Landscaping Rules in Oklahoma (2026)
27 rules on the books across Oklahoma, 7 cities and counties. Select a rule to read the full details.
Severity: Few Restrictions · Light Restrictions · Some Restrictions · Significant Restrictions · Heavy Restrictions
Tree Trimming
Rules about trimming trees that overhang sidewalks, streets, or neighboring properties, and when you need permission to prune city trees.
Edmond
Some RestrictionsEdmond requires City Manager approval before pruning, removing, or damaging any public tree, while street trees along…
Read full rule →Lawton
Some RestrictionsLawton City Code Section 20-1-103 lets property owners grow trees in the sidewalk parkway, but limbs and branches must…
Read full rule →Midwest City
Some RestrictionsMidwest City requires owners to trim trees and shrubs overhanging streets and rights-of-way to a 14-foot clearance…
Read full rule →Norman
Some RestrictionsNCC 16-910 makes it the duty of every property owner abutting a street to prune trees on their premises so limbs and…
Read full rule →Oklahoma City
Some RestrictionsOklahoma City property owners must trim trees and shrubs that overhang or obstruct any adjacent street, sidewalk, or…
Read full rule →Tulsa
Some RestrictionsTulsa requires 8 feet of limb clearance over sidewalks and 9 feet over streets, and bans topping street and park trees…
Read full rule →Tree Removal & Heritage Trees
Permit requirements for removing trees on private property, protected and significant tree thresholds, replacement planting standards, and the penalties for unpermitted removal.
Norman
Significant RestrictionsNorman requires written permission from the City Forester before anyone alters or removes a street tree, defined as a…
Read full rule →Broken Arrow
Some RestrictionsBroken Arrow requires removed or failed required trees to be replaced at scaled rates: up to four 3-inch-caliper trees…
Read full rule →Edmond
Some RestrictionsEdmond requires a Tree Removal Permit before cutting or damaging trees on unplatted land or on property zoned…
Read full rule →Midwest City
Some RestrictionsMidwest City requires an approved tree canopy management plan before any tree can be removed from subdivision sites of…
Read full rule →Oklahoma City
Some RestrictionsRemoving, cutting, or trimming any tree, plant, or shrub on public property in Oklahoma City, including parkways and…
Read full rule →Tulsa
Some RestrictionsTulsa requires a permit before planting any street tree, sets exact curb and sidewalk setbacks, and bans topping street…
Read full rule →Weed Ordinances
Requirements to keep weeds and grass below a set height, the numeric limits (commonly 8 to 12 inches), abatement notices, and the liens cities can place after mowing it themselves.
Broken Arrow
Some RestrictionsBroken Arrow bans weeds and other vegetation over 12 inches tall as a public nuisance citywide, with exceptions for…
Read full rule →Edmond
Some RestrictionsEdmond bans letting weeds or grass grow past 12 inches on any property, including the abutting alley, street…
Read full rule →Lawton
Some RestrictionsLawton makes it unlawful for any lot owner to let weeds or trash grow, stand, or accumulate on their property. The code…
Read full rule →Midwest City
Some RestrictionsMidwest City caps grass and weeds at 12 inches under its amended Property Maintenance Code. Noxious weeds are banned…
Read full rule →Norman
Some RestrictionsNorman caps weeds and grass at 12 inches on any platted or unplatted lot under City Code § 16-310. Growth past that…
Read full rule →Oklahoma City
Some RestrictionsOklahoma City caps grass and weeds at 12 inches tall on any lot; taller growth is declared a public nuisance under the…
Read full rule →Tulsa
Some RestrictionsTulsa bans weeds and rank vegetation over 12 inches tall on private property, with limited exceptions for tended…
Read full rule →Water Restrictions
Watering schedules, drought restrictions, and limits on outdoor irrigation including which days and times you can water your lawn.
Lawton
Significant RestrictionsLawton restricts outdoor watering to specific days and hours once the mayor declares a water emergency under Section…
Read full rule →Oklahoma City
Significant RestrictionsOklahoma City's City Manager can declare mandatory water-use restrictions during shortages, main breaks, or pressure…
Read full rule →Norman
Some RestrictionsNorman's Stage 1 conservation plan restricts landscape watering year-round to odd or even calendar days matching the…
Read full rule →Tulsa
Some RestrictionsTulsa's Mayor can restrict outdoor watering in four escalating stages once daily water use hits 94% of system capacity…
Read full rule →Rainwater Harvesting
Whether you can collect rainwater, how much you can store, and any permits or tank size restrictions for residential rain barrels and cisterns.
Native Plants
Incentives or requirements for using native and drought-tolerant plants in your landscaping, and rules about replacing traditional lawns.
Broken Arrow
Few RestrictionsBroken Arrow's zoning ordinance encourages, but does not mandate, native-plant landscaping as part of low impact…
Read full rule →Norman
Few RestrictionsNorman's parking-lot landscaping code tells developers using its xeriscape option that native species 'are better…
Read full rule →Composting
Rules for backyard composting bins and piles plus curbside organics, bin requirements, allowed materials, setbacks, pest control, and any mandated diversion programs.