Landscaping Rules in Anaheim, CA (2026)
8 verified landscaping rules for Anaheim, California, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Tree Trimming
Anaheim requires pruning of required and specimen trees to comply with ISA standards per AMC 18.46.090 and Chapter 13.12. Street tree maintenance is coordinated by the city. Topping of trees is prohibited.
Anaheim Tree Trimming Standards
Heavy RestrictionsCal. Public Resources Code Section 4291(a)(2)-(4)
A person who owns, leases, controls, operates, or maintains a building or structure in the state responsibility area shall at all times do all of the following: ... (2) Remove that portion of a tree that extends within 10 feet of the outlet of a chimney or stovepipe. (3) Maintain a tree, shrub, or other plant adjacent to or overhanging a building free of dead or dying wood. (4) Maintain the roo...
Tree Removal & Heritage Trees
In Anaheim's Scenic Corridor (SC) Overlay Zone along Santa Ana Canyon, destroying a Specimen Tree, an oak with a trunk 25 inches or more in circumference, or a pepper or sycamore 50 inches or more around, without a permit is unlawful. Owners must file an application and arborist report with the Planning and Building Department, plus a Council-set fee, before removal.
Anaheim Scenic Corridor Specimen Tree Permit
Significant RestrictionsAnaheim, CA, Municipal Code Sec. 18.18.040.020, .030, .100 (Specimen Tree Removal Permit, SC Overlay Zone)
.020 Scope. Except as provided in subsection .030, it shall be unlawful for any person to destroy or otherwise direct or permit the destruction of one (1) or more Specimen Trees growing within the boundaries of the "SC" Overlay Zone, without a permit issued by the City of Anaheim pursuant to the provisions of this section. .030 Administrative Specimen Tree Removal Permit. A Specimen Tree Re...
Weed Ordinances
Anaheim's Weed Abatement Program is coordinated by the Life Safety Section of Anaheim Fire & Rescue. Overgrown weeds and vegetation creating fire hazards or blight conditions must be abated by property owners.
Anaheim Weed Abatement & Lot Maintenance
Light RestrictionsCal. Food & Agricultural Code Section 5004
"Noxious weed" means any species of plant that is, or is liable to be, troublesome, aggressive, intrusive, detrimental, or destructive to agriculture, silviculture, or important native species, and difficult to control or eradicate, which the director, by regulation, designates to be a noxious weed. In determining whether or not a species shall be designated a noxious weed for the purposes of p...
Water Restrictions
Anaheim permanently bans specific water-wasting practices under Municipal Code Section 10.18.130, including hosing down pavement, letting irrigation runoff leave a property, and watering landscapes during or within 48 hours after a quarter-inch rain. The Public Utilities Department enforces the ban as a misdemeanor with civil fines, and customers must fix any leak within 72 hours of discovering it.
Anaheim Water Waste and Irrigation Ban
Significant RestrictionsAnaheim Municipal Code § 10.18.130
.010 To prevent the unreasonable use of water and to promote water conservation, the following uses of water are permanently prohibited: .01 Washing down Sidewalks, walkways, driveways, buildings, structures, patios, parking areas, or other hard or paved surfaces, except to alleviate safety or sanitary hazards and only by use of a handheld container, hose with an automatic shut-off device, or a...
Rainwater Harvesting
California's Rainwater Capture Act of 2012 lets Anaheim property owners install rain barrels and cisterns to collect rooftop runoff without a state water-right permit. Water Code Sections 10570 through 10574 declare rainwater capture a tool for drought resilience and stormwater control, define a qualifying rain barrel system, and confirm the law does not touch existing water rights, licensing rules, or building-code authority.
California's Rainwater Capture Act in Anaheim
Few RestrictionsCal. Water Code §§ 10570, 10572-10574 (Rainwater Capture Act of 2012)
10570. This part shall be known, and may be cited, as the Rainwater Capture Act of 2012. ... 10572. Nothing in this part shall be construed to do any of the following: (a) Alter or impair any existing rights. (b) Change existing water rights law. ... 10573. ... (b) "Rain barrel system" is a type of rainwater capture system that does not use electricity or a water pump and is not connected to or...
Native Plants
Anaheim's front-setback landscaping standard requires live plant material, including drought-tolerant species, or artificial turf as primary ground cover, with at least 60% live plant coverage at maturity under Municipal Code Sec. 18.46.100.050.
Anaheim Drought-Tolerant Front Yard Rules
Some RestrictionsAnaheim Municipal Code Sec. 18.46.100.050
.050 Landscaping Within the Front Setback in Single-Family Residential Zones. In order to maintain attractive front yards, the following landscape requirements shall apply to required front setback areas in all Single-Family Residential Zones: .0501 Landscaping shall be provided within required front setback areas... Permitted driveways and walkways shall occupy no more than fifty percent (50%)...
Artificial Turf
Anaheim permits artificial turf in residential landscaping under city landscape requirements. Turf must meet quality standards and be maintained in good condition. Artificial turf may help comply with water efficiency requirements.
Anaheim Artificial Turf Standards
Some RestrictionsCal. Civil Code Section 4735(a)
Notwithstanding any other law, a provision of the governing documents or architectural or landscaping guidelines or policies shall be void and unenforceable if it does any of the following: (1) Prohibits, or includes conditions that have the effect of prohibiting, the use of low water-using plants as a group or as a replacement of existing turf. (2) Prohibits, or includes conditions that have t...
Composting
California's SB 1383 sets the legal floor behind every composting bin and green cart in Anaheim: Health and Safety Code Section 39730.6 locks in a 50 percent cut in statewide organic-waste disposal by 2020 and 75 percent by 2025, and CalRecycle's companion procurement rules under Public Resources Code Section 42652.5 back the mandate with civil penalties the City itself can face for missing its compost-use target.
Anaheim Composting Driven by SB 1383
Some RestrictionsCal. Health & Safety Code § 39730.6
(a) Consistent with Section 39730.5, methane emissions reduction goals shall include the following targets to reduce the landfill disposal of organics: (1) A 50-percent reduction in the level of the statewide disposal of organic waste from the 2014 level by 2020. (2) A 75-percent reduction in the level of the statewide disposal of organic waste from the 2014 level by 2025. (b) Except as provide...
Looking for Orange County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Anaheim city rules.
Landscaping Rules in Orange County →