Landscaping Rules in Salinas, CA (2026)
7 verified landscaping rules for Salinas, California, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Tree Trimming
Trimming, pruning or removing any tree, shrub or plant on a Salinas street, parkway or alley needs written permission from the public works director, valid only 30 days. Separately, letting private trees overgrow a sidewalk or alley so they block passage is unlawful and the city can remove them after 10 days' notice.
Salinas Street Tree Trimming & Clearance Rules
Some RestrictionsSalinas, CA, Municipal Code Sec. 35-9 (Permit Required to Plant, Remove, etc., Trees); Sec. 30-11 (Overgrown Trees and Shrubs Prohibited)
Sec. 35-9. No person shall root-trim, trim, prune, plant, injure, remove, or interfere with any tree, shrub or plant upon any street, parkway or alley in the city without written permission therefor from the director. The director is hereby authorized to grant such permission at his discretion, but no such permit shall be valid for a longer period than thirty days after the date of issuance. An...
Tree Removal & Heritage Trees
In Salinas, no one may trim, prune, plant, injure, or remove any tree, shrub, or plant on a public street, parkway, or alley without written permission from the public works director. Sec. 35-9 caps every permit at thirty days, and removal requests must state reasons in writing; the applicant covers removal costs when the work benefits them.
Salinas Street Tree Removal Permit Rules
Some RestrictionsSalinas, CA, Municipal Code Sec. 35-9 (Permit required to plant, remove, etc., trees, etc.)
No person shall root-trim, trim, prune, plant, injure, remove, or interfere with any tree, shrub or plant upon any street, parkway or alley in the city without written permission therefor from the director. The director is hereby authorized to grant such permission at his discretion, but no such permit shall be valid for a longer period than thirty days after the date of issuance. Any request f...
Weed Ordinances
Salinas Municipal Code Sec. 14-02.01 bans weeds and grass that go to windborne seed, grow dense enough to become a fire hazard when dry, or are otherwise noxious on any lot or the adjoining street and sidewalk. The fire chief can order removal within ten days; if the owner does not comply, the city clears the lot and assesses the cost as a special charge against the property.
Salinas Weed & Fire Hazard Abatement Rules
Some RestrictionsSalinas, CA, Municipal Code Sec. 14-02.01, 14-02.03
No person owning or otherwise in control of any real property within the city shall permit or allow any weeds or grass which bear seeds of a windborne or downy nature, or which attain such a large growth as to become a fire menace when dry, or which are otherwise noxious or dangerous, to grow, stand or remain upon such real property or upon any street or sidewalk in front of such real property....
Water Restrictions
Salinas draws its water from the Salinas Valley groundwater basin, delivered by Cal Water, and that basin already faces overdraft and seawater intrusion. That makes outdoor conservation a local necessity, not just a state mandate: landscape watering is limited to designated schedules, runoff is prohibited, and new landscaping over 500 square feet must meet California's Model Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance.
Salinas Water Restrictions & Landscape Watering Rules
Some RestrictionsCalifornia Model Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance (MWELO) — Cal. Code Regs. tit. 23 Sec. 490 et seq.
About 40% of the water Californians use at home is used outdoors. Large water savings can be gained by efficient landscape design, installation, management, and maintenance. This is accomplished by choosing climate adapted plants, improving soil conditions, using, and maintaining high efficiency irrigation equipment and managing the irrigation schedule to fit the plants water needs as they are ...
Rainwater Harvesting
Salinas allows residential rainwater harvesting. California has no significant state-level restrictions on rainwater collection for personal use.
Salinas Rainwater Harvesting Rules
Some RestrictionsCal. AB 1750 (Rainwater Capture Act of 2012)
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
Salinas may encourage or require native and drought-tolerant landscaping. Some areas restrict traditional grass lawns in favor of water-efficient alternatives.
Salinas Native Plant & Xeriscape Rules
Some RestrictionsCalifornia Model Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance (MWELO) — Cal. Code Regs. tit. 23 Sec. 490 et seq.
About 40% of the water Californians use at home is used outdoors. Large water savings can be gained by efficient landscape design, installation, management, and maintenance. This is accomplished by choosing climate adapted plants, improving soil conditions, using, and maintaining high efficiency irrigation equipment and managing the irrigation schedule to fit the plants water needs as they are ...
Artificial Turf
Salinas generally permits artificial turf installation with some requirements for drainage, appearance, and base preparation.
Salinas Artificial Turf Regulations
Some RestrictionsCal. Civ. Code Sec. 4735 (HOA Restrictions on Drought-Tolerant Landscaping and Artificial Turf)
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 have the effect of prohibiting, the use of artificial turf or any other synthetic surface that resembles grass. (3) Has the effect ...
Looking for Monterey County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Salinas city rules.
Landscaping Rules in Monterey County →