Landscaping Rules in Woodland, CA (2026)
8 verified landscaping rules for Woodland, California, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Tree Trimming
In the City of Woodland, California, trimming a street tree's branches under 3 inches in diameter is unregulated minor maintenance, but cutting branches 3 inches or larger is 'major maintenance' and needs a tree permit from the Community Services Director under Woodland Municipal Code §§ 12.48.020 and 12.48.050.
Woodland Street Tree Trimming Rules
Some RestrictionsWoodland Municipal Code §§ 12.48.020, 12.48.050
"Major maintenance"means and includes major trimming or pruning or cabling, and any other similar act which promotes the life, growth, health or beauty of trees, except watering and minor pruning. Major trimming and pruning shall mean the removal of branches of three inches in diameter or greater. "Minor maintenance"means and includes trimming or pruning branches that are less than three inches...
Tree Removal & Heritage Trees
In the City of Woodland, California, removing, cutting down, or killing a street tree needs a tree permit from the Community Services Director; removing one 24 inches or more in trunk diameter also needs an Urban Forest Subcommittee recommendation and 48 hours' posted notice on the tree, under Woodland Municipal Code §§ 12.48.050 and 12.48.060.
Woodland Street Tree Removal Permit Rules
Significant RestrictionsWoodland Municipal Code §§ 12.48.050, 12.48.060
Except as hereinafter provided, it shall be unlawful for any person (other than a City worker or contractor working within his or her assigned duties) to do any of the following acts, with respect to street trees, without a tree permit issued by the Community Services Director: ... ... B. Move, remove, top, cut down, poison, set fire to or permit fire to burn in proximity to, or perform any act...
Weed Ordinances
Woodland Municipal Code §§ 9.44.010 and 9.44.020 declare weeds, rubbish, refuse, and dirt on parkways, sidewalks, or private property in the City of Woodland, California a public nuisance, defining regulated weeds by seed type, invasive growth, toxicity, and fire risk rather than a fixed height, while cultivated and useful grasses and pastures are exempt.
Woodland Weed Nuisance Ordinance
Some RestrictionsWoodland Municipal Code §§ 9.44.010(A), 9.44.020(A), (C), (D)
A. Weeds and rubbish, refuse, and dirt upon parkways, sidewalks, or private property in the City are declared to be public nuisance. ... ... A. Weeds which bear seeds of a downy or wingy nature. ... ... C. Weeds which are otherwise noxious or dangerous. D. Poison oak and poison ivy when the conditions of growth are such as to constitute a menace to the public health.
Water Restrictions
In the City of Woodland, California, outdoor watering drops to three days a week once the Public Works Director declares a Stage Two water warning, and to two days a week at Stage Three, when nonresidential landscapes must also cut irrigation by 40%. Water waste is banned even in normal supply years, and violators face administrative citations starting at $100 under Woodland Municipal Code Chapter 13.32.
Woodland Watering-Day Limits Under Water Shortage Stages
Some RestrictionsWoodland Municipal Code §§ 13.16.120, 13.32.040, 13.32.070
In lieu of any remedies the City may have, and at the City's sole discretion, the City may determine a violation of this chapter to be a nuisance, which shall be enforced pursuant to Chapter 9.20, resulting in a notice to abate or an administrative citation. Pursuant to Chapter 9.20, fines imposed for an administrative citation shall be: (1) $100.00 for a first violation; (2) $200.00 for a seco...
Rainwater Harvesting
In the City of Woodland, California, Municipal Code § 17.56.010(E)(3) recommends new development and redevelopment projects capture rooftop rainwater in a cistern or channel it from roof drains to landscaping for irrigation during dry months. Community Development reviews this water-conservation guideline during design review; it is not a mandatory permit condition but is expected as one of several site-design measures citywide.
Woodland Rainwater Harvesting Design Guideline
Few RestrictionsWoodland Municipal Code § 17.56.010(E)(3)
E. Water Conservation/Quality. The following guidelines are recommended to minimize water use and/or improve water quality for all new development and redevelopment/renovations: ... ... 3. Capture rainwater in cistern or other devices to supply water for landscape irrigation during dry months or channel rainwater from building rooftop drains to landscaping in common areas.
Native Plants
In the City of Woodland, California, new landscaped areas must lean heavily on native and low-water plants. Woodland Municipal Code Section 17.64.040(H)(4) directs that drought-tolerant and California native species be used to the maximum extent possible, and Section 17.64.040(H)(4)(a) sets a hard floor: at least 75% of all non-turf plant material in a required landscape area must be native or drawn from the Community Development Department's approved climate-adapted list.
Woodland Native Plant Landscaping Standards
Some RestrictionsWoodland Municipal Code § 17.64.040(H)(4)
4. Drought-Tolerant Species. Drought tolerant species and California native species are to be used to the maximum extent possible over non-drought tolerant and nonnative species. ... a. Climate-Adapted Plant Requirement. A minimum of 75% of all non-turf plant materials used in required landscape areas shall be native species or selected from the list of approved low-water-use, climate-adapted p...
Artificial Turf
In the City of Woodland, California, synthetic turf is a lawful substitute for real grass in required landscaped areas. Woodland Municipal Code Section 17.64.040(H)(14)(e) allows synthetic turf material in place of any proposed turf area, provided it sits at least six feet from any tree, and it still counts against the chapter's broader turf area and slope limits.
Woodland Artificial Turf Landscaping Rules
Light RestrictionsWoodland Municipal Code § 17.64.040(H)(14)(e)
14. Turf. Turf defined as a ground cover surface of mowed grass is subject to the following limitations. ... ... e. Synthetic turf material may be used in place of any proposed turf areas provided synthetic material is located a minimum of six feet from any tree.
Composting
In the City of Woodland, California, residents may compost their own food and yard waste in the backyard, or bring it to a community composting site, as an option alongside the mandatory organics collection service set out in Woodland Municipal Code § 13.72.020(A). The city imposes no backyard bin permit or size standard; only community composting is capped by the state definition the city has adopted.
Woodland Backyard and Community Composting Rules
Few RestrictionsWoodland Municipal Code §§ 13.72.010, 13.72.020(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). ... Genera...
Looking for Yolo County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Woodland city rules.
Landscaping Rules in Yolo County →