meet UDC minimum maintenance (grass height and weed control).
Commercial non-native non-compliance at landscape inspection: plan revision required before CO issuance. Invasive species violations on new commercial plantings: replacement required. HOA bans on native meadows: may conflict with Delaware norms but no specific state preemption as with solar.
New Castle County, DE
New Castle County permits gas and electric leaf blower use with no statewide or county ban. Operation hours align with the county noise ordinance (NCC Code C...
New Castle County, DE
Amplified sound in unincorporated New Castle County is regulated under NCC Code Chapter 22 (noise) and the county's special event permit process. Sound must ...
Newark, DE
Newark, Delaware regulates on-street overnight parking through Chapter 20 (Motor Vehicles) of the City Code, with detailed Articles XIII and XV. Many residen...
New Castle County, DE
New Castle County requires electrical permits for Level 2 EV chargers. Delaware law (26 Del. C. §1018) preempts HOA bans on EV chargers. Public stations must...
New Castle County, DE
New Castle County requires a building permit for retaining walls over 4 feet measured from bottom of footing to top of wall. Walls supporting surcharge loads...
New Castle County, DE
New Castle County regulates fence materials through the Unified Development Code (UDC), primarily Article 40 (zoning). Wood, vinyl, composite, wrought iron, ...
See how Newark's native plants rules stack up against other locations.
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