Landscaping Rules in Chino Hills, CA (2026)
7 verified landscaping rules for Chino Hills, California, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Tree Trimming
Chino Hills can inspect and require correction of any tree overhanging a public street. Municipal Code Section 12.26.090 lets the City declare a hazardous or right-of-way-obstructing tree, public or private, a public nuisance subject to abatement, including trees out of compliance with defensible-space and ladder-fuel fire rules.
Chino Hills Street Tree Trimming Rules
Some RestrictionsChino Hills Municipal Code § 12.26.090
An agent of the City may inspect any tree adjacent to or overhanging any public street in the City to determine whether the same, or any portion thereof, is in such condition as to constitute a hazard or impediment to the safety of anyone traveling on such public street. Any tree or part thereof growing upon private property but overhanging or interfering with use of any right-of-way that endan...
Tree Removal & Heritage Trees
Removing or destroying a protected tree in Chino Hills, whether a heritage tree or a native tree species, is unlawful without a City tree permit under Municipal Code Section 16.90.040. No grading or building permit can issue on the lot until that tree permit is obtained.
Chino Hills Protected Tree Removal Permit
Significant RestrictionsChino Hills Municipal Code § 16.90.040
It is unlawful for any person, firm, partnership, corporation or other legal entity to destroy or remove any non-exempt protected trees within the City without a tree permit. When a tree permit is required, no grading or building permits shall be issued until the tree permit is issued, nor shall work of any kind commence that would result in the destruction, damage, or removal of any non-exempt...
Weed Ordinances
Chino Hills treats unmowed lawns and weeds that reach the sidewalk or curb as a public nuisance, and the code presumes vegetation is illegally overgrown if it goes thirty days after city notice without being cut back.
Chino Hills Overgrown Weeds & Landscaping
Some RestrictionsChino Hills Municipal Code § 8.12.020(20)
20.Inadequately maintained landscaping that is visible from any public street that exists on a front yard, front or side parkway area, planter area, slope area either alone or in combination with other conditions on the subject property that results in a diminution of the appearance of the subject property as compared with adjacent property creating an unsightly appearance, including, without l...
Water Restrictions
Chino Hills irrigation rules run on a City Council-declared four-stage water conservation ordinance, CHMC Chapter 13.08. Once a Moderate (Stage II) alert is in effect, residential customers may water only three days a week by street-address parity, and only overnight or early morning.
Chino Hills Watering-Day Restrictions
Some RestrictionsChino Hills Municipal Code § 13.08.070(A)
13.08.070.A - All residential customers shall be limited in the outdoor use of water for sprinkling, watering, or irrigating any shrubbery, trees, lawns, grass, groundcovers, plants, vines, gardens, vegetables, flowers, or any other landscaped or vegetated areas to a three days per week schedule based on street address. Designated days of irrigation: Residential addresses ending in an even numb...
Rainwater Harvesting
Chino Hills encourages, but does not mandate, on-site rainwater capture and infiltration in new landscape designs, while requiring friable soil in all planted areas to maximize retention. The rules sit in § 16.07.090 of the Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance, applicable to qualifying new-construction and rehabilitated landscape projects.
Chino Hills Rainwater Retention Standards
Light RestrictionsChino Hills Municipal Code § 16.07.090(A), (C), (D)
A.Stormwater management practices minimize runoff and increase infiltration, which recharges groundwater and improves water quality. Implementing stormwater best management practices into the landscape and grading design plans to minimize runoff and to increase on-site rainwater retention and infiltration are encouraged...C.All planted landscape areas are required to have friable soil to maximi...
Native Plants
Chino Hills requires landscape design plans for qualifying projects to protect native species and favor water-conserving, often native, plants. New construction adding 500 square feet or more of landscape, and rehabilitated landscapes of 2,500 square feet or more, must submit a Landscape Documentation Package meeting these design criteria under Chino Hills Municipal Code Chapter 16.07, the Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance.
Chino Hills Native Plant Landscape Rule
Some RestrictionsChino Hills Municipal Code § 16.07.060(A)(2)(a)
Any plant may be selected for the landscape, providing the Estimated Total Water Use (ETWU) in the landscape area does not exceed the Maximum Applied Water Allowance (MAWA). Methods to achieve water efficiency shall include one or more of the following:1.Protection and preservation of native species and natural vegetation;2.Selection of water-conserving plant, tree and turf species, especially ...
Composting
Chino Hills lets residents manage their own organic waste at home instead of subscribing to full curbside organics service: CHMC § 13.20.051(A) allows generators to reduce waste, compost on site, or use a community composting site. Once composting grows past a 100-cubic-yard, 750-square-foot cap, it becomes a regulated 'community composting' operation needing City land use approval.
Chino Hills Backyard Composting Rules
Light RestrictionsChino Hills Municipal Code §§ 13.20.010, 13.20.051(A), 13.20.090(A)
13.20.010 "Community composting": Community composting means any activity that composts green material, agricultural material, food material, and vegetative food material, alone or in combination, and the total amount of feedstock and compost on-site at any one (1) time does not exceed one hundred (100) cubic yards and seven hundred fifty (750) square feet, as specified in 14 CCR Section 17855(...
Looking for San Bernardino County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Chino Hills city rules.
Landscaping Rules in San Bernardino County →