Neither Rutherford County nor Murfreesboro requires homeowners to plant native or drought-tolerant species. Landscaping and buffer plantings are required only for certain new commercial and subdivision developments under zoning, not for existing home lawns.
There is no ordinance in Rutherford County or the City of Murfreesboro requiring residents to use native or drought-tolerant plants. Municipal and county zoning do require landscaping, screening, and buffer plantings for many new commercial developments, parking lots, and subdivisions, but these design standards apply at development review, not to an existing single-family yard. Native and pollinator-friendly plantings are encouraged as good conservation practice, especially given voluntary drought guidance, but they are not compulsory. A homeowner may plant lawn, ornamental, or native landscaping as they choose, subject only to the tall-weeds height limits and any private HOA covenants that may specify plant or turf requirements.
There is no penalty for a homeowner's plant selection. Required landscaping on a permitted commercial or subdivision project must match the approved landscape plan, or the developer can be denied final approval until corrected.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
Rutherford County, TN
The county has no ordinance using the word 'hoarding,' but the PAWS Rules make neglect and cruelty unlawful and let officers seize animals kept without adequ...
Rutherford County, TN
The county animal Rules (PAWS) contain no ban on feeding deer, birds, or other wildlife. Wildlife is regulated by the state Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agen...
Rutherford County, TN
Rutherford County does not set countywide park closing hours; each city's parks post their own hours. For minors, Tennessee's child curfew (T.C.A. § 39-17-17...
Rutherford County, TN
The Rutherford County Zoning Ordinance defines light trespass as light from an outdoor luminaire that shines beyond the property at a brightness exceeding 0....
Rutherford County, TN
Rutherford County has no formal dark-sky ordinance, but its zoning performance standards require all site lighting to be shielded so that substantially all d...
Rutherford County, TN
Garage and yard-sale signs are temporary signs under Section 1206 of the Rutherford County Zoning Ordinance. They must be removed within 48 hours of no longe...
See how Rutherford County's native plants rules stack up against other locations.
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.