Landscaping Rules in San Clemente, CA (2026)
4 verified landscaping rules for San Clemente, California, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Tree Trimming
San Clemente property owners must keep trees, shrubs and hedges on their land trimmed to an 8-foot vertical clearance over any adjacent street, sidewalk, bikeway, trail or parkway, and 13 feet measured from the curb, under Municipal Code Section 12.24.020. The City can order a fix and may itself remove a hazardous tree.
San Clemente Street Tree Clearance Duty
Some RestrictionsSan Clemente Municipal Code § 12.24.020(A)(1)
A property owner shall maintain trees so that there is a minimum eight (8) foot vertical clearance over any street, sidewalk, bikeway, trail or parkway and a minimum thirteen (13) foot vertical clearance as measured from the top of the curb (or edge of the street if there is no curb) to any portion of any tree. In addition, it shall be the responsibility of the property owner to water any stree...
Weed Ordinances
Every San Clemente lot owner, whether the land is improved or vacant, must keep the property free of weeds, grass, and other unsanitary growth that could endanger neighbors or public health; the Fire Code separately requires that weeds and grass capable of igniting be cut down and removed. The Public Works or Beaches, Parks and Recreation Director can order cleanup within 10 days.
San Clemente Weed and Debris Abatement Duty
Some RestrictionsSan Clemente Municipal Code Section 8.76.040
It shall be the duty of the owner, agent of the owner, lessee, occupant or person in possession of any lot, parcel, tract, or piece of land, improved or unimproved, in the City to keep such lot, parcel, tract or piece of land free from all earth, soil, grass, weeds, dead trees, tin cans, rubbish, refuse and waste material of all kinds, or other unsanitary substances or objects which may endange...
Water Restrictions
San Clemente bans daytime irrigation between 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. and bars watering during or within 48 hours after a quarter-inch of rain, as permanent, year-round water conservation rules. A first violation draws a written warning, with fines and possible water shutoff for repeat offenses.
San Clemente Watering Day and Hour Restrictions
Some RestrictionsSan Clemente Municipal Code § 13.12.070(F), § 13.12.070(K)
The use of water to irrigate outdoor landscapes during or within 48 hours following measurable rainfall, defined as ¼ inch or greater in the vicinity according to the National Weather Service, or the nearest California Irrigation Management Information System (CIMIS) station, is prohibited. ... Watering of landscapes, lawns, or other turf areas between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. is pr...
Native Plants
Inside San Clemente's Coastal Zone (-CZ) Overlay, landscaping placed within the required coastal bluff or coastal canyon setback must be primarily native plant species, and the code discourages removing natives and introducing nonnative plants there. Property owners near a bluff or canyon edge also face limits on how much vegetation they can thin or clear, tied to distance from a habitable structure.
Native-Plant Rule for Coastal Bluffs in San Clemente
Some RestrictionsSan Clemente Municipal Code § 17.56.050(D)(6)
6.Coastal Bluff and Canyon Preservation.a.Landscaping. Landscaping in coastal canyon setback areas or the coastal bluff setback areas, as defined in the subsections above, shall be primarily composed of native plant species. The removal of native plant species and the introduction of nonnative plant species in the canyons shall be discouraged. The use of native plant species in and adjacent to ...
Looking for Orange County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement San Clemente city rules.
Landscaping Rules in Orange County →