Oak Park, IL Landscaping Rules: Native Plants (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing law
- Oak Park Village Code § 7-13-2
- Base code
- 2024 International Property Maintenance Code, as amended
- General weed limit
- 8 inches for turf/plant growth
- Exempt category
- Cultivated gardens, incl. native plantings
- Still regulated
- Noxious weeds
Summary
Oak Park's Property Maintenance Code exempts cultivated gardens, including beds planted or naturally recruited with native plants, from the Village's 8-inch weed height limit, as long as the bed is intentionally grown and cared for rather than left wild.
Cultivated Garden. An area of land in which plants, other than turf grasses, are intentionally grown and receive care such as mulching, watering, pruning, or the removal of noxious plants. Plants within a cultivated garden may be installed or naturally recruited, as may occur with native plants. ... Section 302.4 Weeds. All premises and exterior property shall be maintained free from weeds or plant growth in excess of eight (8) inches in height. All noxious weeds shall be prohibited. Weeds shall be defined as all grasses, annual plants and vegetation, other than trees or shrubs provided; however, this term shall not include cultivated flowers and gardens.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: 2026 S-9: Code current through: Ord. 26-159, passed - -2026).
Full Breakdown
The Village adopted the 2024 International Property Maintenance Code by reference in Oak Park Village Code § 7-13-1 and locally amended it in § 7-13-2. 4 Weeds, the Village's general height rule requiring premises to stay free of weeds or plant growth over 8 inches, to carve out "cultivated flowers and gardens" from the definition of regulated weeds. Read together, a homeowner who intentionally establishes and maintains a native plant bed, whether by planting seed and letting native species recruit naturally or by installing nursery stock, is exempt from the 8-inch cutoff that otherwise applies to turf and volunteer growth on the property.
The exemption turns on evidence of intentional cultivation and care, not on species alone: an untended lot with incidental native growth does not automatically qualify. Noxious weeds remain prohibited regardless of the cultivated garden exemption, so invasive or state-listed noxious species inside a native planting bed are still subject to removal.
Violations & Fines
A property whose vegetation does not qualify as a cultivated garden and exceeds the 8-inch weed height limit is subject to a notice of violation and prosecution under Section 108.3 of the Property Maintenance Code; on continued failure to cut, the Village or its contractor may enter and cut the growth and bill the owner or responsible agent for the cost.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I plant a native plant garden instead of a lawn in Oak Park?
Does a native garden have to look tidy to avoid a citation?
Are noxious weeds allowed inside a native plant bed?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Oak Park
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