MN SF2514

Statutory cities and home rule charter cities must allow property owners to install and maintain managed natural landscapes on privately owned land.

Managed natural landscapes include planned plantings of native or nonnative grasses, wildflowers, forbs, ferns, shrubs, trees, rain gardens, meadow vegetation, and ornamental plants, but exclude unattended turf-grass lawns.

Managed natural landscapes may contain plants and grasses exceeding eight inches in height that have gone to seed, provided they do not include noxious weeds and are actively maintained.

Weeds or grasses growing on any city lot or parcel to a height greater than eight inches or that have gone or are about to go to seed are prohibited, except when part of a defined managed natural landscape.

Rain gardens are defined as native plant gardens designed to improve properties aesthetically while reducing stormwater and pollutants entering streams, lakes, and rivers.