Landscaping Rules in Ventura, CA (2026)
5 verified landscaping rules for Ventura, California, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Tree Trimming
The City of Ventura requires a permit from the parks manager before anyone plants, prunes, trims, defaces, or removes a tree or shrub on a city street, under Municipal Code Section 20.150.210. A permittee who removes a tree under the permit must plant a replacement of the size and kind specified within 40 days.
Street Tree Trimming Permit in Ventura
Some RestrictionsSan Buenaventura Municipal Code § 20.150.210
It is unlawful for any person to plant, prune, deface, destroy, or remove or in any manner injure any tree or shrub on any street in the city without first obtaining a permit from the parks manager to do so. Whenever a tree is removed or destroyed pursuant to any tree permit, it will be unlawful for the permittee to fail, refuse, or neglect to plant another tree of the kind and size specified i...
Tree Removal & Heritage Trees
The City of Ventura's parks manager can remove a public street tree under Municipal Code Section 20.150.140 only for specific reasons: the tree is dead or diseased, it damages sidewalks or sewer lines, it's an unauthorized species, or it otherwise threatens public health or safety. Private removal of a street tree separately needs a permit under Section 20.150.210.
Street Tree Removal Standards in Ventura
Some RestrictionsSan Buenaventura Municipal Code § 20.150.140(A), (D)
The parks manager may remove trees from public parkways if the parks manager determines that one or more of the following conditions exist: A. If a tree is dead, or in severe physical decline; or if there is splitting or cracking of major limbs or the tree trunk; or if the tree appears dangerous or obstructive to public safety or travel. ... D. ... If tree growth resulted in sidewalk, curb, or ...
Weed Ordinances
The City of Ventura caps weed and grass height under Municipal Code Section 8.10.130(C): if 50 percent of the weeds or grasses within a property's weed or grass growth area exceed 12 inches, the property is a declared public nuisance. Community Development's code enforcement division can order the owner to mow or clear the growth through the same nuisance abatement hearing process used citywide.
Ventura Weed and Grass Height Limit: 12 Inches
Some RestrictionsSan Buenaventura Municipal Code § 8.10.130(C)
It is declared a public nuisance for any person owning, leasing, occupying or having charge or possession of any real property in this city to do any of the following: ... C. ... To maintain or fail to maintain the property so as to allow 50 percent of the weeds or grasses within the weed or grass growth area on the property to exceed 12 inches in height.
Water Restrictions
When the Ventura City Council declares a Stage 3 water-shortage event, Municipal Code Section 22.171.070 caps outdoor potable irrigation at two days a week and bars sprinklers from running between 9:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. Higher stages tighten further, down to a total outdoor-irrigation ban at Stage 6, enforced by Ventura Water.
Ventura Outdoor Watering-Day Limits
Some RestrictionsSan Buenaventura Municipal Code § 22.171.070
22.171.070 Stage 3 water shortage restrictions (20 percent reduction goal (mandatory)). ... 4. ... Comply with prohibited outdoor irrigation of ornamental landscape or turf with potable water through an irrigation system between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. and limiting the use of irrigation systems to two days a week.
Composting
Home composting is expressly allowed in the City of Ventura. Municipal Code § 6.500.190(C) exempts homeowners from the citywide ban on dumping or spreading waste on the ground for drying, letting residents compost leaves and grass clippings on their own property without a city permit.
Ventura Home Composting Exemption Rules
Few RestrictionsSan Buenaventura Municipal Code §§ 6.500.120, 6.500.190(B), (C)
“Home composting” means the on-site recycling of organic materials such as leaves and grass clippings generated on residential premises. ... B. ... No person shall dump, place or bury any solid or designated waste, or any other deleterious or offensive substances; provided, however, that this section shall not apply to any land used by the city for a composting or disposal site or to any privat...
Looking for Ventura County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Ventura city rules.
Landscaping Rules in Ventura County →