Landscaping Rules in Long Beach, CA (2026)
6 verified landscaping rules for Long Beach, California, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Tree Trimming
Long Beach's Public Works Department prunes City street trees to a minimum twelve-foot clearance over sidewalks and sixteen feet over streets, and no one else may trim, cut or remove a tree planted along a City street without a written permit from the Director of Public Works.
Long Beach Street Tree Clearance Rules
Some RestrictionsLong Beach Municipal Code § 14.28.030(A)-(B)
A. The Public Works Department will, except for watering and fertilizing, maintain, plant and remove all recommended trees planted along City streets. Trees planted along walks, lanes, or on City property, other than a public street right-of-way, will be maintained by the Public Works Department according to their classification, except that trees planted along alleys will not be maintained but...
Tree Removal & Heritage Trees
Long Beach bars removal of a required street tree in the parkway unless the Director of Public Works finds it dead, dying, or a hazard to curb, gutter, sidewalk or roadway, or clears it as part of a City-approved replacement program. LBMC § 21.42.050.B.3 requires that finding be recorded with the Department of Development Services before the tree comes down.
Long Beach Street Tree Removal Standard
Significant RestrictionsLong Beach Municipal Code § 21.42.050.B.3
3.Removal. No street tree shall be removed unless found by the Director of Public Works to be dead, dying, or a public hazard due to damage to curb, gutter, sidewalk or roadway or potential for falling, or for replacement of trees in an approved street tree program. Such approval shall be recorded with the Department of Development Services before the tree is removed.
Weed Ordinances
Long Beach requires property owners to control weeds and overgrown vegetation under LBMC Ch. 9.37. Properties with weeds visible from public view may receive a nuisance citation. The city conducts regular code enforcement sweeps.
Long Beach Weed Abatement Ordinance
Some RestrictionsCalifornia Food and Agricultural Code § 5004 (Noxious Weed — Definition)
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 pr...
Water Restrictions
Long Beach follows the MWELO (Smartscape) ordinance for new landscaping. Projects 500-2,500 sq ft have streamlined permits; over 2,500 sq ft require a landscape professional. High-water turf is prohibited in parkways and medians.
Long Beach Water Conservation Landscaping Requirements
Heavy RestrictionsCalifornia Model Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance (MWELO), 23 CCR § 490 et seq.
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. The ...
Rainwater Harvesting
Rainwater harvesting is encouraged in Long Beach as part of stormwater management. The city's LID standards promote capturing rainfall on-site. No permit is required for residential rain barrels under state law.
Long Beach Rainwater Harvesting Rules
Some RestrictionsCalifornia Assembly Bill 1750 (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. (2) Existing law, the Contractors’ State License Law, creates the Contractors’ State License Board within the Department of Consumer Affairs and provides for the licensing and regulation of contractors. Existing la...
Artificial Turf
Artificial turf in Long Beach may cover up to 50% of a yard under LBMC rules. It is prohibited in parkways and public rights-of-way. The city is strengthening restrictions due to environmental and heat concerns. Not allowed in the Lawn-to-Garden program.
Long Beach Artificial Turf Regulations
Heavy RestrictionsCalifornia Civil Code § 4735 (Drought-Tolerant Landscaping; Artificial Turf in HOAs)
(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 the effect of prohibiting, the use of artificial turf or any other synthetic surface that resembles grass. (3) Has the effect of prohibiting or restricting compliance with either of the follo...
Looking for Los Angeles County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Long Beach city rules.
Landscaping Rules in Los Angeles County →