Assemblymember Deborah J. Glick, 66th Assembly District Manhattan, announced today the passage of her legislation A.1890 to ensure homeowners in New York who are a part of a homeowners association have the right to use environmentally conscious low impact landscaping on their property. Under this legislation, all homeowners will be free to plant pollinator gardens and native plants that foster habitat for wildlife, and install rain and rock gardens to manage stormwater runoff regardless of their membership status of an HOA.

Assemblymember Glick said, “Climate change is not just an issue for governments and large corporations to tackle; we all should be doing what we can to manage and reverse the effects, including by making smart landscaping decisions in our yards. Many homeowners recognize the environmental benefits of low impact landscaping in encouraging biodiversity and requiring less watering. Unfortunately, many New Yorkers belong to an HOA that typically require monoculture grass yards that are expensive to maintain, often require pesticide applications, and do not provide a living environment for pollinators and native wildlife. As more people feel the personal responsibility to combat climate change in any way they can, we must make certain that all homeowners around the state have the right to landscape their personal space in an environmentally sound manner.”

Companion legislation S.7358 is sponsored by Senator Rachel May.