Native Plants: Fremont vs San Leandro
How do native plants rules compare between Fremont, CA and San Leandro, CA?
Fremont and San Leandro have similar restriction levels.
Fremont, CA
Alameda County
Fremont encourages California native and Bay-Friendly landscaping through rebates and simplified permits. Native oak preservation applies. ACWD Bay Save lawn conversion programs available.
View full Fremont rules →San Leandro, CA
Alameda County
San Leandro encourages California native and drought-tolerant plants. MWELO applies to new landscapes over 500 sq ft with water budget calculations.
View full San Leandro rules →Key Facts Comparison
| Fact | Fremont | San Leandro |
|---|---|---|
| Rebate | About 2 dollars per sq ft | - |
| Native Oaks | Protected at 10 in DBH | - |
| HOA Limits | Void under Civ Code 4735 | Civ Code 4735 |
| Permits | Not needed for simple swaps | - |
| Programs | ACWD Bay-Friendly | - |
| MWELO | - | Over 500 sq ft |
| Plant Guide | - | EBMUD / Bay-Friendly |
| Native % | - | No mandate for private |
Highlighted rows indicate differences between cities.
Fremont FAQ
What are good Fremont native plants?
Coast live oak, California buckeye, toyon, coffeeberry, California lilac, manzanita, sages, deer grass, California fescue, and yarrow thrive in Fremont hot-summer dry-winter climate. The East Bay CNPS chapter provides a full plant list.
Can my HOA require me to keep a lawn?
No. California Civil Code 4735 prohibits HOAs from banning low-water landscaping or penalizing members for dormant lawns during drought. HOAs can still require neat maintenance and reasonable design review.
San Leandro FAQ
Can my HOA ban my drought-tolerant front yard in San Leandro?
No. California Civil Code 4735 voids HOA rules that prohibit drought-tolerant or low-water landscaping.
Who enforces this in San Leandro?
San Leandro code enforcement at (510) 577-3394 handles most complaints. Alameda County agencies handle regional issues.
Compare other topics
See how Fremont and San Leandro compare on other ordinance categories.
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