Certification Criteria

• Remove 100% of "silver" aggressive weeds from property

• Naturescape at least 5% of available property with native plants

• Include at least 3 out of 5 canopy levels

• Pick at least one item from each of the Stormwater and Wildlife Stewardship menus

• Develop plan to reach Gold Certification (recommended)

• Meet all requirements of Silver level

• Remove 100% of "gold" aggressive weeds from property

• Naturescape at least 15% of available property with native plants

• Include at least 4 of the 5 canopy levels

• Pick two items from each of Stormwater and Wildlife Stewardship menus

• Develop plan to reach Platinum Certification (recommended)

• Meet all requirements of Silver and Gold levels

• Remove 100% of "platinum" aggressive weeds from property

• Naturescape at least 50% of property with native plants

• Include at least 5 out of 5 canopy levels

• Pick three items from each of Stormwater and Wildlife Stewardship menus

• Pick one item from Education and Volunteerism menu

• Have a wildlife water feature

• Have avian nest boxes for native species

• Have bat houses

• Have Mason bee houses

• Keep cats indoors at all times, or in an outdoor enclosure
• Have a snag or decomposing nurse log
• Reduce outdoor lighting
• Reduce bird window collisions
• Have a native meadow with a mix of 3-season-blooming forbs and grasses
  

• Have a large canopy tree for stormwater absorption

• Disconnect downspouts (where appropriate)
  

• Have a rain garden

• Grass or impervious pavement on less than 5% of property (minus house)

• Have an ecoroof
• Take the Metro "No Pesticides Pledge" (required for gold)
• Decommission all or part of an existing irrigation system
• No use of moderate or high hazard chemicals (See Metro Grow Smart Grow Safe Guide)
• Use a rain sensor on an exisiting irrigation system
  

**Stormwater options are different for each property. It is important to research the most appropriate items for your site before implementation.

• Recruit 2 neighbors

• Allow site/yard to be showcased in garden tours or Metro tour

• Volunteer for Certification Program and/or mentor other Backyard Habitat homeowners

• Attend continuing education classes

• Participate in OSU Extension Master Gardener Programs
• Become a trained "Weed Watcher" through the Early Detection Rapid Response Program