Naturalized Gardens | City of Belleville

Naturalized gardens are permitted in the City of Belleville when they are intentionally planted, properly maintained and meet all applicable by-law requirements. This page explains the rules, responsibilities and basic guidance for creating and maintaining a naturalized garden.

Definition

A naturalized garden is an intentional, deliberate and maintained planting of North American native plant species that replaces a traditional lawn while meeting property standards and safety requirements.

Naturalized Garden Requirements

All naturalized gardens must meet the following requirements to comply with City by-laws.

Permitted and Prohibited Plants

Permitted

North American native plant species

Prohibited

Any noxious weeds identified under the Ontario Weed Control Act

Property owners and occupants are responsible for ensuring no prohibited plants are present.

Required Setbacks

A minimum one metre setback is required from all property lines. The setback area may include:

Mowed grass
Low groundcover (under 15 centimetres)
Mulch, gravel, or similar landscaping

Property owners are responsible for knowing the location of their property lines. Find a detailed diagram of required setbacks from property lines in our Naturalized Garden Setbacks Guide. Please contact us for an alternative format of the guide.

Height and Sightline Requirements

Naturalized gardens must be maintained so they do not obstruct visibility for drivers or pedestrians at:

Intersections
Driveways
Sidewalks
Walkways

Corner Lots

On corner lots, plants must be no higher than 0.6 metres within the corner sight triangle. The corner sight triangle is formed by:

Measuring six metres from the corner along each property line
Connecting those points with a straight line

Noxious Weeds

All property owners and occupants must remove noxious weeds as required by the Ontario Weed Control Act. Noxious weeds are not permitted in naturalized gardens and must be removed when found on any property. For the current list of noxious weeds, refer to the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs.

Maintenance Responsibilities

The owner or occupant is responsible for ensuring a naturalized garden:

Is intentionally planted and regularly maintained
Remains free of noxious weeds
Maintains required setbacks and height limits
Does not obstruct sightlines

Failure to maintain a naturalized garden may result in by-law enforcement action.

Getting Started

The steps below can help you establish a naturalized garden that meets City requirements.

Choose a Suitable Location – Select an area that is at least one metre from all property lines and does not interfere with sightlines at intersections, driveways, sidewalks, or walkways, and remove grass.
Select Native Plant Species – Choose North American native plants that are suited to the site’s sun exposure and soil conditions.
Plant and Water Regularly – Plant according to recommended spacing. Keep the top 2.5 centimetres (one inch) of soil moist for the first few weeks. Water as needed until plants are established, which may take more than one growing season.
Maintain the Garden – Regularly remove weeds and noxious species and monitor plant growth to ensure compliance with height and setback requirements. Organic material such as compost or leaf mold may be added every two years if needed.
Maintain Height and Setbacks – Keep plants within the corner sight triangle under 0.6 metres in height and ensure you maintain the 1 metre setback from all property lines using low plants or landscaping materials.