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Comments 52 Was 0 a Chapter 4 discusses the role of local government in encouraging the use of natural landscaping and describes a range of regulatory approaches that help eliminate local weed ordinances as a deterrent to natural landscaping. Appendix 6 identifies sources of several municipal ordinances. See website (below) for full text. Good examples including the Madison "Permission Law," modified local weed laws, and promotional natural landscaping laws This ordinance is a modified weed law that allows some exceptions for native lawn (Sec. 11 -24). Homeowners may seek approval of a land management plan to convert a portion of their property to a native lawn in the rear yard. To obtain approval, homeowners need support of >50% of their neighbors and screen the plantings with fence and shrubbery. The language describes an exception to the existing weed ordinance, stating that "Native grasses and wildflowers indigenous to Minnesota, planted and maintained on any occupied lot or parcel of land as part of a garden or landscape treatment are exempt from this article" (on weed prohibition). Three new developments in Chanhassen have been required by the City to use native plants in their landscaping. The language in this ordinance adapts a local weed law by adding a section on lawn maintenance that allows for certain areas to remain in a natural state providing a more natural character (Sec. 15 -7). This portion of the ordinance allows for up to 35% of unmaintained/umnowed lawn. If native vegetation is maintained as a garden, 100% of the yard could be in native vegetation. This is an example of a modified local weed law with language that prohibits the uncontrolled growth of vegetation, while permitting planned landscape designs that use a diversity of plants, particularly those that use native vegetation. (312) 454 -0400; http: / /www.epa.gov /glnpo /gr eenacres /toolkit/index.html http: / /www.epa.gov /glnpo /gr eenacres / toolkit/index.html Marc Shippee, City of Blaine, (612) 785 -6178 Jill Sinclair, City of Chanhassen, (612) 937 -1900 Steve Kernik, City of Woodbury, (651) 714 -3533 James Burks, City of Crystal, (612) 531 -1162 Q z Madison, WI Long Grove, IL Ft. Collins, CO N c iii Chanhassen, MN Woodbury, MN Crystal, MN Natural Landscaping for Public Officials: A Source Book. 1998. Northeastern Illinois Planning Commission, Chicago. (Chapter 4: The "How To" of Natural Landscaping (pp. 21 -37); Appendix 6: Sample Local Ordinances (pp. 65 -67). The John Marshal Law Review. 1993. Vol. 26(4). City of Blaine, Chapter 11, Article II on Weeds and Tall Grass. Chanhassen City Code - Ord. No. 222, 1, 9- 26 -94, Sec. 13 -24. Woodbury City Ordinance No. 16 An Ordinance Relating to Vegetation: Amending Crystal City Code, Section 640. 1996. cN compiled by MnDNR - draft 5/25/00 • Useful Natural Rt