Tulare's Landscaping Rules: The Rules That Matter

Every city handles landscaping rules a little differently. In Tulare, California, there are 8 distinct rules that residents and property owners should be aware of. Some are stricter than what neighboring cities enforce, and others are more relaxed. Here is what you need to know.

Artificial Turf

Tulare permits artificial turf in residential yards. There is no Tulare Municipal Code prohibition on synthetic grass, and California Civil Code § 4735 (as amended by AB 349, 2015) voids HOA rules that prohibit or have the effect of prohibiting artificial turf or synthetic surfaces that resemble grass. Installation must still comply with TMC Ch. 10.196 landscape standards and TMC § 7.28 nuisance rules.

Key details: Local rule: No city prohibition — artificial turf allowed. HOA preemption: Cal. Civ. Code § 4735(a)(3) (AB 349, 2015). MWELO treatment: Plant Factor 0 — counts as water-saving. Reasonable HOA rules: Color, type, edging permitted.

Generally none at the city level. Stagnant water on improperly drained turf may trigger nuisance citation under TMC § 7.28 or mosquito abatement by Delta Vector Control District.

If you are coming from a city with tighter rules, you will find Tulare gives residents more flexibility on artificial turf.

Water Restrictions

Tulare Municipal Code Chapter 7.32 imposes mandatory year-round outdoor watering restrictions tied to a stage-based conservation framework. Odd-numbered addresses water Tuesday and Saturday; even-numbered addresses water Wednesday and Sunday. Irrigation between 11 a.m. and 6 p.m. is always prohibited (§ 7.32.050). Tulare sits in the Kaweah Subbasin, designated critical-overdraft under SGMA, making compliance unusually aggressive.

Key details: Citation: TMC §§ 7.32.050, 7.32.060. Odd addresses: Tuesday, Saturday. Even addresses: Wednesday, Sunday. Prohibited hours: 11 a.m.–6 p.m. (always). Basin status: Kaweah Subbasin — SGMA critical-overdraft.

Administrative citations under TMC § 7.32: written warning for first offense, $100 second offense, $200 third, $500 each subsequent within 12 months. Continued violations may result in flow restrictor installation or water service termination.

Compared to other cities, Tulare takes a harder line on water restrictions. The enforcement and penalty structure reflects that.

Grass Height Limits

Tulare Municipal Code § 7.28.030 declares overgrown weeds, dry grasses, and unmaintained lawns a public nuisance. Code Enforcement administratively cites properties with tall weeds or problem vegetation in front or rear yards; Tulare County's Hazard Abatement Program (operative county-wide) uses a 3-inch maintenance benchmark.

Key details: Citation: TMC § 7.28.030 (Declaration of nuisance). County trigger: 3 inches (Tulare County Hazard Abatement). Enforcement: City Code Enforcement; lien for city-performed abatement. Includes: Tumbleweed, sagebrush, chaparral, dead/diseased plants.

Notice of violation issued by Code Enforcement; failure to abate within the stated period (typically 10–30 days) allows the city to contract abatement and assess costs as a lien against the property under Government Code § 38773.5. Administrative citations escalate ($100/$200/$500) per repeat offense.

Tree Trimming

Tulare Municipal Code Chapter 8.32 governs street trees and city-maintained landscaping. § 8.32.060 (Street tree and plant maintenance) authorizes the Director of Public Works to require property owners to prune or remove privately planted material interfering with street tree health. § 8.52.020 requires a permit to remove or destroy a heritage tree on private or public property within the city.

Key details: Street tree rules: TMC § 8.32.060. Heritage tree permit: TMC § 8.52.020. Permission required: All work on street trees needs Public Works approval. Vertical clearance: Owner responsibility per § 7.28 nuisance.

Unauthorized removal of a street or heritage tree: misdemeanor under TMC § 1.16, plus replacement cost or in-lieu fee. Failure to prune as ordered: city performs work and assesses lien.

Weed Ordinances

Tulare treats weeds as a fire hazard and public nuisance under TMC § 7.28.030. The city issues abatement notices through Code Enforcement; unaddressed parcels are abated by city contractors with costs liened. Tulare County's parallel Hazard Abatement Program under County Code Part 4 Ch. 11 governs unincorporated parcels and uses a 3-inch weed-height trigger before each fire season.

Key details: City code: TMC § 7.28.030. County code: Tulare County Code § 4-11. Enforcement window: Year-round in city; spring/summer focus countywide. Recovery: Lien per Gov. Code § 38773.5.

Lien for abatement cost plus administrative surcharge; misdemeanor citation under TMC § 1.16 for willful refusal; if attached to fire hazard, possible referral to county fire marshal.

This is one of the stricter rules in Tulare's municipal code. If you are unsure whether your situation complies, it is worth checking with the city before proceeding.

Rainwater Harvesting

Tulare has no local prohibition on residential rainwater harvesting. California broadly authorizes capture under the Rainwater Capture Act of 2012 (Water Code §§ 10573–10574); barrels and cisterns up to 5,000 gallons that capture rainwater from rooftops are exempt from State Water Board permitting. Graywater systems are governed by California Plumbing Code (Title 24 Part 5) Chapter 16A, with no-permit Tier 1 clothes-washer-to-landscape systems allowed.

Key details: State authority: Water Code §§ 10573–10574 (Rainwater Capture Act). Local restriction: None — rainwater harvesting permitted. Graywater Tier 1: Permit-exempt under CPC Ch. 16A § 1602.1.1. City policy: Encouraged for SGMA compliance.

Unpermitted multi-fixture graywater plumbing: stop-work order plus permit-after-the-fact fees under TMC Title 15 / California Plumbing Code; mosquito breeding in open rainwater storage may trigger TMC § 7.28 nuisance abatement.

If you are coming from a city with tighter rules, you will find Tulare gives residents more flexibility on rainwater harvesting.

Native Plants

Tulare Municipal Code Chapter 10.196 (Landscaping) implements California's Model Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance (MWELO, 23 CCR § 490 et seq.) for new and substantially renovated landscapes. Residential projects ≥ 500 sq ft of new landscape area and non-residential ≥ 500 sq ft must submit a Landscape Documentation Package with a Water Efficient Landscape Worksheet showing the Estimated Total Water Use does not exceed the Maximum Applied Water Allowance. Native and low-water plants are strongly favored.

Key details: City citation: TMC Chapter 10.196. State framework: MWELO — 23 CCR §§ 490–495. Trigger: ≥ 500 sq ft new/renovated landscape. HOA preemption: Civil Code § 4735 protects natives.

Project denial of Certificate of Completion; civil penalties under MWELO § 495 and TMC Ch. 10.196 penalty section; potential lien for non-compliance with retrofit conditions of approval.

Tree Removal & Heritage Trees

Owners may remove trees on private property in the City of Tulare; removal of street trees or trees in the public right-of-way requires city approval, and replacement may be required during development.

Key details: Private Land: Owner may remove. Street Trees: City approval. Development: Replacement may apply. Authority: Public works / planning.

Contact your local code enforcement office for specific penalty information.

The Bottom Line

Tulare'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 Tulare is broadly strict or permissive.

Keep in mind that Tulare 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.