Bill > A10102

This bill, known as the "low impact landscaping rights act," aims to protect homeowners' ability to install and maintain environmentally beneficial landscaping by preventing homeowners' associations (HOAs) from enacting or enforcing rules that would effectively ban or unreasonably restrict such practices. Low impact landscaping is defined to include pollinator gardens, rain gardens, habitat gardens for native wildlife, and natural gardening using native plants, all of which are intended to promote biodiversity and reduce reliance on pesticides, herbicides, and excessive water, unlike traditional turfgrass lawns which offer little ecological benefit. While HOAs cannot prohibit or unreasonably limit these types of landscaping, they can still enforce restrictions if the low impact landscaping is located on HOA property, is not reasonably maintained by the homeowner, or poses public safety concerns or encroaches on common or neighboring properties, and any denial of a homeowner's request must be provided in writing with specific reasons.

Housing and Urban Affairs

https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/A10102