Native Plants: Concord vs El Cerrito
How do native plants rules compare between Concord, CA and El Cerrito, CA?
Concord has fewer restrictions than El Cerrito.
Concord, CA
Contra Costa County
Xeriscaping and drought-tolerant landscaping are encouraged in Concord. State law prohibits HOAs from banning low-water landscaping, and MWELO mandates water-efficient designs for new and renovated landscapes over 500 square feet. CCWD offers turf replacement rebates.
View full Concord rules →El Cerrito, CA
Contra Costa County
New and rehabilitated landscapes over 500 sq ft in unincorporated Contra Costa must comply with the Model Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance (MWELO). Rebates for lawn-to-xeriscape conversions are available through EBMUD and CCWD, and HOAs cannot prohibit drought-tolerant landscaping under Civil Code 4735.
View full El Cerrito rules →Key Facts Comparison
| Fact | Concord | El Cerrito |
|---|---|---|
| - | - | |
| MWELO threshold | - | 500 sq ft new/rehab landscape |
| Turf cap | - | Generally 25% of landscape area |
| HOA rule | - | Cannot ban drought-tolerant (Civ Code 4735) |
| EBMUD rebate | - | Up to $2/sq ft turf replacement |
| Greywater | - | Laundry-to-landscape permit-exempt |
Highlighted rows indicate differences between cities.
Concord FAQ
El Cerrito FAQ
Do I need a permit to replace my lawn with drought-tolerant plants?
Typically no permit is required for residential landscape replacement under 500 sq ft, but if you are installing new irrigation or retaining walls, a permit may apply.
Can my HOA require a front lawn?
No. Civil Code 4735 prohibits HOAs from requiring turf or penalizing members for drought-tolerant landscaping.
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