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Resident asks council to pause enforcement of native plant height rule and update code to protect pollinator habitat
Summary
A fourth-generation resident said her certified wildlife habitat was cited under the city's property maintenance code restricting plant height to eight inches and asked council to pause enforcement for native/pollinator plantings while sustainability-committee-led code updates proceed.
Marcy Harris Ortiz spoke during public comment Oct. 20 to say her yard, a certified National Wildlife Federation habitat, was cited under Section 302.04 of the property maintenance code that limits organic plant growth to eight inches. Ortiz said her garden intentionally uses native asters and goldenrod to provide late-season food and habitat for pollinators and birds and that treating those plants as weeds conflicts with the city's sustainability goals.
Ortiz asked council to pause enforcement actions against native/pollinator plantings while the city completes a code review. She noted that the Canal Winchester Community Plan adopted Dec. 11, 2023 recommends updating zoning to encourage native plants and reduce turf area, and pointed to Columbus's June 2025 amendment to Chapter 709 that exempts certain pollinator gardens from height limits.
Council members said Ortiz had already been invited to present to the Sustainability Commission and that several commission members are master gardeners who can provide technical guidance. Staff indicated the matter will be reviewed by the Sustainability Commission and city staff as part of the broader code review process. Ortiz said she did not contest the citation in principle but sought a transparent pause on enforcement for native gardens until standards reflecting sustainability goals are adopted.
