Garden Permits for City-owned Vacant Lots
The City of Rochester supports transforming vacant lots into bountiful community gardens. Whether you are an inexperienced gardener or a true green thumb, the City has a selection of free resources to help you transform a vacant lot into a beautiful garden. For questions re: gardening on a City-owned vacant lot, please email Daisy Algarin, Daisy.Algarin@cityofrochester.gov.
1-Year Garden Permit - Updated permit coming soon!
5-year Garden Permits for organizations that have completed 3 growing seasons on a City-owned vacant lot
Selecting a City Vacant Lot
Finding a lot has been made much easier with the City’s GIS map applications showing what land is available to pull a permit for.
Water Credit Program
The City will apply a credit to the water account of a neighbor who supplies water to a community garden.
Flower City Flourishing Garden Contest
Flower City Flourishing took place the week of July 22, 2024 and focused on gardens on City lots or pantry gardens on privately owned land that somehow serve the community. There were two first-place winners and one Honorable Mention, three categories total.
Click here to see the winners.
Flower City Flourishing Reception
We will have a small reception and acknowledgment ceremony for the 2024 winner, open to all gardeners, whether you participated in the contest or not. It will be held here in the City Hall Atrium on Wednesday, September 18th from 5 p.m. until approximately 6 p.m. Certificates will be handed out, light refreshments will be served. Come and rub elbows with a few other City gardeners!
More Resources
- For soil testing, garden pest identification, and more, email Cornell Cooperative Extension-Monroe County Master Gardener’s Helpline or call 753-2555.
- Blocks In Bloom is a beautification program established by Cornell Cooperative Extension-Monroe County for lower-resourced neighborhoods; a minimum of six homes must be pulled in to participate. For information, email Ashly Piedmont at Cornell Cooperative Extension.
- For tools, the SouthEast Area Coalition (SEAC) operates a Tool Shed at 1255 University Ave. For more information email SEAC or call 271-TOOL (8665).
- The Rochester Central Library and City Branch Libraries offer gardening books and periodicals. Gardening programs are offered in the spring, summer, and fall. For more information about our gardening programs, visit the Rochester Public Library Program Calendar or email Renée Kendrot.