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Allegheny County, PA Landscaping Rules: Native Plants (2026)

Light Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified September 2026

Key Facts

Section
§ 780-512.B(2)
Status
Encouraged, not mandatory
Applies to
New subdivisions/land developments
Administered by
County Dept. of Economic Development

Summary

Allegheny County's Subdivision and Land Development Ordinance encourages developers to plant hardy indigenous species when landscaping new subdivisions and land developments, though it stops short of requiring native planting.

City-specific rules exist: Penn Hills, and Pittsburgh have their own native plants rules that differ from Allegheny County's county-level regulations. If you live in one of those cities, check the city-specific page instead.

The planting of hardy indigenous species is encouraged.

C. Landscaping defined. Landscaping shall be understood to include the provision of street trees, buffer yards, replacement woodlands, and other new planted areas. Landscaping shall also be understood as the provision of undisturbed ground, where such is fully integrated into the design and layout of the subdivision or land development and preserves existing natural features of the site.

D. Street trees. All new residential and nonresidential developments shall provide street trees, in addition to any replacement trees required by § 780-506, in accordance with the following standards:

(1) Street trees shall be provided along the entire length of the street right-of-way on both sides of the street if the street lies within the development.

(2) Street trees in residential subdivisions shall be located within five feet of the right-of-way and in nonresidential developments between the right-of-way and the building line. An easement shall be granted to the municipality for the purpose of maintaining the trees, and a restrictive covenant shall be placed in the deed for the property prohibiting removal of the trees by the property owner.

(3) Street trees shall be located so as not to interfere with the maintenance of utilities, required sight distances and visibility of street and traffic signs.

(4)

Source: Western PA Conservancy Native LandscapingView official code

Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4857026; v12 updated 2024-06-04; through 06-04-2024).

Full Breakdown

Under § 780-512.B(2) of the county's 2012 Subdivision and Land Development Ordinance, the County Department of Economic Development's landscaping standards for new subdivisions pair a ban on invasive species with an encouragement to plant hardy indigenous plants. The rule applies where the county administers subdivision review: in municipalities that have not adopted their own subdivision ordinance, or that have adopted the county's by reference; the City of Pittsburgh is exempt from the whole chapter.

Violations & Fines

No penalty applies. The native-species language is a stated encouragement, not a mandatory planting requirement the Department can reject a plan over.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Allegheny County require native plants in landscaping?
No. County code § 780-512.B(2) encourages hardy indigenous species in new subdivision landscaping but does not mandate them.
Does this apply inside Pittsburgh?
No. The City of Pittsburgh is exempt from the county Subdivision and Land Development Ordinance under § 780-103.E.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Allegheny County

All Allegheny County rules

Compare Allegheny County to another location·View the Pennsylvania landscaping rules overview

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