Pittsburgh, PA Landscaping Rules: Native Plants (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- Pittsburgh Code § 609.08
- Effective date
- January 1, 2026
- Registration
- Required with City overgrowth-inspection dept.
- Border requirement
- Distinct edge or fence up to 4 ft.
- Excluded species
- PA-invasive or noxious-listed plants
Summary
Pittsburgh property owners may install and maintain native-plant landscaping, rain gardens, and pollinator gardens under a 2025 ordinance, but must register the planting with the City.
Right to install and maintain managed natural landscapes. An owner, authorized agent, or authorized occupant of any privately owned lands or premises may, consistent with this subsection and all other applicable laws, statutes, rules, and ordinances, install and maintain a managed natural landscape.
(d) Requirements.
1. Managed natural landscapes may include any native plants.
2. Managed natural landscapes may include but are not limited to rain gardens, native gardens, and pollinator gardens, or any combination of these gardens.
3. Managed natural landscapes shall have a distinct and clearly defined border, which may consist of any combination of mowed grass, fencing of up to four feet in height, a permitted fence installed along a property line, or materials arranged to create a defined edge to contain the managed natural landscape.
4. Managed natural landscapes shall not include any plantings which, due to location, manner of growth, or encroachment into a right-of-way, constitute a hazard to the public or may cause injury or damage to persons or property when such growth is in violation of Chapter 1004 of this code.
5. Managed natural landscapes shall not include any plant deemed to be a weed under Chapter 1004 of this code.
6. Managed natural landscapes shall not include overgrowth of conventional turf-grass lawns, weeds, or any other unmanaged vegetation growth.
7.
Full Breakdown
City Code § 609.08 gives owners, agents, or tenants the right to install a "managed natural landscape" of plants native to Pennsylvania, including rain gardens, native gardens, and pollinator gardens, in place of turfgrass. The planting must have a distinct, defined border (mowed grass strip, fencing up to 4 feet, or similar edge), and it must be registered with the City department that handles residential overgrowth inspections, including a maintenance plan or a certification such as Audubon's Certified Backyard Habitat Program. Invasive or state-noxious species are excluded, and the bed still can't harbor vermin or violate the Property Maintenance Code's rubbish provisions.
Violations & Fines
Registration can carry a fee set by the inspecting department. An unregistered or noncompliant bed can be cited as a weeds/overgrowth violation and, after a notice period, penalized under Property Maintenance Code § 106.3 (Ch. 1004): separate from the flat $15–$500 weeds fine in § 609.07.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I replace my lawn with native plants in Pittsburgh?
Do I need a permit for a pollinator garden in Pittsburgh?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Pittsburgh
Compare Pittsburgh to another location·View the Pennsylvania landscaping rules overview
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Native Plants in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Allegheny County handle native plants.