Rochester no longer requires permits for 'natural landscape' gardens

Rochester residents no longer require permits to plant or install "natural landscapes" in their front yards instead of traditional grass lawns.

The new amendment to the city's Tall Grass and Weeds Ordinance, which went into effect on Tuesday,  characterizing them as "planned, intentional and maintained landscapes."

Permits will still be required for anything other than turf grass in the boulevard, and turf grass must not exceed over a foot tall without a permit regardless of their location.

Height restrictions do not apply to other plants so long as they are not noxious weeds and not located in the boulevard.

The city says that noxious weeds will still not be permitted to grow on private property due to being harmful to humans and animals.

This change comes after the Minnesota Legislature passed a new native landscaping bill last year, which states that cities must now allow "managed natural landscaping" to be installed and maintained on all private properties, and would prevent homeowners associations from implementing restrictive landscaping rules.

Inver Grove Heights in Dakota County has also recently adjusted its ordinance to complex with the law.