Tuscaloosa, AL Landscaping Rules: Native Plants (2026)

The City of Tuscaloosa addresses native plants through its zoning landscape and buffer standards (Ch. 25, Art. VI, Div. 3), adopted by Ord. No. 9572 in December 2024. Sec. 25-128 states that the division's intent includes encouraging the use of native plants and discouraging the proliferation of invasive species, maintaining tree canopy, and protecting water and air quality. Sec. 25-131 implements this: it requires planted vegetation to be adapted to site conditions and states that the use of native, drought-tolerant vegetation is encouraged to reduce dependency on irrigation. The same section establishes an approved tree list (Table VI-9) and prohibits plants on the Alabama Invasive Plant Council's current list of invasive plants, along with any plant the director of planning specifies as prohibited. Planting diversity standards (Table VI-10) require a mix of genera once a site exceeds 40 shrubs or 40 trees. Importantly, these requirements apply to new development subject to the landscape division; under Sec. 25-129, lots with single-family detached or duplex dwellings are exempted from all standards except the utility-easement rule. That means residential homeowners are free to plant native species in their own yards without triggering these zoning obligations, while commercial and multi-family developments must design landscaping around native/non-invasive, approved species. There is no city ordinance forcing homeowners to plant natives, but native and drought-tolerant choices align with the city's stated landscaping goals.