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Vestavia Hills, AL Landscaping Rules: Native Plants (2026)

Light Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified September 2026

Key Facts

Governing section
Zoning Ordinance section 9.5.1(2), Planting
Standard
Native, drought-tolerant vegetation where practicable
Plan review
Design Review Board, before Building Permit issues
Applies to
Multi-family, non-residential and mixed-use landscaping
Maintenance duty
Owner replants dead natives next planting season
Penalty
Misdemeanor, each day a separate offense

Summary

Vestavia Hills requires every landscape plan submitted for design review to use native, drought-tolerant vegetation where practicable, and the applicant must identify which plants on the plan are native species. The rule sits in the Planting, Installation and Maintenance article of the Zoning Ordinance, section 9.5.1(2), and applies to the landscaping required for new multi-family, non-residential and mixed-use development citywide.

9.5.1. Planting. ... 2.Native, drought-tolerant vegetation shall be used where practicable to avoid excess water consumption for irrigation. Plans submitted for review shall identify such native species.

View official code

Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: the cited page had not changed since it was quoted.

Full Breakdown

2, requiring a landscape plan submitted to the Design Review Board before the City issues a Building Permit. 1, Planting, lists five numbered planting standards that apply to every required landscaping area: plants must suit local conditions and be maintained with two inches of mulch, sod or approved ground cover at installation (item 1); native, drought-tolerant vegetation must be used where practicable to cut irrigation water use, and the submitted plan must identify which species are native (item 2); plantings must be spaced for adequate growth (item 3); canopy trees must have at least a two-and-one-half inch caliper and stand at least 12 feet tall at planting, with evergreens at least 7 feet and multi-stemmed trees at least 8 feet (item 4); and shrubs must be at least one foot tall at planting (item 5).

2. 3 for keeping every required plant, including the native species called for in item 2, healthy and growing, and for replanting anything dead, missing or unhealthy at the next planting season. 7.

Violations & Fines

Letting required plantings, including the native species shown on an approved landscape plan, die or go unreplaced past the next planting season violates Zoning Ordinance section 9.5.3 and is punishable as a misdemeanor under section 13.7, each day of noncompliance a separate offense under Title 11-45-9, Code of Alabama. The Zoning Official can also withhold a Certificate of Occupancy under section 9.5.2 until required plantings are installed.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Vestavia Hills require homeowners to plant native species in their yards?
No. The native-plant standard in Zoning Ordinance section 9.5.1(2) applies to the landscape plans required for new multi-family, non-residential and mixed-use development reviewed by the Design Review Board, not to existing single-family yards. A homeowner is free to landscape with non-native plants unless a separate covenant or homeowners' association rule says otherwise.
What does the 'where practicable' language mean for the native-plant rule?
The ordinance sets no percentage or approved species list; it requires the applicant's landscape plan to use native, drought-tolerant vegetation where practicable and to identify which submitted species are native, leaving the practicability judgment to the plan reviewed by the Design Review Board under section 9.1.
What happens if required native plantings die after installation?
Section 9.5.3 makes the property owner responsible for keeping every required planting, native species included, healthy and growing, and requires replanting at the next seasonal planting opportunity. Skipping that replacement is a Zoning Ordinance violation carrying the misdemeanor penalties in section 13.7, including a separate daily offense for continued noncompliance.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Vestavia Hills

Parking Rules: Street Parking LimitsSome RestrictionsWater RestrictionsSome RestrictionsWeed OrdinancesSome RestrictionsTree Removal & Heritage TreesSome RestrictionsNoise Ordinances: Leaf Blower RulesSome RestrictionsParking Rules: Commercial & Oversized VehiclesSome RestrictionsParking Rules: Driveway RulesSome RestrictionsParking Rules: Loading ZonesSome RestrictionsFence Regulations: Fence Permit RequirementsSome Restrictions

All Vestavia Hills rules

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