Politics
Chicago’s Native Garden Registry Is Open for Applications. Here’s How To Qualify
Native plants up to 36 inches tall will be allowed in parkway gardens if an amendment to Chicago’s native garden ordinance is passed. (Jeffengeloutdoors.com / iStock)
The moment Chicago’s native gardeners have been waiting for has arrived. The city’s Native and Pollinator Garden Registry, approved by City Council back in fall of 2021, is now open for applications.
But before a single submission has even been accepted, an amendment to the ordinance governing the registry is already in the works.
At Monday’s meeting of the Committee on Environmental Protection and Energy, members voted to approve a change to the Native and Pollinator Garden Registry that would allow plants up to 36 inches tall, versus the 10 inches in the existing ordinance.
The height amendment has the full support of the Department of Streets and Sanitation, Gloria Pittman, deputy commissioner of the department, told the committee.
The revision to the ordinance will come up for a vote before the entire City Council at its May 20 meeting.
Ald. Brian Hopkins (2nd Ward), lead sponsor of the registry ordinance, said the amendment was needed to accommodate taller plants such as purple coneflower and milkweed — natives that are popular with pollinators and, in the case of milkweed, absolutely vital for the survival of the endangered monarch butterfly.
It “makes no sense” to limit plantings to 10 inches if the restriction negates the use of the very species conservation-minded gardeners are being encouraged to incorporate into their landscaping, Hopkins said.
Pittman noted that the 36-inch allowance only applies to gardens on the registry, which includes stipulations for maintenance. The 10-inch maximum will continue to target unkempt properties, she said.
Proceeding Deliberately
The creation of the Native and Pollinator Garden Registry was prompted by high-profile cases of gardeners receiving tickets for violating Chicago’s weed ordinance, the weeds in question being native plants.
Though the ordinance establishing the registry passed City Council in fall 2021, an advisory board tasked with developing criteria for the registry as well as the application process wasn’t appointed until spring 2024.
Since then, the advisory board has been “proceeding deliberately,” Hopkins told the committee.
The group worked hand in hand with Streets and Sanitation to arrive at the registry’s parameters, he said, and there were numerous back-end system requirements to take into account before opening up applications.
Gardeners interested in applying for inclusion on the registry — which only applies to parkway gardens and community gardens — will have to provide: a photo of the site, a planting scheme, a maintenance plan and a list of plants. Non-native plants are acceptable only if they’re pollinator-friendly.
Gardens will be added to the registry once an application has been reviewed and approved.
Ward superintendents will have access to the registry, Pittman said, and can reference it when they come across a parkway garden that may previously have been perceived as “overgrown.”
Aside from plant height, there are other restrictions on native gardens, including buffer zones. (City of Chicago)
Apart from the presumed 36-inch height limit, the registry has a number of other restrictions for gardeners to follow, such as specified buffer distances around hydrants and trees, as well as along curbs and sidewalks, where plants can be no taller than 8 inches. No bird feeders or bird baths are allowed, and any fencing taller than 10 inches will require a permit.
Though the committee approved the amended ordinance language, they did express concerns about the registry application process, specifically that the form is only available in English and online.
Hopkins acknowledged that language translation is a technical challenge across systems citywide. Proposed solutions included the creation of flyers, printed in multiple languages, that ward superintendents could leave at homes or buildings where there appears to be a garden eligible for the registry.
Ald. Maria Hadden (49th Ward), chair of the committee, said ward offices could help both with spreading the word and educating constituents about the registry, as well as assisting those unable to access the online portal.
“This is early stages,” Pittman said. “We feel like it’s going in a positive direction.”
Contact Patty Wetli: [email protected]
