Landscaping Rules in Rancho Cordova, CA (2026)
7 verified landscaping rules for Rancho Cordova, California, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Tree Trimming
Rancho Cordova requires vertical clearance over streets and sidewalks, and street trees cannot be pruned without city approval. Private trees may be trimmed by the owner, but encroaching branches over public rights-of-way must be maintained to standard clearance heights.
Landscaping: Tree Trimming
Some RestrictionsCal. Pub. Resources Code § 4291 (Defensible Space — Pruning and Maintenance of Specimens)
This subparagraph does not apply to single specimens of trees or other vegetation that are well-pruned and maintained so as to effectively manage fuels and not form a means of rapidly transmitting fire from other nearby vegetation to a structure or from a structure to other nearby vegetation or to interrupt the advance of embers toward a structure. The intensity of fuels management may vary wit...
Tree Removal & Heritage Trees
Rancho Cordova has its own tree removal permit ordinance, it is not governed by Sacramento County's rule. Under RCMC Title 19, Chapter 19.12 (Preservation and Protection of Private Trees), no person may damage, kill, remove, or perform a major trimming of a protected tree, a native oak 6+ inches in trunk diameter, or any other tree species 12+ inches (nonresidential) or 24+ inches (residential) in diameter, without an approved tree permit from the public works director.
Tree Protection: Tree Removal Permits
Some RestrictionsRancho Cordova Municipal Code (RCMC) § 19.12.040 (Protected Tree Permit Required)
No person shall trench, grade or fill within the dripline of any protected tree, or damage, kill or remove any protected tree, or perform a major trimming of any protected tree without an approved tree permit. It shall be the responsibility of the owner or lessee/tenant of the property on which the protected tree is located and the person performing tree work to have the approved tree permit a...
Weed Ordinances
Rancho Cordova enforces weed abatement under California Government Code Sections 39560 to 39588. Property owners must control weeds, dry grass, and noxious vegetation. Annual spring inspections identify nonconforming parcels and forced abatement liens recover the cost of city-contracted mowing.
Landscaping: Weed Ordinances
Light RestrictionsCalifornia Food and Agricultural Code Section 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 purposes of p...
Water Restrictions
Rancho Cordova is served by Golden State Water Company and California American Water. Permanent State Water Resources Control Board prohibitions apply year-round, and utility drought stages can further limit outdoor watering to assigned days. AB 1572 phases out watering non-functional turf at commercial and institutional sites.
Landscaping: Water Restrictions
Some RestrictionsCalifornia Department of Water Resources — Model Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance (MWELO) Guidebook
DWR is providing technical assistance to local land use agencies and applicants in the form of a Model Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance (MWELO) Guidebook. The MWELO Guidebook will provide background information, explain provisions of the regulation, and give guidance for enforcement to local agencies and applicants. The draft documents posted here are available for public comment and suggest...
Rainwater Harvesting
California AB 1750, the Rainwater Capture Act of 2012, allows homeowners to collect rainwater from rooftops without a water right permit. Rancho Cordova permits rain barrels and cisterns with basic setback and overflow requirements. Systems over 5,000 gallons require building permits.
Landscaping: Rainwater Harvesting
Some RestrictionsCalifornia AB 1750 (2012) — Rainwater Capture Act
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...
Native Plants
New development landscaping in Rancho Cordova must emphasize drought-tolerant and native plant species under RCMC § 23.716.050(B), especially near natural open space. At least 30 percent of the street trees and parking lot trees on a project must be an evergreen species chosen from the city's adopted master tree list.
Rancho Cordova Native and Drought-Tolerant Planting Rule
Some RestrictionsRCMC § 23.716.050(B) (Landscape Design and Planting Requirements – Plant Type); § 23.716.050(B)(2) (Street and Parking Lot Trees)
Plant Type. Landscape planting shall emphasize drought-tolerant and native species (especially along natural, open space areas), shall complement the architectural design of structures on the site, and shall be suitable for the soil and climatic conditions specific to the site. 1. Planting Layout and Plant Diversity. Plant selection shall vary in type and planting pattern. Informal planting pat...
Artificial Turf
California AB 1572 phases out potable water irrigation of non-functional turf at commercial and institutional sites, making artificial turf an increasingly common alternative. Rancho Cordova permits synthetic turf in residential yards, and Civil Code 4735 prevents HOAs from banning artificial turf installed as a water conservation measure.
Landscaping: Artificial Turf
Few RestrictionsCal. Civ. Code § 4735 (HOA — Artificial Turf and Low Water-Use Plants)
(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...
Looking for Sacramento County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Rancho Cordova city rules.
Landscaping Rules in Sacramento County →