Beginning April 1st, the City’s Low Impact Landscaping Ordinance will allow gardening techniques that conserve water, lower maintenance costs, provide pollution prevention, and creates habitat for wildlife.
The ordinance provides guidance to residents who desire to make a positive environmental impact in their own yards. Low impact landscaping is purposefully planned to blend in with surrounding land uses in an aesthetically pleasing way that is also beneficial for surrounding ecosystem.
What is a low-impact landscape?
-A landscape that contains at least 85% native species
-A landscape design that is intentionally planted in groupings, clusters or drifts
-A pollinator garden, rain garden, bio-habitat garden, or xeriscape
When planting a low impact landscape please remember:
Randomized plantings are not permittedA low impact landscape cannot contain noxious weeds
The full ordinance can be read online on the City website here. For more resources on native landscaping please visit the Sustainability Resource Center.
Please submit media inquiries and interview requests to sustainability@cityoffrederickmd.gov