Lawns and Landscaping
How can I keep my yard healthy and safe?
A beautiful neighborhood starts with healthy lawns and landscapes!
- Keep the grass and weeds on your property less than eight inches tall and mowed up to the street.
- Make sure noxious/harmful weeds are controlled or destroyed.
- Don’t forget to mow the boulevard (the strip of grass on the other side of the sidewalk or your fence).
Allowed


Not allowed


Managed natural landscape
What if I want to have a managed natural landscape?
- It must not have noxious/harmful weeds or unintended vegetation.
- It must have a planned, intentional, and maintained planting of native and non-native plants.
- It may have plants and grasses 8 inches or more in height. This does not include turf-grass lawns left unattended.
Allowed

Not allowed

Planting and trees
- Plants, trees and shrubs are not allowed in boulevards if they block traffic visibility and walkways.
- Tree overhangs must be trimmed up 8 feet.
Allowed

Not allowed

Yard waste
What can I do with my yard waste?
- Garden waste, lawn clippings, or branches with a diameter of 10inches or less may be taken to the free drop-off site in Maple Grove.
- Garbage collectors can also collect your yard waste and leaves but may charge a fee. Contact your hauler for more information.
- If you bag your yard waste, use either paper or certified compostable plastic bags.
Get more information about yard waste >
Allowed

Not allowed

Composting
What can I use for composting?
- Building materials used for compost bins must be rot resistant such as treated lumber, concrete block, or fencing wire.
- Many home improvement stores sell compost bins.
- Compost bins must not exceed five feet in width, twelve feet in length and five feet in height.
- Meat, dairy products, diseased plant materials, plastic, metal, glass, and animal feces are not allowed.
- Some approved materials include: eggs shells, veggies, fruits, and yard waste.
Get more information on composting >
Allowed


Not allowed

Firewood
Where can I store my firewood?
- Firewood must be stacked on a paved surface or raised at least three and a half inches off the ground.
- Firewood stacks must be five feet away from your neighbor’s property.
- No more than two cords (4’x4’x8’) stacks of wood are allowed on a property.
- Firewood cannot be stored in your front yard.
Allowed

Not allowed

Reporting violations
To report tall grass and noxious weeds, contact:
Pang Yang
Environmental Health
763-493-8070
Email Pang Yang
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Resources
For more information on diseased and dead trees, contact:
Aki Jacobs
City Forester
763-493-8007
Email Aki Jacobs
Yard and Garden Line
University of Minnesota Extension Services
612-624-4771
Visit U of M Extension Services