Landscaping Rules in Fullerton, CA (2026)
6 verified landscaping rules for Fullerton, California, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Tree Trimming
Under Fullerton Municipal Code Chapter 9.06, property owners are NOT responsible for trimming street trees in the parkway - the City prunes, removes, and plants them through its contractor (West Coast Arborists). It is unlawful for any person to alter, prune, or remove a street tree in the public right-of-way without a permit from the Public Works / Maintenance Services Department, and violators may be fined and required to pay the replacement value of the tree.
City street trees - permit required (FMC 9.06)
Heavy RestrictionsFMC 9.06.070 - Responsibilities of property owners
It shall be the duty and responsibility of all property owners to maintain shrubs, ground cover, concrete, rocks, bricks, etc. (landscape material) in the parkway strips immediately abutting the owner's property regardless of whether such property is developed.
Weed Ordinances
Fullerton runs a Weed and Rubbish Abatement Program under FMC Chapter 13.18 administered by the Fire Chief as Weed Abatement Official. Owners receive a notice to abate weeds, dry vegetation, and rubbish; failure to comply results in contractor abatement at the owner's expense, with the cost recorded as a lien against the property under California Government Code sections 39560-39588.
Weed & Rubbish Abatement Program (FMC 13.18)
Some RestrictionsCity of Fullerton Fire Department - Brush Clearance Standard (Fire Hazard Mitigation)
All ground cover & vegetation/weeds that is either dead and/or dying shall be cut to a maximum of 3" and immediately removed and properly disposed, unless approved by the Fire Code Official. New and existing trees shall be pruned to maintain a minimum clearance of 10 feet to any portion of a building, shed, patio cover, trellis, or similar structure, and trees shall be pruned to remove branches...
Water Restrictions
Fullerton's Drought Ordinance 3299 and Fullerton Municipal Code (FMC) Chapter 15.50 (Landscaping and Irrigation Requirements) prohibit watering between 9:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m., ban watering within 48 hours of measurable rain (1/4 inch), and limit non-attended overhead watering to 15 minutes per valve per day. At the City's current Conservation Level 2, landscape irrigation is restricted to two assigned days per week by address (odd / even) and must occur outside 9 a.m.-6 p.m.
Drought Ordinance 3299 + FMC Ch. 15.50
Some RestrictionsCity of Fullerton, Conservation Level 1 restrictions (Drought Ordinance 3299)
Watering of landscape or other vegetated areas shall not be allowed between 9:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m., except for watering by hand held device, hose equipped with an automatic shutoff device, or to adjust or repair irrigation systems for short periods of time.
Rainwater Harvesting
Fullerton lets small landscape projects skip most of the city's water-efficient landscape paperwork if they run entirely on stored rainwater or graywater captured on-site. Under FMC § 15.17.050(H)(3)(d), a landscape under 2,500 square feet that meets its full water budget this way answers only to the irrigation-system rules in Chapter 15.50, Appendix D.
Fullerton Rainwater Harvesting Landscape Break
Light RestrictionsFullerton Code of Ordinances § 15.17.050(H)(3)(d)
(d) Landscape projects using treated or untreated graywater or rainwater captured on-site that has less than 2,500 square feet of landscape and meets the landscape water requirement (EAWU) entirely with treated or untreated graywater or through stored rainwater captured on-site is subject only to Chapter 15.50, Appendix D, related to irrigation systems.
Native Plants
Fullerton's Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance lets homeowners plant any species, including natives and drought-tolerant varieties, as long as the design's estimated water use stays under its calculated water budget. Ordinary turf is capped at 25% of the landscaped area in qualifying projects, and high-water-use plants are barred from street medians.
Fullerton Native and Drought-Tolerant Plant Rules
Some RestrictionsFullerton Code of Ordinances § 15.50.045(A)(1)(c)
Any plant may be selected for the landscape, providing the EAWU in the landscape area does not exceed the MAWA. ... High water use plants, characterized by a plant factor of 0.7 to 1.0, are prohibited in street medians. Turf shall not be treated as a fill in material, but rather as a planned element of the landscape. The use of turf grass is only recommended in active use areas where it provide...
Artificial Turf
Fullerton permits artificial turf installation on residential properties as an alternative to natural grass. Synthetic turf must be professionally installed with proper drainage, maintain a realistic appearance, and comply with any applicable HOA CC&Rs. California Civil Code Section 4735 prohibits HOAs from banning artificial turf. Turf removal rebates generally apply when converting to drought-tolerant landscaping rather than artificial turf, though some programs include synthetic turf as a qualifying replacement.
Fullerton Artificial Turf Regulations
Few RestrictionsCalifornia 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...
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