Pittsburgh, PA Landscaping Rules: Native Plants (2026)

Effective January 2026, Pittsburgh Code Section 609.08 allows property owners, authorized agents, or authorized occupants of privately owned land to install and maintain Managed Natural Landscapes. These may include any native plants, defined as species indigenous to Pennsylvania and its ecoregions, encompassing native trees, shrubs, vines, ferns, clubmosses, sedges, rushes, herbaceous perennials, and annuals. Rain gardens, native gardens, pollinator gardens, or any combination are permitted. Owners must register their Managed Natural Landscape with the city department responsible for inspection of residential overgrowth violations. Registered landscapes are exempt from the grass and weed height limits in Chapter 609. However, all managed natural landscapes remain subject to the International Property Maintenance Code provisions relating to rodent harborage and rubbish and garbage. Gardens must have distinct and clearly defined borders. The PA Department of Conservation and Natural Resources provides guidance on landscaping with native plants appropriate to Pennsylvania ecoregions.