Support Us Button Widget

City of Winston-Salem expands natural landscape allowance for residential homes

Turn your garden into a nature landscape.

WStoday: plants in a garden in a backyard of a home

Show off your gardening skills and keep our city beautiful.

Photo by WStoday

Your yard could support a healthier environment. The City of Winston-Salem has expanded the residential allowance for residents who want to create natural landscape areas in their yards.

The approved ordinance took effect Tuesday, March 5. Here are the requirements:

  • Register your landscape area
  • Receive a free natural landscape sign to display on the visible edge of your property
  • Landscape can only contain native and/or pollinator-friendly plants
  • Turf grass must still be maintained to stay under eight inches
  • The natural area must be at least five feet from your property line + have a border

Registration is free, but residents must submit a site plan, plant list, and a maintenance plan. Sustainability Director Shaleen Miller said natural yards offer a number of benefits.
“They conserve water, reduce greenhouse gases by reducing the need to mow, encourage bees, birds, and butterflies and in the long run, reduce the time a homeowner spends maintaining a traditional lawn,” Miller said.

Need resources on landscaping? Piedmont Environmental Alliance and Forsyth Cooperative Extension Services offer resources on building a sustainable environment, including gardening tips as you build your natural landscape.

More from WStoday
For the new year, we’re asking readers to submit their top questions about the Twin City for us to answer.
If you don’t have coffee already in hand, consider this your sign to grab some.
What are the highs and lows when it comes to snow storms in The Twin City, and can you expect a white Christmas this year?
It’s that time of year again — Spotify Wrapped is out, and so is ours. Ready to see how our year stacked up?
The university’s foundation purchased the property to accommodate future growth.
Hit the road and head to the Port City. We’re sharing all the details about what to do and eat, plus where to stay.
Mayor Allen Joines calls plans for the major mixed-use development “a roadmap to a new era of vibrancy and opportunity” for Winston-Salem.
From historic charm to modern vibrancy, the Twin City offers a unique mix of tradition and innovation.
We asked an artificial intelligence site to come up with a movie plot fit for the Hallmark Channel. The result is a love story with the backdrop of some of Winston-Salem’s most iconic spots.
Dig into Winston-Salem’s must-try pizza shops, including some that have gotten national attention and are loved by locals.