Richland County, SC Landscaping Rules: Native Plants (2026)
Key Facts
- Homeowner requirement
- None (yards exempt)
- Native mandate
- Stormwater BMP islands only
- Development plantings
- From approved Tree Listings
- Non-native yard plants
- Allowed
- Governing code
- LDC Sec. 26-176
Summary
Richland County does not require homeowners to plant native species, but its Land Development Code favors them: on development sites, trees and plants in parking-lot islands that treat stormwater "must consist of native trees and plants." Homeowner yards are exempt from these standards.
Trees and plants that are planted in parking lot islands that function as stormwater quality treatment BMPs must consist of native trees and plants.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: 2026 S-24: This supplement is current through Ordinance No. 033-25HR).
Full Breakdown
The county's landscaping code, Sec. 26-176, mandates native material only in a narrow development context: plants placed in parking-lot islands that function as stormwater-quality treatment BMPs must be native. Beyond that, the code lists approved tree species from the planning department's "Tree Listings" for required development plantings. Single-family and two-family lots are exempt from these standards, so a homeowner's plant choices are unregulated. There is no county rule against non-native ornamentals in a private yard, and no rule forcing residents to convert lawns to native landscaping.
Violations & Fines
No penalty applies to homeowner plant selection. On development sites, using non-native plants where natives are required can be a landscaping-plan violation under Sec. 26-176.
Frequently Asked Questions
Must I plant native species in my yard?
When are native plants required?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Richland County
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