Raleigh, NC Landscaping Rules: Native Plants (2026)

Raleigh does not require native plants on private residential lots, but strongly encourages them through multiple programs and ordinances. UDO Section 9.2 (Landscaping) establishes an Approved Plant List administered by the Urban Forestry Division, which prioritizes North Carolina Piedmont natives such as willow oak (Quercus phellos), white oak, southern magnolia, American holly, Eastern redbud, and flowering dogwood for street trees and parking lot screening. Nonnative species like Bradford pear (Pyrus calleryana) and Chinese privet are explicitly prohibited from new plantings due to invasiveness. For private yards, no plant palette is mandated, but homeowners who install pollinator gardens, rain gardens, or meadow areas may register for a Certified Pollinator Habitat sign from the NC Wildlife Federation through a partnership with Raleigh Parks. Certified properties are exempt from the 12-inch grass height rule for the registered area. HOA covenants can still override these city provisions. Keep Raleigh Beautiful, a city-affiliated nonprofit, hosts annual native plant giveaways each April at Dix Park, distributing milkweed, purple coneflower, and native grasses to residents free. The NC State Arboretum and JC Raulston Arboretum, both within city limits, provide additional native plant education. For new development, UDO 9.2.3 awards stormwater credit for native-dominant landscape plans, incentivizing commercial properties to choose natives that require less irrigation and support the Neuse River watershed ecology.