Invasive Plant Rules in San Diego County, CA (2026)

2 county-level rules, plus city-specific rules for 7 cities in San Diego County, California.

Verified from official government sources

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

Bamboo Restrictions

In San Diego County's designated wildfire hazard zones, new bamboo plantings count as nonfire-smart vegetation and must be set back so their mature drip line clears any building by at least 50 feet.

San Diego County Bamboo Fire-Safety Setback

Some Restrictions

San Diego County Code § 96.2.603 (WUI Code § 603.4.2.1)

Sec. 603.4.2.1 Nonfire-smart vegetation. New trees not classified as fire-smart vegetation, such as conifers, junipers, cypress, palms with fibrous tissues, pepper trees, acacia species, bamboo species and eucalyptus species and other species not deemed fire smart shall be permitted provided the tree is planted and maintained in accordance with one of the following: 1. The tree is planted so th...

Full ordinance details →Official source ↗

Prohibited Species

In unincorporated San Diego County, landscape plans for qualifying new construction must keep invasive plant species out of transitional planting areas entirely, not just limit them.

San Diego County Invasive Plant Ban

Some Restrictions

San Diego County Code § 86.709(c)(15)

The plan shall provide that plants in a transitional area consist of a combination of site adaptive and compatible native and non-native species. The plan shall also provide that no invasive plant species shall be introduced or tolerated in a transitional area. The irrigation in a transitional area shall be designed so that no overspray or runoff shall enter an adjacent area that is not irrigat...

Full ordinance details →Official source ↗