Winston Salem Times

The Winston-Salem City Council has recently given the green light to an ordinance allowing residents to establish natural landscape areas in their yards using native and/or pollinator-friendly plants. The implementation of these new rules is scheduled to commence on March 5, 2024.

Sustainability Director Shaleen Miller highlighted the advantages of natural yards, stating, "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."

Under the new ordinance, there are specific regulations concerning borders, the size of the natural area, and its proximity to property lines. Furthermore, if these natural landscape areas are visible to the public, they are required to have a sign identifying them.

While traditional lawns must still adhere to the city's regulations limiting their height to eight inches, natural areas with grasses taller than this threshold must be registered with the city's Sustainability Department. Registration, which involves submitting a site plan, plant list, and maintenance plan, is free. However, failure to maintain the natural area properly may result in registration being revoked.

Residents seeking more information about the ordinance can visit www.cityofws.org/3281.