Landscaping Rules in Riverside, CA (2026)
8 verified landscaping rules for Riverside, California, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Grass Height Limits
Riverside has no fixed grass-height-in-inches threshold in its municipal code. Instead, overgrown grass and weeds on private property are regulated under RMC Chapter 6.15 (Abatement of Public Nuisances) and Chapter 6.14 (Property Maintenance), enforced by the Code Enforcement Division of the Community & Economic Development Department.
Grass Height & Overgrown Vegetation: RMC Chapter 6.15 (Public Nuisance Abatement)
Some RestrictionsTree Trimming
The City of Riverside owns and maintains the ~150,000 street trees in the parkway strip between sidewalk and curb under RMC Chapter 13.06. Residents who want a private contractor to trim or remove a City street tree must first obtain a no-fee permit from the Trees & Landscaping Division of Public Works.
Tree Trimming & Street Trees: RMC Chapter 13.06 (Vegetation Management)
Some RestrictionsCal. Pub. Resources Code § 4291
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 (B). The amount of fuel modification necessary sha...
Tree Removal & Heritage Trees
Under Riverside Municipal Code Chapter 16.40, no person may remove a City tree — any tree in a park, parkway, median, or public right-of-way — without a removal permit from the City Arborist. Private-property trees can generally be removed without a permit unless they are heritage trees, protected native species, or on hillside parcels subject to grading ordinances.
Tree Removal Rules in Riverside, California
Heavy RestrictionsWeed Ordinances
Weeds on private property — including the right-of-way bordering your home and the alley to the centerline — are the property owner's responsibility under City of Riverside RMC Chapter 6.15. For parcels in or near Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones (much of the city's hillside east side), Riverside County Fire Ordinance No. 787 imposes mandatory annual fuel-modification.
Weed Abatement: RMC Chapter 6.15 + Riverside County Fire Ord. 787
Heavy 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
Riverside Public Utilities (RPU) enforces year-round outdoor watering restrictions under Riverside Municipal Code Chapter 14.22 (Water Conservation). RPU urges customers to irrigate only between 6:00 p.m. and 10:00 a.m. (no watering during the heat of the day), and RPU's drought outreach has activated Water Shortage Contingency Plan Level 2 calling for a 10-20% reduction.
Outdoor Watering Restrictions: RMC Chapter 14.22 (Water Conservation)
Heavy RestrictionsRainwater Harvesting
Rainwater harvesting from rooftop runoff is fully legal in California under the Rainwater Capture Act of 2012 (Water Code §10573) and is actively encouraged by Riverside Public Utilities (RPU). RPU partners with Metropolitan Water District's SoCal Water$mart program to offer rebates for rain barrels and cisterns.
Rainwater Harvesting: Allowed; SoCal Water$mart Rebate via RPU
Few RestrictionsCalifornia Rainwater Capture Act of 2012 (AB 1750); Water Code Sections 10570-10574
10570. This part shall be known, and may be cited, as the Rainwater Capture Act of 2012. [...] 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 para...
Native Plants
Riverside Municipal Code Chapter 19.570 — Water Efficient Landscaping & Irrigation — implements California's Model Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance (MWELO). New and retrofit landscapes ≥500 sq ft must meet a Maximum Applied Water Allowance that effectively requires drought-tolerant or California-native species over most of the landscaped area.
Native & Drought-Tolerant Plants: RMC Chapter 19.570 (Water Efficient Landscaping)
Some RestrictionsArtificial Turf
Artificial turf is permitted as a residential landscape material in Riverside under RMC Chapter 19.570 (Water Efficient Landscaping), which counts synthetic turf as a 0% plant factor and therefore an acceptable water-budget compliance option. California Gov. Code §53087.7 also prevents HOAs and local governments from banning artificial turf at single-family homes.
Artificial Turf: Allowed under RMC Chapter 19.570; Gov. Code §53087.7 protects residents
Few RestrictionsCalifornia Civil Code Section 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 existing turf. (2) Prohibits, or includes conditions that ha...
Looking for Riverside County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Riverside city rules.
Landscaping Rules in Riverside County →