How Fullerton Handles Landscaping Rules: A Practical Guide

Fullerton maintains 149 local ordinances across all categories, and 6 of those deal specifically with landscaping rules. Here is a breakdown of what the city actually requires, what is prohibited, and where Fullerton falls on the strict-to-permissive spectrum compared to other cities.

Rainwater Harvesting

Fullerton lets small landscape projects skip most of the city's water-efficient landscape paperwork if they run entirely on stored rainwater or graywater captured on-site. Under FMC § 15.17.050(H)(3)(d), a landscape under 2,500 square feet that meets its full water budget this way answers only to the irrigation-system rules in Chapter 15.50, Appendix D.

Key details: Governing section: FMC § 15.17.050(H)(3)(d). Size threshold: Under 2,500 sq ft of landscape. Water source required: 100% graywater or on-site rainwater. Reduced obligation: Chapter 15.50, Appendix D only. Reviewing department: Community and Economic Development Dept..

Landscape work is inspected by the Community and Economic Development Department before permits and final occupancy issue; installing irrigation without the required Appendix D certification is enforced like any other code violation. Under FMC § 1.08.010, a first infraction carries a fine up to $100, a second within a year up to $200, and each further violation up to $500, or the city can instead pursue the matter as a misdemeanor punishable by up to $1,000 and six months in County Jail.

Fullerton is more permissive than most cities when it comes to rainwater harvesting. That said, there are still limits.

Native Plants

Fullerton's Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance lets homeowners plant any species, including natives and drought-tolerant varieties, as long as the design's estimated water use stays under its calculated water budget. Ordinary turf is capped at 25% of the landscaped area in qualifying projects, and high-water-use plants are barred from street medians.

Key details: Governing chapter: FMC Chapter 15.50, WELO. WELO trigger, new landscape: 500 sq ft or more. WELO trigger, rehab: 2,500 sq ft or more. Non-active turf cap: 25% of landscaped area. Turf slope limit: Barred on slopes over 25%.

Fullerton's Community and Economic Development Department reviews landscape and irrigation plans before a permit issues; a plan exceeding the water budget, oversizing turf past 25 percent, or planting high-water species in a median will not be certified. Chapter 15.50 sets no standalone penalty, so an installation built without certified plans falls under the citywide default in FMC Section 1.08.010: an infraction fine up to $100 for a first offense, $200 for a repeat within a year, and $500 for each further violation.

Weed Ordinances

Fullerton runs a Weed and Rubbish Abatement Program under FMC Chapter 13.18 administered by the Fire Chief as Weed Abatement Official. Owners receive a notice to abate weeds, dry vegetation, and rubbish; failure to comply results in contractor abatement at the owner's expense, with the cost recorded as a lien against the property under California Government Code sections 39560-39588.

Key details: Authority: FMC Ch. 13.18; Cal. GC ss 39560-39588. Weed Abatement Official: Fire Chief (or designee). Dead vegetation cut height: Max 3 inches (Fire Brush Clearance Standard). Notice contents: FMC 13.18.040 (description of work, deadline, hearing rights). Cost recovery: Lien on property, collected on tax roll.

If an owner does not abate by the deadline in the notice, the City's contractor performs the abatement. All actual costs of abatement, plus administrative fees set by the City Council (notice processing, inspection, hearing, accounting), are added to the bill and, after a cost-confirmation hearing, recorded as a lien on the property and collected on the same tax roll as ad valorem property taxes under FMC 13.18 / GC 39577-39588. Unpaid amounts accrue penalties and interest like other delinquent property taxes. Repeated violations can additionally be charged as administrative citations or referred for Fire Code prosecution under the California Fire Code as adopted by FMC Title 8.

