Bill > HB1878

This bill establishes legal protections for homeowners who want to implement managed native conservation landscaping on their property by prohibiting most deed restrictions that would prevent such landscaping. The bill defines managed native conservation landscaping as intentionally planned and maintained native plant installations that serve environmental purposes like improving water quality, reducing stormwater runoff, supporting native pollinators and wildlife, and enhancing filtration and infiltration. Homeowners' associations can still establish reasonable aesthetic and design guidelines, but cannot impose restrictions that significantly increase costs, decrease landscaping efficiency, require turf grass, prohibit native landscaping in visible areas, or limit the area of native landscaping. The bill specifically exempts historic properties from these provisions and allows condominium and planned community associations to restrict native landscaping in common areas. Importantly, the bill does not consider unattended turf grass or noxious weeds (as defined by federal and state regulations) to be managed native conservation landscaping. The legislation will take effect 60 days after its passage, providing homeowners more flexibility in creating environmentally beneficial landscaping on their properties.

Housing and Urban Affairs

https://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/billinfo/bill_history.cfm?syear=2025&sind=0&body=H&type=B&bn=1878