How Bishop Handles Landscaping Rules: A Practical Guide
Bishop maintains 100 local ordinances across all categories, and 9 of those deal specifically with landscaping rules. Here is a breakdown of what the city actually requires, what is prohibited, and where Bishop falls on the strict-to-permissive spectrum compared to other cities.
Grass Height Limits
Bishop has no fixed grass-height number. Instead, weeds that grow large enough to become a fire menace when dry, or are otherwise noxious or dangerous, may be declared a public nuisance by the City Council and abated at the owner's cost.
Key details: Governing chapter: BMC 8.08 weeds and refuse. Height standard: None; fire-menace test. Declared by: City Council resolution. Notice before hearing: At least 5 days. Unpaid cost becomes: Lien on property.
If the owner does not abate, the City removes the weeds and the cost becomes a special assessment and lien on the parcel (8.08.180), collected like property taxes.
Tree Trimming
Bishop's Municipal Code sets no tree-trimming permit or pruning ordinance for private trees. Trimming is largely governed by California civil law between neighbors, and by the City only where a tree encroaches on the public right-of-way.
Key details: City trimming permit: None for private trees. Neighbor branches: Trim to property line. Right-of-way trees: BMC Ch. 12.12 encroachment. Governing law: CA common law. Best step: Confirm with Public Works.
No tree-trimming-specific penalty exists. Vegetation obstructing the public right-of-way may be treated as an encroachment (BMC Ch. 12.12) or abated as a nuisance under Ch. 8.06 by administrative citation.
Weed Ordinances
Bishop Municipal Code Chapter 8.08 lets the City Council declare weeds, rubbish, refuse and dirt on any property a public nuisance and abate them. Owners are notified, given a hearing, and billed if the City has to clear the weeds.
Key details: Primary ordinance: BMC Ch. 8.08. Nuisance declared by: City Council resolution. Owner notice: Posted or mailed, 5+ days. Self-remedy allowed: Yes, before City acts. Cost recovery: Lien / special assessment.
The cost of City abatement is charged to the owner as a special assessment that becomes a lien on the parcel (8.08.180) and is collected with property taxes; separate nuisance violations under Ch. 8.06 are infractions.
Water Restrictions
Bishop draws on the Owens Valley Groundwater Basin and enforces a Water Shortage Contingency Plan. Wasting water is always prohibited (BMC 13.04.050). During drought Stage 1, irrigation is limited to alternating odd/even address days and to the hours of 8 p.m. to 6 a.m.
Key details: Water source: Owens Valley groundwater basin. Waste always banned: BMC 13.04.050. Stage 1 watering hours: 8 p.m. to 6 a.m.. Address schedule: Odd/even days by address. After rain: No irrigation for 48 hours.
Mandatory-stage violations are enforced by the Director of Public Works, escalating from notices to service limits; wasteful use under 13.04.050 and 23 CCR 995 is prohibited statewide.
Native Plants
Bishop actively encourages water-efficient, low-water-use landscaping. Its Water-Efficient Landscapes ordinance (BMC Ch. 13.07) applies to new and rehabilitated landscaping and promotes drought-tolerant plantings suited to the Eastern Sierra.
Key details: Governing chapter: BMC Ch. 13.07 WELO. Applies to: New / rehabilitated landscaping. City goal: Encourage low water use. Native plants: Encouraged, drought-tolerant. Runoff to street: Prohibited.
New or rehabilitated projects that fail the Ch. 13.07 water-efficiency standards can be denied approval or required to revise landscape and irrigation plans; runoff into streets is prohibited.
Tree Removal & Heritage Trees
Bishop has no tree-removal permit ordinance. Property owners may generally remove trees on their own private property without a city permit. Trees in the public right-of-way or as part of a development project are handled separately by the City.
Key details: Private tree permit: Not required. Heritage-tree ordinance: None in Bishop. Right-of-way trees: Public Works controls. Development projects: Reviewed under Title 17. Verify first: Tree not in right-of-way.
No private tree-removal penalty exists. Removing or damaging a City street tree or a tree in the right-of-way without authorization can be cited as an encroachment or nuisance and the City may seek restitution.
Artificial Turf
Bishop has no ordinance banning or specially permitting artificial turf. Synthetic lawns are allowed and fit the City's water-efficient landscaping goals, though drainage must not send runoff onto streets or neighbors.
Key details: Turf ordinance: None specific in Bishop. Allowed: Yes, no permit for basic use. Water benefit: Fits Ch. 13.07 goals. Drainage rule: No runoff to streets/neighbors. Projects: Reviewed under Title 17.
No turf-specific penalty exists. Poor drainage causing runoff or harm to neighboring property can be abated as a nuisance under BMC Ch. 8.06 via administrative citation.
Rainwater Harvesting
Bishop's Municipal Code sets no rainwater-harvesting restriction. Rain barrels and simple cisterns are legal in California, and the state encourages capturing rooftop rainwater for landscape use with no permit for basic barrels.
Key details: City ordinance: None restricting harvesting. State law: CA Rainwater Capture Act. Basic rain barrels: No permit generally. Plumbed cisterns: May need building permit. Key limit: No potable cross-connection.
No penalty targets rain barrels. A system that cross-connects with the potable supply violates BMC Ch. 13.06 and can lead to backflow-protection orders or water-service consequences.
Composting
Bishop has no ordinance banning backyard composting. Home composting is allowed if kept clean and not a nuisance. California's SB 1383 law also requires residents to keep food and yard organics out of the trash through the City's collection program.
Key details: Composting ordinance: None; generally allowed. Nuisance backstop: BMC Ch. 8.06. State organics law: SB 1383 diversion. Yard waste: Use City organics collection. Keep pile: Enclosed, no odor/vermin.
No composting-specific fine exists. A compost pile that becomes a health hazard, odor source, or vermin harborage can be abated as a nuisance under BMC Ch. 8.06 by administrative citation.
The Bottom Line
Bishop's landscaping rules rules are a mixed bag. Some areas are strict, others are relaxed, and the details matter. The best approach is to check the specific rule that applies to your situation rather than assuming Bishop is broadly strict or permissive.
Keep in mind that Bishop can amend these rules at any council meeting. For the most current version of any rule mentioned here, check the specific ordinance page, where we track updates as they happen.