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Landscaping Rules in Pomona, CA (2026)

8 verified landscaping rules for Pomona, California, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.

Verified from official government sources

Tree Trimming

Pomona regulates tree trimming under its Tree Preservation Program and Street Tree Policy Manual. Trees in historic districts require a Certificate of Appropriateness before trimming. Street trees follow ISA pruning standards.

Pomona Tree Trimming & Street Tree Policy

Some Restrictions

California Public Resources Code § 4291 (defensible space — vegetation management around structures)

99] ( Chapter 3 added by Stats. 1965, Ch. 1144. ) 4291. (a) A person who owns, leases, controls, operates, or maintains a building or structure in the state responsibility area shall at all times do all of the following: (1) (A) Maintain defensible space of 100 feet from each side and from the front and rear of the structure, but not beyond the property line, except as provided in subparagraph ...

Tree Removal & Heritage Trees

Pomona requires a Major Oak Tree Permit before anyone relocates or removes an Oak tree over 8 inches in diameter on public or private property outside historic districts. The Planning Commission decides Major permits at a public hearing; unpermitted removal is a misdemeanor.

Pomona Oak Tree Removal Permit

Significant Restrictions

Pomona, CA, Zoning and Development Code, Sec. 1300.S.3, .4 & .9 (Oak Tree Preservation: Applicability, Permit Process, Penalties)

The provisions of this Section apply to Oak trees of all species that have a diameter greater than eight (8) inches as measured 4.5 feet above the mean natural grade, are located outside of designated Historic Districts and Historic Landmarks and have not been designated as Specimen Trees... A person must not trim, prune, cut, relocate or remove any Oak tree subject to the provisions of this Se...

Weed Ordinances

Pomona code enforcement designates overgrown, dead, or hazardous weeds and vegetation a public nuisance under City Code Sec. 18-222(9)-(10), with no fixed height trigger. The rule targets vegetation that can harbor rats, block sightlines, promote blight, or create a fire hazard, and separately makes owners abutting a sidewalk, parkway, or alley responsible for weeds and refuse there.

Pomona Weed & Overgrown Vegetation Nuisance

Some Restrictions

Pomona, CA City Code § 18-222(9)-(10)

(9)All weeds and all rubbish and refuse upon the sidewalks, parkways and alleys within the city are public nuisances which shall be abated by the property owner abutting the sidewalk, parkway or alley.(10)Any overgrown, unmaintained, under-maintained, dead, decayed, diseased or hazardous tree, weeds, grass, vegetation, which:a.May harbor rats, vermin, excessive amounts of insects, or other dise...

Water Restrictions

Pomona is served by multiple water providers following MWELO requirements. New landscapes over 500 sq ft must meet Maximum Applied Water Allowance calculations. CA Gov Code Section 65595 prohibits banning drought-tolerant landscaping.

Pomona Water Conservation & Landscape Irrigation Rules

Heavy Restrictions

California Department of Water Resources — Model Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance (MWELO) (Water Conservation in Landscaping Act, Gov. Code § 65591 et seq.)

by the 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 MWEL...

Rainwater Harvesting

Rainwater harvesting is legal and encouraged in California. No Pomona-specific restrictions exist. CA law allows residential rainwater collection without a permit for non-potable uses.

Pomona Rainwater Harvesting Rules

Some Restrictions

California AB 1750 (2012, Rendon) — Rainwater Capture Act of 2012 (Water Code § 10570 et seq.)

to read: PART 2.4. Rainwater Capture Act of 2012 10570. This part shall be known, and may be cited, as the Rainwater Capture Act of 2012. 10571. The Legislature finds and declares all of the following: (a) As California has grown and developed, the amount of stormwater flowing off buildings, parking lots, roads, and other impervious surfaces into surface water streams, flood channels, and storm...

Native Plants

Pomona's Zoning and Development Code requires every landscape permit to emphasize drought-tolerant and native plant species. Front and street-facing yards must use native water-conserving plants under Sec. 1300.I, and landscape plans earn up to 40 of 140 required points for covering 75 percent of the planted area with native or water-conserving species under Sec. 1300.O.

Pomona Native & Drought-Tolerant Plant Landscaping Rules

Some Restrictions

Pomona, CA, Zoning & Development Code Sec. 1300.F.5 and Sec. 1300.I.2.c (Landscape, formerly Sec. 503-J)

Landscape planting must emphasize drought-tolerant and native species, complement the architectural design of structures on the site, and be suitable for the soil and climatic conditions of the site, consistent with the requirement of this Section. ... The front yard landscaped area and visible street side yard must be landscaped with live vegetation, drought-tolerant landscaping, or a combinat...

Artificial Turf

Artificial turf is permitted in Pomona as a water-saving alternative. CA law prohibits cities from requiring natural grass. MWELO encourages low-water landscaping options including synthetic turf.

Pomona Artificial Turf Regulations

Some Restrictions

California Civil Code § 4735 (common interest developments — HOAs may not prohibit low water-using plants, artificial turf, or compliance with water-efficient landscape ordinances)

rticle 1 added by Stats. 2012, Ch. 180, Sec. 2. ) 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 exis...

Composting

Pomona's solid waste code lets residents manage organic waste on site or through a community composting operation instead of curbside collection, but caps what counts as "community composting" at 100 cubic yards and 750 square feet at any one time, and requires operators to report capacity data to the city on request.

Pomona Community Composting Rules

Some Restrictions

Pomona, CA, City Code Sec. 62-581 (Community composting definition) and Sec. 62-791(b)(2)

Community composting means any activity that composts green material, agricultural material, food material, and vegetative food material, alone or in combination, and the total amount of feedstock and compost on-site at any one time does not exceed 100 cubic yards and 750 square feet, as specified in 14 CCR section 17855(a)(4); or, as otherwise defined by 14 CCR section 18982(a)(8). ... Communi...

Looking for Los Angeles County county-wide rules?

County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Pomona city rules.

Landscaping Rules in Los Angeles County