Buncombe County, NC Landscaping Rules: Native Plants (2026)
Key Facts
- Native rule on normal lots
- None (voluntary)
- Overlay screening trees
- Must be native species
- Species diversity
- No species over 50%
- Spacing
- 10 to 30 feet apart
- Guidance
- NC Cooperative Extension promotes natives
Summary
Buncombe County does not require native landscaping on ordinary lots, but in the Steep Slope and Protected Ridge overlays, required screening trees must be native species with no single species exceeding 50% of the plantings. The county Cooperative Extension also promotes native, drought-tolerant plants.
All trees must be within 50' of the downhill side of the structure, and must consist of varying, native species. No single species can comprise more than 50% of the plantings, and must be between 10' to 30' apart.
Full Breakdown
There is no countywide mandate to landscape with native plants on a typical residential lot. The one place native-species rules are binding is the hillside screening-tree standard in the Steep Slope/Protected Ridge overlays: trees planted to screen a downhill-facing structure must consist of varying native species, with no single species making up more than 50% of the plantings, spaced 10 to 30 feet apart. Outside the overlays, native plant use is voluntary and encouraged by N.C. Cooperative Extension in Buncombe County for water conservation and habitat. Watershed buffers along streams must remain vegetated but do not dictate a specific native-plant list.
Violations & Fines
In the overlays, using non-native or over-concentrated species for required screening trees can hold up hillside development approval.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Buncombe County require native landscaping?
Why native species on hillsides?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Buncombe County
Compare Buncombe County to another location·View the North Carolina landscaping rules overview
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