Landscaping Rules in Lakewood, CA (2026)
7 verified landscaping rules for Lakewood, California, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Tree Trimming
Lakewood makes it a public nuisance for a privately owned tree to block visibility of a sidewalk, street, or intersection, or to threaten safety while diseased or weakened, and the Director of Public Works can force the owner to trim it. Trees in the public right-of-way need a written city permit before anyone touches them.
Lakewood Street Tree Trimming and Clearance
Some RestrictionsLakewood, CA, Municipal Code §§ 7148(B)-(C), 7148.2
The growing, maintenance or owning of any tree or shrub on private property where said tree or any portion thereof interferes with the use of or visibility of any sidewalk, street or intersection in the City of Lakewood. ... The growing, maintenance or ownership of any tree on private property which has become diseased or weakened in such a manner as to be dangerous to persons lawfully using th...
Tree Removal & Heritage Trees
Removing, trimming, or altering any roadside or public tree in Lakewood requires a written permit from the Director of Public Works, granted only if the tree sits on the adopted Tree Removal Plan, is dead or diseased beyond saving, or blocks required curb, gutter, or sidewalk work.
Lakewood Roadside Tree Removal Permit
Significant RestrictionsLakewood, CA, Municipal Code §§ 7142, 7144
§ 7142. Prohibited Conduct Without a Permit. No person, firm or corporation shall plant, move, spray, fertilize, brace, trim, do surgery work, cut above or below ground, disturb, or alter any tree in any roadside tree area or on other public property of the City of Lakewood, or perform any maintenance work other than irrigation, nor cause or permit such acts to be done, without first obtaining ...
Weed Ordinances
Lakewood's municipal code makes dead, diseased, or overgrown vegetation in any yard area a public nuisance per se under § 4323(D), separate from the state noxious-weed statute previously cited for this page. Overgrown vegetation is judged by comparison to neighboring properties or by the danger it poses, and a companion clause reaches weed-infested driveways left without a maintained all-weather surface.
Lakewood Overgrown Vegetation and Weed Rules
Some RestrictionsLakewood, CA, Municipal Code § 4323(D)
D. Dead, Diseased, Overgrown, or Missing Vegetation. Any of the following conditions in any yard area not occupied by buildings, accessory structures, walkways, pools, spas, driveways, decks, or similar building or architectural device, or in any area required to be landscaped on commercial or manufacturing zoned property. ... 2. Dead, diseased, or missing ground cover in required yards. 3. Ove...
Water Restrictions
Once Lakewood's City Council declares a water shortage phase, § 7511.1 caps landscape irrigation to as little as one watering day every two weeks, bans daytime watering windows, and backs the limits with a $100 to $500 escalating fee schedule plus mandatory flow restrictors for repeat violators.
Lakewood Mandatory Watering Day Limits
Significant RestrictionsLakewood, CA, Municipal Code § 7511.1
A. General Prohibition. No person shall make, cause, use or permit the use of water in the City of Lakewood in a manner contrary to any provision of this ordinance or in an amount in excess of that use permitted by any curtailment provisions then in effect... F. Implementation of Phase II Water Conservation Plan... Residential and commercial landscape areas shall be watered no more than three (...
Rainwater Harvesting
Lakewood does not mandate rainwater harvesting, but its water-conservation landscaping ordinance affirmatively promotes it: § 8612 of the Municipal Code tells landscape applicants that stormwater best management practices, and specifically rain gardens and cisterns that capture rainwater, are encouraged as part of any landscape or grading design plan submitted for a project.
Lakewood Rainwater Capture: Encouraged Not Required
Few RestrictionsLakewood, CA, Municipal Code § 8612
The use of stormwater best management practices into the landscape and grading design plans, which minimize runoff and increase on-site water retention and infiltration are strongly encouraged. Applicants shall follow stormwater regulations promulgated by the city and the Regional Water Quality Control Board. Landscape features that capture rainwater such as rain gardens and cisterns are encour...
Native Plants
Lakewood may encourage or require native and drought-tolerant landscaping. Some areas restrict traditional grass lawns in favor of water-efficient alternatives.
Lakewood Native Plant & Xeriscape Rules
Light RestrictionsCal. Code Regs. Title 23, Div. 2, Ch. 2.7 (Model Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance - MWELO)
icient Landscape Ordinance (MWELO)</a>. The MWELO is also referenced by <span><a href="https://www.dgs.ca.gov/bsc/calgreen">Title 24, Part 11, Chapters 4 and 5</a></span> 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 ...
Artificial Turf
California law voids any Lakewood homeowners association rule banning artificial turf. Civil Code Section 4735 strikes down HOA restrictions on synthetic grass and low water-using plants, and separately bars fining owners for cutting back watering during a declared drought emergency.
Lakewood HOA Artificial Turf Rights
Few RestrictionsCal. Civ. Code Sec. 4735 (HOA Restrictions on Drought-Tolerant Landscaping and Artificial Turf - Void)
(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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County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Lakewood city rules.
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