9 county-level rules, plus city-specific rules for 10 cities in San Diego County, California.
Verified from official government sources
Unincorporated San Diego County has no general turf-height limit for tidiness, but its fire ordinances require dead and dying grasses, weeds, and combustible vegetation to be cleared within 100 feet of structures. Tall, dead annual grasses are treated as a fire hazard subject to abatement.
Trimming trees on your own private land in unincorporated San Diego County is generally unregulated, but trees in the county road right-of-way are governed by County Code Title 7, Division 1, Chapter 5 and require a tree permit from the Department of Public Works. Defensible-space rules also require trimming dead branches near structures.
California Public Resources Code § 4291 (defensible space — vegetation management around structures)
99] ( Chapter 3 added by Stats. 1965, Ch. 1144. ) 4291. (a) A person who owns, leases, controls, operates, or maintains a building or structure in the state responsibility area shall at all times do all of the following: (1) (A) Maintain defensible space of 100 feet from each side and from the front and rear of the structure, but not beyond the property line, except as provided in subparagraph ...
Unincorporated San Diego County has no general heritage-tree ordinance for private yard trees, so removing an ornamental tree on your own lot usually needs no permit. Removal of right-of-way trees, native vegetation under the Resource Protection Ordinance, or clearing tied to grading does require county authorization.
Unincorporated San Diego County's Combustible Vegetation and Other Flammable Materials Ordinance (County Code 68.401-68.406) treats accumulations of weeds, dead vegetation, green waste, and rubbish as a fire-hazard public nuisance. The Fire Warden may order abatement, and unabated hazards can be cleared by the County at the owner's cost.
California Food and Agricultural Code § 5004 (definition of "noxious weed" for plant quarantine and pest control)
California Code, FAC 5004. skip to content home accessibility FAQ feedback sitemap login x Quick Search: Bill Number Bill Keyword Home Bill Information California Law Publications Other Resources My Subscriptions My Favorites California Law >> >> Code Section Code Section Code: Select Code CONS BPC CIV CCP COM CORP EDC ELEC EVID FAM FIN FGC FAC GOV HNC HSC INS LAB MVC PEN PROB PCC PRC PUC RTC S...
Unincorporated San Diego County enforces its Water Conservation in Landscaping Ordinance (County Code Title 8, Div. 6, Ch. 7) on new and rehabilitated landscaping, while statewide permanent rules under the State Water Board prohibit specific water waste. Day-of-week watering limits are set by your local water district, not a single county rule.
California Department of Water Resources — Model Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance (MWELO) (Water Conservation in Landscaping Act, Gov. Code § 65591 et seq.)
by the 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 MWEL...
Rainwater harvesting is broadly allowed in unincorporated San Diego County. Under California's Rainwater Capture Act of 2012, no state water-right permit is needed to collect rooftop rainwater for outdoor non-potable use, and rain barrels under 360 gallons generally need no building permit. The county encourages capture for landscape irrigation.
California AB 1750 (2012, Rendon) — Rainwater Capture Act of 2012 (Water Code § 10570 et seq.)
to read: 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...
Native and climate-appropriate plants are encouraged across unincorporated San Diego County. The county's Water Conservation in Landscaping Ordinance and Water Efficient Landscape Design Manual steer permitted projects toward low-water and native species, and native vegetation in sensitive habitat is protected under the Resource Protection Ordinance.
California Department of Water Resources — Model Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance (MWELO) (Water Conservation in Landscaping Act, Gov. Code § 65591 et seq.)
by the 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 MWEL...
Unincorporated San Diego County does not ban artificial turf, and it can help meet water-efficiency goals. The county's landscape ordinance counts irrigated turf toward a 25% cap and treats artificial turf as a non-irrigated surface, but synthetic turf is not credited as water-saving landscape area in the water-budget calculation.
California Civil Code § 4735 (common interest developments — HOAs may not prohibit low water-using plants, artificial turf, or compliance with water-efficient landscape ordinances)
rticle 1 added by Stats. 2012, Ch. 180, Sec. 2. ) 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 exis...
Under California's SB 1383, all residents of unincorporated San Diego County must keep food scraps and yard waste out of the landfill. Most use a green organics bin; single-family homes (and small multifamily) that manage all organics on-site via backyard composting may apply to the County for a waiver from organics-collection service.
California Health and Safety Code § 39730.6 (SB 1383)
(a) Consistent with Section 39730.5, methane emissions reduction goals shall include the following targets to reduce the landfill disposal of organics: (1) A 50-percent reduction in the level of the statewide disposal of organic waste from the 2014 level by 2020. (2) A 75-percent reduction in the level of the statewide disposal of organic waste from the 2014 level by 2025. (b) Except as provide...
10 cities in San Diego County have their own landscaping rules rules. Each link goes to that city's dedicated page with code citations.
9 verified rules • Artificial Turf, Composting
9 verified rules • Artificial Turf, Composting
9 verified rules • Artificial Turf, Composting
9 verified rules • Artificial Turf, Composting
9 verified rules • Artificial Turf, Composting
9 verified rules • Artificial Turf, Composting
9 verified rules • Artificial Turf, Composting
8 verified rules • Artificial Turf, Grass Height Limits
8 verified rules • Artificial Turf, Grass Height Limits
9 verified rules • Artificial Turf, Composting
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