Landscaping Rules in Santee, CA (2026)
7 verified landscaping rules for Santee, California, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Tree Trimming
In the City of Santee, Municipal Code § 8.06.080(B)-(C) makes every property owner responsible for trimming trees and shrubs so they clear streets, alleys, and sidewalks and do not block traffic signs. Trees and shrubs overhanging a public right-of-way must keep at least 13 feet, six inches of clearance from the lowest branches.
Santee Tree Clearance Over Streets
Some RestrictionsSantee Municipal Code § 8.06.080(B)-(C)
B. It is the duty and responsibility of every person owning or occupying any real property within the City of Santee, to keep all trees on that property trimmed in such a manner that meets City of Santee clearance standards for any street, alley, and sidewalk. ... ... C. Property owners having trees or shrubs growing on public rights-of-way must maintain these trees and shrubs to a reasonable s...
Tree Removal & Heritage Trees
In the City of Santee, no one may trim, prune, cut, or remove a tree, hedge, or shrub from City-owned property or a public highway without written authorization from the Director of Community Services or the City Council. Protected coast live oaks carry an extra layer of review: only the City Council itself can authorize removing one, and skipping that step under the Urban Forestry Ordinance exposes the responsible person to criminal and civil penalties.
Santee Protected Tree Removal Permit
Significant RestrictionsSantee Municipal Code §§ 8.06.110, 8.06.120
§ 8.06.110. Trimming, pruning or removal—Permit required. No person is permitted to trim, prune, cut, break, deface, destroy, burn or remove any tree, hedge or shrub from any City-owned public property or from a public highway within the City unless authorized in writing to do so by the Director or the City Council. ... ... § 8.06.120. Trimming, pruning or removal—Permit application. ... A prot...
Weed Ordinances
In the City of Santee, weeds and dry grasses over four inches tall anywhere on private property, streets, sidewalks or parking areas are a public nuisance under Municipal Code Section 1.10.030(C) once they pose a fire hazard. The rule reaches improved lots citywide, not just vacant parcels, and Development Services or the Fire Chief can order the growth cut and abated.
Santee Weed and Dry Grass Height Limit
Some RestrictionsSantee Municipal Code § 1.10.030(C)
§ 1.10.030. Classification of nuisances. ... ... C. All weeds or dry grasses over four inches in height, dead shrubs, dead trees or tree limbs within 10 feet of a chimney, rubbish, or any material growing or discarded upon the streets, parking areas, sidewalks, or upon private property within the City which bear seeds of a wingy or downy nature or which by reason of their size, manner of growth...
Water Restrictions
In the City of Santee, Municipal Code § 13.36.080 bans landscape irrigation runoff that leaves the target landscape through low head drainage or overspray. Water flowing onto adjacent property, walks, roadways, parking lots or structures from inefficient irrigation is prohibited citywide, and the City ties this water-waste rule to the tiered-rate billing and irrigation-audit programs run by local water purveyors under Chapter 13.36.
Santee Irrigation Overspray and Water Waste Ban
Some RestrictionsSantee Municipal Code § 13.36.080
§ 13.36.080. Water waste prevention. Water waste resulting from inefficient landscape irrigation runoff shall be prevented. Therefore, runoff is prohibited from leaving the target landscape due to low head drainage, overspray, or other similar conditions where water flows onto adjacent property, nonirrigated areas, walks, roadways, parking lots, structures and other nontargeted surfaces.
Rainwater Harvesting
In the City of Santee, Municipal Code § 13.36.070 requires every landscape and grading design plan reviewed by Development Services to integrate stormwater best management practices that increase on-site rainwater retention and infiltration. New landscapes must comply with the City's municipal stormwater permit from the San Diego Regional Water Quality Control Board, and site design should capture runoff from the one-inch, 24-hour storm.
Santee Rainwater Retention and Capture Rules
Some RestrictionsSantee Municipal Code § 13.36.070
§ 13.36.070. Stormwater management and rainwater retention. A. Stormwater management practices, as described in Chapter 9.06, minimize runoff and increase infiltration which recharges groundwater and improves water quality. Stormwater best management practices shall be integrated into the landscape and grading design plans to minimize runoff and to increase on-site rainwater retention and infil...
Native Plants
In the City of Santee's Hillside Overlay District, Santee Municipal Code § 13.22.050(D) requires developers to maintain natural vegetation wherever possible, replant compatible species if removal is necessary, landscape graded slopes with ground cover, shrubs and trees, and preserve or plant drought-tolerant, fire-resistant native vegetation wherever feasible.
Santee Hillside Native Vegetation Rule
Some RestrictionsSantee Municipal Code § 13.22.050(D)
D. Animal and Plant Life. ... 1. Areas of site which are identified in an environmental study as having biological significance shall be preserved; 2. Natural vegetation shall be maintained wherever possible. If removal is required, reestablishment of a compatible plant material shall be required. ... ... 5. Water and energy conservation techniques shall be utilized, such as special irrigation ...
Composting
The City of Santee places no restriction on a residential householder who composts organic waste on their own property; Municipal Code Section 9.02.250 expressly protects backyard composting. A larger 'community composting' operation is capped at 100 cubic yards of feedstock and compost and 750 square feet on-site at any one time under Section 9.02.110.
Santee Backyard Composting Rules
Few RestrictionsSantee Municipal Code §§ 9.02.110, 9.02.250(A)
"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). ... ... A. ...
Looking for San Diego County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Santee city rules.
Landscaping Rules in San Diego County →