Landscaping Rules in Contra Costa County, CA (2026)

5 county-level rules, plus city-specific rules for 9 cities in Contra Costa County, California.

Verified from official government sources

Note: These county rules apply to unincorporated areas of Contra Costa County. If you live within an incorporated city, that city's own rules apply: see the city list below.

Tree Trimming

Unincorporated Contra Costa County protects larger trees under Ordinance Code Chapter 816-6: single-trunk trees 6.5 inches in diameter (at 4.5 feet) and multi-stem trees with combined circumference of 40 inches or more may require a permit to top or remove.

Landscaping: Tree Trimming

Some Restrictions

Contra Costa County Ordinance Code §§ 816-6.6002, 816-6.6004, 816-6.8002, 816-6.4016, 816-6.4018, 816-6.1002 (Ords. 94-59, 94-22)

816-6.6002 — Prohibition. No person shall trench, grade or fill within the dripline of any protected tree or cut down, destroy, trim by topping or remove any protected tree on private property within the county without a tree permit, except as provided for in Section 816-4.1002. 816-6.6004 — Protected trees. A protected tree is any one of the following: (1) On all properties within the unincorp...

Full ordinance details →Official source ↗

Tree Removal & Heritage Trees

Contra Costa County protects native trees, oaks, bay, buckeye, madrone, sycamore and big-leaf maple, starting at 6.5 inches trunk diameter. Removal requires a permit from DCD Planning, and unpermitted removal can cost up to $10,000 per tree plus replacement.

Landscaping: Tree Removal

Some Restrictions

Contra Costa County Ordinance Code §§ 816-6.6002, 816-6.8002, 816-6.8004, 816-6.1002, 816-6.1208 (Ords. 94-59, 94-22)

816-6.6002 — Prohibition. No person shall trench, grade or fill within the dripline of any protected tree or cut down, destroy, trim by topping or remove any protected tree on private property within the county without a tree permit, except as provided for in Section 816-4.1002. 816-6.8002 — Permit requirement. Any person proposing to trench, grade or fill within the dripline of any protected t...

Full ordinance details →Official source ↗

Weed Ordinances

Under Contra Costa County Ordinance 2023-07 and Cal. Health & Safety Code Div. 12, Part 5, property owners must clear dry grass, weeds, brush, tree litter, and other flammable vegetation each year before the Con Fire abatement deadline.

Annual Exterior Hazard Abatement (Ord. 2023-07)

Some Restrictions

Contra Costa County Ordinance 2023-07; Cal. Health & Safety Code Div. 12, Part 5

The requirement to abate hazardous vegetation and combustible materials from parcels stems from California Health and Safety Code, Division 12, Part 5, and from Contra Costa County Ordinance 2023-07. 'Weeds' means all wild plants growing on streets or private property including dry grass, tree litter, litter, or other flammable materials that are capable of being ignited and endangering public ...

Full ordinance details →Official source ↗

Water Restrictions

Contra Costa County regulates landscape water use through Chapter 82-26, which adopts the state's Model Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance for new landscapes of 500 sq ft or more and rehabilitated landscapes of 2,500 sq ft or more. Day-to-day watering schedules come from your water provider, not the county.

Landscaping: Water Restrictions

Light Restrictions

Contra Costa County Ordinance Code Chapter 82-26 (Water Efficient Landscapes) §§ 82-26.002, 82-26.004; 23 CCR § 490.1 (MWELO Applicability)

Chapter 82-26 Water Efficient Landscapes. 82-26.002 — California Model Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance Adopted. (a) The water efficient landscape ordinance of Contra Costa County is the Model Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance adopted by the California Department of Water Resources and as set forth in Chapter 2.7 of Division 2, Title 23, of the California Code of Regulations, Sections 490 ...

Full ordinance details →Official source ↗

Native Plants

Native and drought-tolerant landscaping is encouraged in unincorporated Contra Costa County. California's MWELO applies to new or rehabilitated landscapes over 500 square feet, turf is generally capped at 25% of the landscape area, and HOAs cannot ban drought-tolerant plants under Civil Code 4735.

Landscaping: Native Plants

Few Restrictions

California Model Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance, 23 CCR §§ 490(c)(5), 492.6 (Landscape Design Plan); Contra Costa County Ordinance Code § 82-26.002 (adopting MWELO)

California MWELO, 23 CCR § 492.6 — Landscape Design Plan. (b) Plant Selection. (1) Any plant may be selected for the landscape, providing the Estimated Total Water Use in the landscape area does not exceed the Maximum Applied Water Allowance. (2) The architectural guidelines of a common interest development… shall not prohibit or include conditions that have the effect of prohibiting the use of...

Full ordinance details →Official source ↗