How Sacramento Handles Landscaping Rules: A Practical Guide

Sacramento maintains 188 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 Sacramento falls on the strict-to-permissive spectrum compared to other cities.

Water Restrictions

Sacramento enforces watering limits under SMC Chapter 13.04: 2 days per week in summer, 1 day per week in winter, never between 10 AM and 7 PM.

Key details: Days Per: 2 days per week summer. Day Per: 1 day per week winter. Watering: No watering 10 AM to 7 PM. Curfew Hours: No watering 48 hours after rain. Shutoff Nozzle: Shutoff nozzle required.

If you are coming from a city with tighter rules, you will find Sacramento gives residents more flexibility on water restrictions.

Weed Ordinances

Sacramento does not set its own numeric weed-height limit. Chapter 8.28 instead adopts the state's Government Code weed and rubbish abatement procedure (Sections 39500 et seq.), run locally by the code enforcement director, fire chief and revenue manager, with unpaid costs becoming a lien on the parcel.

Key details: Governing chapter: City Code Ch. 8.28. Incorporated procedure: Gov. Code §§ 39500 et seq.. Administering officials: Code enforcement director, fire chief, revenue manager. Cost report: Itemized report confirmed by city council. Cost recovery: Lien, personal obligation, or special assessment.

Unabated weeds and rubbish become a public nuisance under the incorporated Government Code procedure; the code enforcement director, fire chief, or revenue manager (or their designees, or a hired contractor) may abate the condition. The itemized cost of that work, plus an administrative charge for notices, contracts and inspection, is confirmed by the city council and then imposed on the property as a lien, a personal obligation of the owner, or a special assessment under Chapter 8.04.

Artificial Turf

California AB 1572 bans potable water use on ornamental turf at commercial and public sites; Sacramento allows residential artificial turf, but HOAs cannot forbid it under Civil Code 4735.

Key details: AB 1572 Targets: AB 1572 targets CII ornamental turf. Residential Lawns Exempt: Residential lawns exempt from AB 1572. Permeable Backing Required: Permeable backing required. Civil Code 4735: Civil Code 4735 blocks HOA bans. Prop 65 Heavy-metal: Prop 65 heavy-metal compliance.

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

Native Plants

Sacramento encourages California native plants through the Model Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance (MWELO) and SMUD turf-replacement rebates.

Key details: Landscaping: MWELO applies to new landscapes. Requirements: Water budget calculations required. River-Friendly guidelines: River-Friendly guidelines encourage natives. Cash for: Cash for Grass rebates available. Landscaping: Model plant list on RWA site.

Specific penalty amounts for this ordinance are not published in a publicly accessible fine schedule. Contact [Sacramento code enforcement](https://water.ca.gov/programs/water-use-and-efficiency/) directly for current fines, enforcement procedures, and hearing options.

Tree Trimming

Sacramento's strict tree canopy is protected by SMC Chapter 12.56; permits are required to prune city trees and Heritage trees above light maintenance.

Key details: Requirement: Street trees managed by Urban Forestry. Requirement: Permit required for pruning over 0.5 inch branches. Requirement: Heritage trees protected by size and species. Requirement: 25 percent canopy threshold triggers permit. Requirement: Restitution can exceed 10,000 dollars.

Tree Removal & Heritage Trees

Cutting down a protected tree in Sacramento comes with a mitigation obligation. City Code § 12.56.060 requires one-for-one replacement on lots with a house or duplex, or a 1-inch-DSH-for-1-inch-DSH ratio elsewhere, satisfied by planting, an in-lieu fee, or credit for preserved smaller trees.

Key details: Residential lots: 1-for-1 replacement per protected tree removed. Other lots: 1-inch DSH replaced per inch DSH removed. Alternative: In-lieu fee set by council resolution. Preservation credit: 1-inch DSH per inch preserved, 2-inch minimum. Waiver: Only for disease, danger, or structural-damage removals.

Removing a private protected tree under a permit without completing the approved replacement plan, through planting, in-lieu fee payment, or approved credit, is a violation of Chapter 12.56, treated as a public nuisance and subject to civil penalties of $250 to $25,000 per day under § 12.56.090(C), collected into the same tree planting and replacement fund.

The Bottom Line

Compared to many U.S. cities, Sacramento 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.

Keep in mind that Sacramento 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.