9 county-level rules, plus city-specific rules for 8 cities in San Bernardino County, California.
Verified from official government sources
In unincorporated San Bernardino County there is no general lawn-aesthetics ordinance, but the County's Fire Hazard Abatement code treats grass over four inches in height as flammable vegetation that must be cut. The four-inch standard applies countywide across the Valley, Mountain, and Desert fire regions.
Routine pruning of your own ornamental trees generally needs no County permit, but in the Mountain region the Fire Hazard Abatement code requires limbing trees up and clearing dead branches near structures. Regulated native trees may not be removed by aggressive trimming without a Tree or Plant Removal Permit.
Removing regulated native trees in unincorporated San Bernardino County requires a Tree or Plant Removal Permit under Development Code Chapter 88.01. Regulated trees include native trees six inches or more in stem diameter, all Joshua trees, and certain desert and riparian species. Several exemptions apply for small developed lots and trees near structures.
San Bernardino County's weed abatement is handled through its Fire Hazard Abatement program under County Code Sections 23.0301 to 23.0319. Owners of unincorporated land must clear flammable weeds, grass over four inches, tumbleweeds, and combustible debris, and maintain defensible space around structures, or face a County abatement notice.
Cal. Food & Agricultural Code Sec. 5004 (Noxious Weed — Definition)
5004. "Noxious weed" means any species of plant that is, or is liable to be, troublesome, aggressive, intrusive, detrimental, or destructive to agriculture, silviculture, or important native species, and difficult to control or eradicate, which the director, by regulation, designates to be a noxious weed. In determining whether or not a species shall be designated a noxious weed for the purpose...
Day-to-day outdoor watering limits in unincorporated San Bernardino County are set by your local water purveyor and by statewide rules from the State Water Resources Control Board, not by a County watering-days ordinance. State law permanently prohibits wasteful uses such as hosing hard surfaces and watering that runs off or follows rainfall.
CA DWR Model Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance (MWELO) — Local Adoption Required
Model Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance (MWELO). The MWELO is also referenced by Title 24, Part 11, Chapters 4 and 5 CalGreen Building Code. All local agencies must adopt, implement, and enforce the MWELO or a local Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance (WELO) that is at least as effective as the MWELO. Usually, local agencies that adopt WELOs create a more stringent ordinance than MWELO. The p...
Rainwater harvesting is legal and encouraged in unincorporated San Bernardino County. California's Rainwater Capture Act lets residents install rain barrels for outdoor, non-potable use without a local permit. The County does not prohibit rainwater capture, and its Development Code promotes stormwater retention through bio-swales and infiltration.
California Water Code Sections 10570-10574 (Rainwater Capture Act of 2012, AB 1750)
PART 2.4. Rainwater Capture Act of 2012 10570. This part shall be known, and may be cited, as the Rainwater Capture Act of 2012. 10571. The Legislature finds and declares all of the following: (a) As California has grown and developed, the amount of stormwater flowing off buildings, parking lots, roads, and other impervious surfaces into surface water streams, flood channels, and storm sewers h...
San Bernardino County's Development Code requires native and drought-tolerant plants in new and rehabilitated landscaping, and Chapter 88.01 protects native trees and desert plants from removal. Joshua trees and listed desert natives are regulated. Owners are encouraged to landscape with natives, but removing protected natives requires a permit.
California Model Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance (MWELO)
About 40% of the water Californians use at home is used outdoors. Large water savings can be gained by efficient landscape design, installation, management, and maintenance. This is accomplished by choosing climate adapted plants, improving soil conditions, using, and maintaining high efficiency irrigation equipment and managing the irrigation schedule to fit the plants water needs as they are ...
San Bernardino County's Development Code does not ban artificial turf and actively directs that natural turf be minimized to save water. Synthetic turf is an accepted water-saving alternative for unincorporated properties, though large landscape projects must still meet the Code's water-efficient design and stormwater standards.
Cal. Civil Code Sec. 4735 (HOA May Not Prohibit Artificial Turf or Low-Water Plants)
4735. (a) Notwithstanding any other law, a provision of the governing documents or architectural or landscaping guidelines or policies shall be void and unenforceable if it does any of the following: (1) Prohibits, or includes conditions that have the effect of prohibiting, the use of low water-using plants as a group or as a replacement of existing turf. (2) Prohibits, or includes conditions t...
Backyard composting is allowed and encouraged in unincorporated San Bernardino County. Under California's SB 1383, residents in the mandatory-collection area must subscribe to organic-waste collection that separates food scraps and yard waste, though some mountain Rim communities qualify for low-population or high-elevation waivers.
8 cities in San Bernardino County have their own landscaping rules rules. Each link goes to that city's dedicated page with code citations.
8 verified rules • Artificial Turf, Grass Height Limits
8 verified rules • Artificial Turf, Grass Height Limits
8 verified rules • Artificial Turf, Grass Height Limits
8 verified rules • Artificial Turf, Grass Height Limits
8 verified rules • Artificial Turf, Grass Height Limits
8 verified rules • Artificial Turf, Grass Height Limits
7 verified rules • Artificial Turf, Grass Height Limits
7 verified rules • Artificial Turf, Grass Height Limits
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