Landscaping Rules in Milpitas, CA (2026)
7 verified landscaping rules for Milpitas, California, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Tree Trimming
In the City of Milpitas, trimming an Approved Street Tree requires a Public Works Department permit under Municipal Code § X-2-4.03, unless the work is minor, such as removing suckers, watersprouts, or branches under 4 inches, or pruning less than ten percent of the canopy.
Milpitas Street Tree Pruning Permit Rules
Some RestrictionsMilpitas Municipal Code § X-2-4.03
It shall be unlawful for any person, other than City personnel, to trim any Approved Street Tree without first obtaining a permit from the Public Works Department. The permit shall be issued when the Public Works Department finds that pruning is necessary and that the proposed method is satisfactory. A permit is not required for removing sucker growth, watersprouts, low hanging branches less th...
Tree Removal & Heritage Trees
In the City of Milpitas, removing a street tree, protected tree, or heritage planting is unlawful without a Public Works Department removal permit under Municipal Code § X-2-4.02. Anyone who removes a protected tree without one, or who complies but must replace it, faces City cost recovery or a two-for-one replacement planting requirement.
Milpitas Protected Tree Removal Permit
Significant RestrictionsMilpitas Municipal Code § X-2-4.02
It shall be unlawful for any person other than City personnel in the performance of their duties to remove any street tree, protected tree or heritage planting without first applying for a permit issued by the Public Works Department. The Public Works Department may determine that a tree authorized for removal be replaced by the permittee through the compensation methods described in Section X-...
Weed Ordinances
In the City of Milpitas, it is unlawful for any owner, agent or occupant to let weeds accumulate on a parcel or on the adjacent sidewalk or street to its centerline. City code defines regulated weeds broadly, covering seed-bearing weeds and any brush or grass that could become a dry fire menace, and the City Council can declare an infested parcel a public nuisance and order it abated.
Milpitas Weed Abatement Nuisance Rule
Some RestrictionsMilpitas Municipal Code §§ V-202-1.03, V-202-2.01
1.03 "Weeds," as used herein, shall mean all weeds growing upon streets, alleys, sidewalks, or private property in the City and includes, without limitation, any of the following: (1) Weeds which bear or may bear seeds of a downy or wingy nature. (2) Weeds, brush and grasses which may attain such large growth as to become, when dry, a fire menace to adjacent property. ... It shall be unlawful f...
Water Restrictions
In the City of Milpitas, watering lawns, plants and turf is banned outside 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 a.m. and limited to four days out of any seven, on a fixed schedule tied to whether your street address ends in an odd or even number.
Milpitas Limits Lawn Watering to Four Days a Week
Significant RestrictionsMilpitas Municipal Code § VIII-6-3.00, ¶ 3.16
3.16 Use for watering or irrigation of any plants, lawn, grass, landscaping or turf areas except between the hours of 6:00 p.m. through 9:00 a.m. and for no more than four (4) days during any seven-day period. The days of watering shall be: Address Ending in Odd Number: Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Saturday; Address Ending in Even Number: Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, and Sunday; No address: M...
Native Plants
In the City of Milpitas, any graded or developed site must use low-maintenance native vegetation in permanent replanting areas, consistent with the local Fire Code, and must retain, protect and supplement existing natural vegetation and trees to the greatest extent possible under Milpitas Municipal Code Section II-13-24, with irrigation kept running until new plantings are established under Section II-13-29.
Milpitas Native Vegetation Preservation Standard
Light RestrictionsMilpitas Municipal Code §§ II-13-24, II-13-29
.01Native vegetation, requiring minimum maintenance, shall be used, to the extent possible, in permanent replanting areas subject to provisions of the local Fire Code..02Existing natural vegetation shall be retained, protected, and supplemented to the greatest extent possible. Site development shall be accomplished so that existing trees can be preserved whenever possible and practical. For spe...
Artificial Turf
Synthetic turf is allowed in the City of Milpitas as a substitute for natural grass for water conservation or in high-traffic areas. Municipal Code Section XIII-C.4.050.E requires lifelike blades at least 1.5 inches in pile height, a permeable base and drainage system, and placement at least six feet from any tree.
Milpitas Synthetic Turf Landscaping Rules
Light RestrictionsMilpitas Municipal Code § XIII-C.4.050.E
E.Turf Allowance.1.Natural Turf. Natural turf areas must be limited to activity or recreation areas.2.Synthetic Turf. Synthetic turf may be used as a substitute for natural turf for the purposes of water conservation or in high activity or foot-traffic areas (e.g., sports fields, etc.). The following standards apply to synthetic turf.a.Synthetic turf must consist of lifelike individual blades o...
Composting
Anyone installing a new or rehabilitated landscape covered by Milpitas's Water Efficient Landscapes ordinance must work at least four cubic yards of compost per 1,000 square feet of permeable area into the top six inches of soil, unless lab testing shows the soil already carries more than six percent organic matter.
Milpitas Compost Rate for New Landscape Soil
Some RestrictionsMilpitas Municipal Code § VIII-5-3.03-C(3)(c)
For landscape installations, compost at a rate of a minimum of four cubic yards per 1,000 square feet of permeable area shall be incorporated to a depth of six inches into the soil. Soils with greater than six percent organic matter in the top six inches of soil are exempt from adding compost and tilling.
Looking for Santa Clara County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Milpitas city rules.
Landscaping Rules in Santa Clara County →