Groups of vegetation

• Groups of vegetation should not be longer than 15 feet
• 3 feet of clear space is required between any group of:
  • Vegetables
  • Shrubs
  • Flowers
• Within clear spaces, the height of grass or other vegetation should not exceed 8 inches

Raised bed dimensions

You can grow plants in raised beds in the boulevard. It is important to follow the guidelines below to allow people sidewalk access.

• Setback:
  • 6 inches from sidewalk
  • 2 feet from the road gutter
• Maximum of 15 feet in length

Clearance requirements

3 feet of clear space is required from fixed objects. This includes:

• Trees
• Fire hydrants
• Poles
• Signs
• Cabinets
• Maintenance holes

• Within clear spaces, the height of grass or other vegetation should not exceed 8 inches
• Vegetation should not exceed 18 inches in height within:
  • 40 feet of intersections
  • 10 feet of alleys and driveways
• Keep hedges and shrubs
  • 2 feet from the road gutter
  • 6 inches from the sidewalk.

Please do not obstruct

• Bus stops or signs
• Accessible parking spaces
• Loading zones
• Bikeways
• Snow plowing and clearing
• Public projects & reconstruction
• Emergency services (e.g. fire hydrants)

Garden diagrams and illustrations

You can see more about creating a garden in our diagrams and illustrations.

Learn more about boulevard garden design rules

Ground cover

• Wood chips
• Artificial turf
• Asphalt
• Stones between 3-6 inches in size are not allowed. Other stones can be placed with a permit.

Noxious weeds

Learn about noxious weeds on the Minnesota Department of Agriculture website

Plants with thorns, spines, or sharp ridged parts

You cannot grow or plant:

• Plants with thorns
• Plants with spines
• Plants with sharp-ridged parts
• Noxious weeds

Thorny plants that are much more likely to cause practical problems are:

• Noxious
• Large
• Not maintained
• Encroaching on fire hydrants
• Etc.

Some exceptions are:

• Roses
• Raspberries

Make sure they're well-maintained and do not grow or block the public sidewalk.

Follow the clearance guidelines to make sure people have access to the sidewalk.

Plants

• Edible plants such as vegetables, herbs, and fruit shrubs
• Flowers
• Other ornamental vegetation such as native grasses

Shrubs and hedges

Ground cover

• Natural double-ground hardwood mulch
• Double-shredded hardwood mulch

All ground cover should be free of dyes and other treatments. It can be placed up to six feet along the curb.

Raised planting beds

View the raised beds dimensions diagram

Ground cover and mulch

• Mulch for more than 6ft parallel to the curb
• Landscape rock
• Stones

Fixed items

Anything that is fixed in place on the boulevard requires a permit.

• Fences
• Ornaments
• Irrigation systems
• Birdbaths
• Pots
• Stepping stones
• Other items