Troy, MI Landscaping Rules: Native Plants (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing sections
- Zoning Ordinance §§ 13.02.A.2.b, 13.02.A.7
- Native minimum
- 50% of required plantings
- Species basis
- existing on-site natives preferred
- Natural arrangements
- required for open space/stormwater areas
- Artificial plants
- prohibited outright
- Timing
- planted before certificate of occupancy
Summary
Troy's landscape ordinance requires at least fifty percent of a development's required plantings to be native species, and Section 13.02.A.7 lets developers choose those species based on what already grows on-site and use looser 'natural' planting arrangements in open space and stormwater areas.
b. ... native species of trees and shrubs shall constitute at least fifty percent (50%) of the total proposed plantings in accordance with the standards set forth in Section 13.02.A.7. ... 7. Use of Native Plants in Landscaping. a. Native plant species chosen for a development shall be based on the native species currently growing on the site, if any. ... c. Natural arrangements emulate the arrangements found in nature, and have a less manicured appearance. Natural arrangements shall incorporate a wide mix of species. This landscape style shall be used for landscaping open space, surface stormwater systems, street tree plantings, and/or parks. If natural arrangements are used, plant spacing requirements may be waived as long as the function the plants are to serve is accomplished.
Full Breakdown
7,' while banning artificial plant materials outright and requiring a mix of live evergreen and deciduous species as a disease and insect buffer. 7 itself, 'Use of Native Plants in Landscaping,' directs that native species chosen for a project be based on what is already growing on the site, where anything is growing there. Developers get design flexibility in how those natives are arranged: 'natural' arrangements that emulate how plants group in the wild, incorporating a wide mix of species, are required for open space, surface stormwater systems, street tree plantings, and parks, and when that natural style is used the ordinance's normal plant-spacing requirements may be waived as long as the plants still perform their function.
More formal, conventional arrangements using native species remain an option closer to buildings and heavily used areas, and stormwater management plantings specifically must use native species chosen for their runoff attenuation, filtration, and water-uptake performance, mixing both herbaceous and woody plants.
Violations & Fines
A landscape plan that falls short of the 50 percent native planting floor, uses prohibited artificial plant material, or omits required plant lists and maintenance statements will not be approved by the City at site plan review under Article 8. Landscaping installed out of compliance, or removed and not replaced as required, is a Municipal Civil Infraction under Section 3.08 and Chapter 100 of Troy's Code of Ordinances.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Troy require a minimum percentage of native plants in landscaping?
Can a Troy developer use a naturalistic, less manicured planting style?
What plants must be used in Troy's required stormwater landscaping?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Troy
Compare Troy to another location·View the Michigan landscaping rules overview
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