9 rules for unincorporated Mariposa County, California.
Verified from official government sources
Mariposa County's code has no fixed lawn-height limit; instead, because the entire county is a State Responsibility Area, dry grass and flammable vegetation must be cleared as defensible space under California Public Resources Code 4291, which requires 100 feet of clearance around structures.
Mariposa County has no general permit requirement for trimming trees on private property. Trimming is shaped mainly by wildfire defensible-space clearance under PRC 4291 and by the County's roadside vegetation control program, which manages vegetation along about 600 miles of county-maintained roads.
Mariposa County has no countywide private tree-removal permit ordinance. Removal is addressed through General Plan policy during development and grading review (Implementation Measure 11-4a(2), which directs minimizing removal of native trees and groves) and through wildfire defensible-space requirements under PRC 4291.
Because all of Mariposa County is a State Responsibility Area, weed and brush abatement is driven by California's defensible-space law (PRC 4291) requiring 100 feet of clearance around structures, enforced by CAL FIRE and the County Fire Department, with the Fire Safe Council providing brush-clearing assistance.
Mariposa County Code Chapter 17.36 requires all landscaping to comply with California's Model Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance (CCR Title 23, Section 2.7). The General Plan (Policy 11-2a) further directs low-flow fixtures and drought-tolerant landscaping. Statewide drought rules from the SWRCB also apply.
Mariposa County has no ordinance prohibiting rainwater harvesting, and California law broadly allows residential rooftop rainwater capture. The County's General Plan encourages water conservation (Policy 11-2a). Larger catchment, tanks, or potable use may trigger building, plumbing, and health-permit review.
Mariposa County encourages native and drought-tolerant landscaping rather than restricting it. General Plan Implementation Measure 11-4a(4) directs the County to publish landscaping guidelines for site-appropriate native plant species, and Policy 11-2a promotes retaining existing native plant material to conserve water.
Mariposa County has no ordinance specifically permitting or banning artificial turf. Synthetic lawns are generally allowed on private property and are not prohibited by the County's landscaping code (Chapter 17.36), though larger installations may go through standard zoning, setback, and drainage review.
Composting in Mariposa County is shaped by California's organics-recycling law SB 1383, which requires diverting organic waste from landfills. Backyard home composting is encouraged as an allowed self-management method, while curbside organics service and self-haul options satisfy the mandate. Compost piles should be managed to avoid wildlife and fire issues.
See every category we cover for Mariposa County — parking, noise, fences, fires, animals, pools, and more.
Mariposa County Ordinance Hub →