Southborough, MA Landscaping Rules: Native Plants (2026)
Key Facts
- Native species
- Encouraged in all landscaping plans, § 174-13(B)(10)(c)
- Invasive plants
- Printed list prohibited from being planted
- Applies to
- Site plan review or parking increase of five or more spaces
- Exempt districts
- Business Village and Downtown, though the Planning Board can require landscaping
- LID buffer strips, rain gardens
- Native vegetation, invasive species prohibited
- Dead plant replacement
- Within 180 days
Summary
Southborough encourages native species in all landscaping plans and prohibits planting a printed list of invasive species. Section 174-13(B)(10) names plants such as Norway maple, Japanese barberry and burning bush, and § 174-13.3 calls for native vegetation in buffer strips and rain gardens. The landscaping section applies to projects reaching Planning Board site plan review or a parking increase of five or more spaces.
The Town of Southborough encourages the use of native species in all landscaping plans. Please note that many of the invasive species listed below have native counterparts that could be considered. (d) The following invasive species of plants are prohibited from being planted: ... (i) Use of native plant vegetation (invasive species prohibited) in buffer strips and in rain gardens (small planted depressions that can trap and filter runoff). Naturalized, noninvasive plant species may be substituted for native plant vegetation subject to the Board's approval.
Full Breakdown
Native plants in Southborough are encouraged by the Zoning Bylaw, not mandated, and the operative rule is the ban on invasives. Section 174-13(B)(10)(c) defines invasive plants by reference to the Massachusetts Invasive Plant Group and states that the Town encourages the use of native species in all landscaping plans, noting that many listed invasives have native counterparts that could be considered. Subsection (d) then prohibits planting a printed list that includes tree of heaven, Japanese barberry, Asian or oriental bittersweet, autumn olive, European and common buckthorn, Bell's, Japanese and Morrow's honeysuckle, purple loosestrife, common reed, black locust, multiflora rose, Norway maple, sycamore maple, burning bush, privet and Japanese spirea.
The landscaping section applies to any new building, addition or change of use in an existing structure that requires a parking increase of five or more spaces, or is subject to site plan review by the Planning Board. It does not apply to developments or renovations in the Business Village District and the Downtown District, although the Planning Board can require landscaping there. The Planning Board can authorize alternatives to the specifications when equivalent screening, shading and articulation are achieved. Plantings consist of at least one tree per 40 linear feet of planting area length (one per 20 linear feet of street planting area abutting Route 9) and at least one shrub per three feet, and an owner must replace dead plant material within 180 days. Subsection (B)(9) recommends sustainable watering such as drought-tolerant native plant material.
The lower impact development provisions of § 174-13.3(E)(2)(i) carry the strongest native-plant language: native plant vegetation, with invasive species prohibited, in buffer strips and rain gardens, and naturalized, noninvasive plant species can be substituted subject to the Board's approval. The Planning Board is the special permit granting authority for an LID special permit.
Violations & Fines
The Building Inspector enforces the Zoning Bylaw as Zoning Enforcement Officer under § 174-24(A), which punishes a violation by a fine not exceeding $300 for each offense, with each day a separate offense. Planting a species on the prohibited list in a project covered by § 174-13, or failing to replace required plant material that dies within 180 days, is a failure to follow the approved landscape plan and the section's standards.
Frequently Asked Questions
Must I plant native species in Southborough?
Which plants are banned from landscaping plans?
Can naturalized non-native plants substitute for native plants?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Southborough
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