Landscaping Rules in Berkeley, CA (2026)
8 verified landscaping rules for Berkeley, California, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Grass Height Limits
Berkeley requires grass and weeds be kept under 6 inches (4 inches in the VHFHSZ fire zone). Tall, dry vegetation is a code violation and fire hazard subject to abatement.
Berkeley Grass Height Rules
Heavy RestrictionsTree Trimming
Private trees may be pruned by owners, but protected species and street trees require city approval. Fire zone pruning is mandatory under PRC 4291 defensible space rules.
Berkeley Tree Trimming Rules
Heavy RestrictionsCalifornia Public Resources Code § 4291 (defensible space and tree-trimming around structures)
4291. (a) A person who owns, leases, controls, operates, or maintains a building or structure in, upon, or adjoining a mountainous area, forest-covered lands, brush-covered lands, grass-covered lands, or a land that is covered with flammable material, shall at all times do all of the following: (1) (A) Maintain defensible space of 100 feet from each side and from the front and rear of the struc...
Tree Removal & Heritage Trees
Removal of Coast Live Oaks, Redwoods, and trees 12+ inches DBH requires a city permit with replacement. Street tree removal needs Parks approval; unauthorized removal triggers fines up to 10,000 dollars.
Berkeley Tree Removal Permits
Heavy RestrictionsWeed Ordinances
Berkeley treats overgrown weeds as a nuisance and fire hazard. Weeds over 6 inches (or 4 inches in the fire zone) must be abated; invasive broom and acacia are targeted for removal.
Berkeley Weed and Nuisance Vegetation
Heavy RestrictionsCalifornia Food and Agricultural Code § 5004 (definition of "noxious weed")
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 purpose...
Water Restrictions
Berkeley follows East Bay MUD drought rules: no irrigation 9am-6pm, no runoff, hose must have shutoff nozzle. Drought surcharges and restrictions apply during declared drought stages.
Berkeley Water Restrictions
Heavy RestrictionsCalifornia Department of Water Resources — Model Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance (MWELO)
Model Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance (MWELO). The MWELO is also referenced by Title 24, Part 11, Chapters 4 and 5 CalGreen Building Code. All local agencies must adopt, implement, and enforce the MWELO or a local Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance (WELO) that is at least as effective as the MWELO. Usually, local agencies that adopt WELOs create a more stringent ordinance than MWELO. Local...
Rainwater Harvesting
Rain barrels under 5,000 gallons are allowed without permit in Berkeley. Larger cisterns and any potable connection require plumbing permits and state code compliance.
Berkeley Rainwater Harvesting Rules
Few RestrictionsCalifornia AB 1750 — Rainwater Capture Act of 2012 (Water Code § 10570 et seq.)
PART 2.4. Rainwater Capture Act of 2012. 10570. This part shall be known, and may be cited, as the Rainwater Capture Act of 2012. This bill would enact the Rainwater Capture Act of 2012, which would provide that use of rainwater collected from rooftops does not require a water right permit from the state board. (4) A rainwater capture system, as defined in Section 10573 of the Water Code, used ...
Native Plants
Berkeley encourages California native landscaping through the Bay-Friendly program and EBMUD rebates. Natives reduce water use, provide habitat, and align with fire-wise design in the VHFHSZ.
Berkeley Native Plant Landscaping
Few RestrictionsArtificial Turf
Berkeley restricts artificial turf in front yards and limits coverage to preserve permeability. AB 1572 prohibits potable irrigation of non-functional turf, creating pressure to replace it with natives not plastic.
Berkeley Artificial Turf Rules
Some RestrictionsCal. Civil Code § 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 ha...
Looking for Alameda County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Berkeley city rules.
Landscaping Rules in Alameda County →