Springfield Hell Strip Rules — What You Need to Know

The Good News First

Springfield city code does not prohibit native plant gardens in the right-of-way. You can have a beautiful, intentional garden in your hell strip — you just need to follow a few rules to keep it code-compliant and neighbor-friendly.

Key Ordinances

Weed Height Limit — Sec. 74.404

Grass and weeds may not exceed 7 inches in height. Critically, this rule applies to unmanaged grass and weeds, not to intentionally planted native gardens. A coneflower or little bluestem that grows 2 feet tall is not a "weed" — it's a garden plant.

What this means for you: Your garden needs to look intentional. Use edging, a small sign, or defined borders so it's clearly a cultivated planting and not neglect.

Sight Triangle Near Intersections

No vegetation may exceed 2 feet tall within the sight triangle at intersections. This is a safety rule — drivers need clear sightlines. A single tree trunk is permitted if it's pruned to 8 feet clearance from the ground.

What this means for you: Keep plants low near corner lots. Check your sight triangle before planting anything taller than 2 feet.

Sidewalk Clearance

Vegetation must not hang over a sidewalk lower than 9 feet. This ensures pedestrian access is never obstructed.

Street Clearance

Branches must be pruned to 12 feet clearance above the roadway. This applies primarily to trees.

Greene County Ordinance

In residential (R), commercial (C), or mixed (M) districts — or any platted subdivision — grass, weeds, brush, or other rank vegetation exceeding 12 inches in height is unlawful and constitutes a nuisance. As with the city code, this does not apply to intentionally cultivated garden plantings.

Tips for Staying Complaint-Free

• Use edging (metal, stone, or brick) to define your garden boundaries clearly
• Add a small stake sign identifying your garden as intentional — e.g., "Native Pollinator Garden"
• Keep pathways and sidewalk access clear
• Manage any volunteers (weeds) that try to sneak in from outside your planted area

Before You Dig

Missouri law requires you to call 811 before any digging project — even shallow ones. Utilities often run through the right-of-way. It's free, it's the law, and it could save your life. See our Before You Dig article for details.