How Bishop Handles Landscaping Rules: A Practical Guide
Bishop maintains 56 local ordinances across all categories, and 3 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.
Weed Ordinances
Bishop Municipal Code Chapter 8.08 lets the city declare weeds, rubbish, refuse and dirt a public nuisance and order abatement. 'Weeds' means mature, seed-bearing or noxious growth that becomes a fire menace when dry. Uncleared parcels can be mowed by the city at the owner's cost.
Key details: Code chapter: BMC 8.08 (Weeds & Refuse). Weeds defined: Fire-menace / noxious growth. City may: Abate via street superintendent. Cost recovery: Special assessment + lien. Also a nuisance under: BMC 8.06.010(E)-(F).
The cost of abating weeds, rubbish, refuse or dirt becomes a special assessment and lien on the parcel under BMC 8.08.180 once confirmed by the city council.
Bishop is more permissive than most cities when it comes to weed ordinances. That said, there are still limits.
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.
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.