Landscaping Rules in Turlock, CA (2026)
6 verified landscaping rules for Turlock, California, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Tree Trimming
Turlock Municipal Code § 10-2-05 makes owners and tenants trim overhanging trees to a 16'-20' clearance over a street or alley and a 7'-10' clearance over a sidewalk, or the City trims it and bills them.
Turlock Street Tree Clearance Requirements
Some RestrictionsTurlock Municipal Code § 10-2-05(a)
It shall be the duty of every person having charge or control of any lot or premises, either as owner, agent, lessee, tenant, or otherwise, on which trees are growing which overhang any public street or alley, to trim such trees where they overhang such public street or alley, so there shall be a clearance of at least sixteen (16') feet, but not more than twenty (20') feet, between the lowest l...
Tree Removal & Heritage Trees
Turlock requires a City permit before removing, pruning, severely pruning, or altering any street tree in the parkway, planting easement, or right-of-way; routine clearance trimming is exempt.
Turlock Street Tree Removal Permit
Significant RestrictionsTurlock Municipal Code § 7-7-301 (Permits required)
It shall be unlawful for any person to remove, prune, severely prune, or alter any street tree within the City, without a permit from the City. This prohibition does not extend to trimming as outlined under TMC § 7-7-207.
Weed Ordinances
Turlock declares weeds and grasses that grow large enough to become a fire hazard a public nuisance on any private property; the Weed Abatement Officer (Fire Marshal) can order the growth cleared.
Turlock Weed and Grass Nuisance Rule
Some RestrictionsTurlock Municipal Code §§ 5-5-101, 5-5-201
"Weeds" shall mean all weeds growing upon streets, alleys, sidewalks, or private property in the City and shall include any of the following: ... Weeds and indigenous grasses which may attain such large growth as to become, when dry, a fire menace... It shall be unlawful for any responsible person to keep or maintain premises under such person's control in a condition detrimental to the public ...
Water Restrictions
When Turlock's City Council declares a water shortage emergency, six escalating conservation stages progressively cut outdoor landscape and irrigation watering: from three days a week down to a full citywide watering ban at the highest stage.
Turlock Emergency Watering Stage Cutbacks
Some RestrictionsTurlock Municipal Code § 6-7-405(a)(1)
Outdoor landscape watering shall be limited to three (3) times per week on an odd-even basis. If the address ends in an even number, the water days shall be Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays. If the address ends in an odd number, the watering days shall be Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays. No outdoor landscape watering on Mondays. Drip irrigation systems shall be exempt. (2) Outdoor landsca...
Native Plants
Turlock's landscaping ordinance doesn't mandate native species outright, but it requires plant selection for drought tolerance and climate adaptability, bans ground-cover-only designs, and caps any single species at 20% of the planting mix.
Turlock Drought-Tolerant Plant Selection Rule
Some RestrictionsTurlock Municipal Code § 9-2-109(f)(3)(i)
Plant materials shall be selected for maintenance efficiency, drought tolerance and adaptability, and relationship to Turlock's environment and climate. Trees and shrubs in reasonable numbers shall be used in the landscape design; ground cover alone shall not be acceptable. No one (1) species of plant shall exceed twenty (20%) percent of the plant material. Landscaped areas shall incorporate a ...
Composting
Turlock requires every single-family home to keep a compost container at the rear of the property and deposit source-separated organic waste in it, part of the city's mandatory organics program under Chapter 6-3.
Turlock Residential Compost Container Rules
Some RestrictionsTurlock Municipal Code § 6-3-107
Garbage containers, compost containers, and recycling containers shall be kept and maintained in an accessible place at the rear of single-family premises and immediately adjoining the alley for commercial businesses, or at the rear, if there is no alley. Such person shall deposit in the appropriate container the garbage, source separated recyclable materials, and source separated organic waste...
Looking for Stanislaus County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Turlock city rules.
Landscaping Rules in Stanislaus County →