Artificial Turf

Fullerton permits artificial turf installation on residential properties as an alternative to natural grass. Synthetic turf must be professionally installed with proper drainage, maintain a realistic appearance, and comply with any applicable HOA CC&Rs. California Civil Code Section 4735 prohibits HOAs from banning artificial turf. Turf removal rebates generally apply when converting to drought-tolerant landscaping rather than artificial turf, though some programs include synthetic turf as a qualifying replacement.

Key details: Permits: Not required for standard installation. HOA Protection: Civil Code §4735 prohibits HOA bans. Drainage: Proper drainage substrate required. Rebate Eligibility: Varies by program: verify before installing. Heat Advisory: Surfaces can reach high temperatures in summer.

Standard artificial turf installation does not trigger code enforcement. Neglected synthetic turf that becomes unsightly, accumulates debris, or creates drainage problems affecting neighboring properties may be addressed under property maintenance and nuisance provisions. Administrative citations start at $100 for non-compliance with maintenance standards.

Fullerton is more permissive than most cities when it comes to artificial turf. That said, there are still limits.

Tree Trimming

Under Fullerton Municipal Code Chapter 9.06, property owners are NOT responsible for trimming street trees in the parkway - the City prunes, removes, and plants them through its contractor (West Coast Arborists). It is unlawful for any person to alter, prune, or remove a street tree in the public right-of-way without a permit from the Public Works / Maintenance Services Department, and violators may be fined and required to pay the replacement value of the tree.

Key details: Street-tree authority: Public Works - Maintenance Services Department. Who prunes street trees?: City (West Coast Arborists), not property owner. Permit to prune/remove ROW tree: Required (FMC 9.06.100). Posting requirement: 10 days before removal. Work timeline after permit: 60 days (extendable).

Pruning, topping, or removing a City street tree without a permit is a violation of FMC 9.06.100. The property owner may be (a) cited for the violation, (b) charged for the replacement value of the tree at then-current ISA appraisal rates (which can run into the thousands of dollars for a mature parkway tree), and (c) required to plant and establish a replacement tree at the same location. Damaging a street tree through nailing, equipment impact, or trenching may also trigger restitution. Failure to water a newly planted street tree during the three-year establishment period, or failure to maintain the abutting parkway strip, is enforced as a code-enforcement matter under FMC 9.06.070.

Compared to other cities, Fullerton takes a harder line on tree trimming. The enforcement and penalty structure reflects that.

Water Restrictions

Fullerton's Drought Ordinance 3299 and Fullerton Municipal Code (FMC) Chapter 15.50 (Landscaping and Irrigation Requirements) prohibit watering between 9:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m., ban watering within 48 hours of measurable rain (1/4 inch), and limit non-attended overhead watering to 15 minutes per valve per day. At the City's current Conservation Level 2, landscape irrigation is restricted to two assigned days per week by address (odd / even) and must occur outside 9 a.m.-6 p.m.

Key details: Local ordinance: Ordinance 3299 + FMC Ch. 15.50. No-water window: 9:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. (all levels). Per-valve cap: 15 minutes / valve / day (unattended). Rain lockout: 48 hours after 1/4 inch rain. Current level (Level 2): Watering limited to 2 assigned days/week by address.

Water-waste and conservation-level violations are enforced by the Public Works Water Utility under Ordinance 3299. Typical enforcement progression is a courtesy notice on the first observation, a written warning on the second, and citation/administrative fines on subsequent violations, with surcharges that may appear on the water bill. New-construction landscape plans that fail FMC 15.50 documentation (CLDP, CIDP, water-budget calculations) result in plan-check denial and cannot receive a Certificate of Occupancy until corrected. Persistent waste of water can also be the basis for flow restriction under the Water Utility's tariff.

The Bottom Line

Compared to many U.S. cities, Fullerton gives residents more room on landscaping rules. 2 of the 6 rules here are rated permissive. But permissive does not mean unregulated. There are still requirements, and the city does enforce them when violations are reported.

This guide is based on Fullerton's current municipal code. Local rules can and do change, so check the individual ordinance pages for the latest details, penalties, and FAQs.