Landscaping Rules in Newport Beach, CA (2026)
6 verified landscaping rules for Newport Beach, California, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Tree Trimming
Newport Beach property owners must maintain the parkway strip between their property line and the street curb and trim any tree, shrub, or plant so branches never encroach onto the sidewalk or street. Municipal Operations Department crews handle trimming of trees actually standing inside the public right-of-way itself.
Newport Beach Parkway Tree Trim Duty
Some RestrictionsNewport Beach, CA, Municipal Code § 13.08.060 (Owners of Premises Required to Trim Branches and Maintain Adjacent Parkway)
The occupant in charge or, if there is no such occupant, the owner of every lot or parcel of land shall: A. Maintain the area between their property line and the curb of the street including, but not limited to, all landscaping, plants and grass in the parkway; and B. Trim the branches of any tree, shrub, or plant on the property and all shrubs and plants in the area between their property line...
Tree Removal & Heritage Trees
Newport Beach bars anyone from cutting down, damaging, removing, or destroying a tree on any public park, beach, playground, public building grounds, or street right-of-way without the City Manager's written permission under § 13.08.040; the Municipal Operations Department controls all public planting and removal.
Newport Beach Public Tree Removal Permission
Significant RestrictionsNewport Beach, CA, Municipal Code §§ 13.08.010, 13.08.040, 13.08.060
§ 13.08.040. Tampering with Planting Prohibited. No person shall trim, cut down, damage, remove, or destroy any tree growing upon any public park, beach or playground, or the grounds of any public building, or a public street right-of-way, without written permission of the City Manager.
Weed Ordinances
Newport Beach requires property owners to control weeds on their property as part of general property maintenance and nuisance abatement obligations. Overgrown weeds are treated as a public nuisance subject to code enforcement action.
Newport Beach Weed Control Requirements
Some RestrictionsCal. Food & Agric. Code § 5004
5004. “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 purpose...
Water Restrictions
Newport Beach bans daytime lawn and landscape irrigation between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. year-round and caps automated sprinkler stations at 10 minutes per watering session under Municipal Code Section 14.16.040. Escalating shortage stages cut customers to as few as one or two irrigation days a week.
Newport Beach Landscape Watering Restrictions
Some RestrictionsNewport Beach, CA, Municipal Code § 14.16.040 (Permanent Mandatory Water Conservation Requirements)
No customer shall use potable water to irrigate any lawn and/or ornamental landscape area using a landscape irrigation system or a watering device that is not continuously attended unless such irrigation is limited to no more than ten (10) minutes watering per station... No customer shall use potable water to irrigate any lawn, landscape or other vegetated area between the hours of 9:00 a.m. an...
Rainwater Harvesting
Newport Beach permits and encourages rainwater harvesting for landscape irrigation under California state law. Residents may install rain barrels and cisterns without a permit for systems under 360 gallons. Larger collection systems may require building permits and compliance with the city's stormwater management standards.
Newport Beach Rainwater Harvesting Rules
Some RestrictionsCalifornia Water Code Section 10570-10574 (Rainwater Capture Act of 2012, AB 1750)
10573. Solely for the purposes of this part, and unless the context otherwise requires, the following definitions govern the construction of this part: (a) “Developed or developing lands” means lands that have one or more of the characteristics described in subparagraphs (A) to (C), inclusive, of paragraph (4) of subdivision (b) of Section 56375.3 of the Government Code. (b) “Rain barrel system...
Native Plants
Newport Beach's Zoning Code exempts areas intentionally maintained with native plants from the automatic irrigation system otherwise required for new landscaping, and directs landscape designs to emphasize drought-tolerant, xeriscape planting under Municipal Code Section 20.36.070.
Newport Beach Native Plant Landscaping Rules
Some RestrictionsNewport Beach, CA, Municipal Code § 20.36.070 (Landscape and Irrigation Plan Standards)
Plant Selection and Grouping. Plant materials shall be selected for low water demand and drought tolerance... 1. Drought Tolerant Species. Landscape designs shall emphasize the use of drought tolerant plant species (xeriscape)... G. Irrigation System Requirements. 1. All landscaped areas, except those intentionally maintained with native plants, shall include an automatic irrigation system.
Looking for Orange County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Newport Beach city rules.
Landscaping Rules in Orange County →