Landscaping Rules in San Luis Obispo County, CA (2026)
5 rules for unincorporated San Luis Obispo County, California.
Verified from official government sources
Tree Trimming
Title 22 Chapter 22.56 (Tree Preservation) and Chapter 22.58 (Oak Woodland Ordinance) regulate tree removal in unincorporated San Luis Obispo County, requiring permits for Heritage Oaks, oak woodland clearing, and trees within sensitive areas; routine trimming and maintenance are generally not regulated.
Tree Preservation and Removal Permits
Some RestrictionsSLO County Code Title 22 Ch. 22.56, Ch. 22.58 (esp. Sec. 22.58.060)
Heritage Oak: 'Individual oak trees measuring 48 inches dbh or greater, separated from all Stands and Oak Woodlands by at least 500 feet' require a Minor Use Permit. Clear-cutting 'cannot exceed 5% of the Site's total Oak Woodland Canopy over the established time period' (Sec. 22.58.060). Removal of contiguous trees occupying one acre or more is prohibited on slopes of 30% or greater.
Weed Ordinances
San Luis Obispo County abates fire-hazardous weeds and rubbish under County Code Title 16 (Fire Prevention) and California Health and Safety Code Sec. 14875 et seq., authorizing the Fire Code Official to order clearance, enter and abate, and bill costs as a lien on the property.
Fire Hazardous Weeds Abatement (Title 16)
Light RestrictionsCal. Health & Safety Code Sec. 14875; SLO County Code Title 16 Ch. 16.30
'Weeds,' as used in this part, includes ... (a) vegetation that bears seeds of a downy or wingy nature; (b) ... not pruned or otherwise neglected so as to attain such large growth as to become, when dry, a fire menace to adjacent improved property; (c) vegetation that is otherwise noxious or dangerous; (d) poison oak and poison ivy ...; (e) dry grass, stubble, brush, litter, or other flammable ...
Water Restrictions
San Luis Obispo County has adopted California's Model Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance (MWELO) by reference in County Code Chapter 19.95, requiring water-efficient design and irrigation for new development projects with 500 sq ft or more of landscape area.
MWELO Required for Landscapes 500+ sq ft
Some RestrictionsSLO County Code Ch. 19.95 (Ord. 3311, 2015)
On October 28, 2015, the Board of Supervisors of County of San Luis Obispo adopted Ordinance No. 3311 amending Title 19 of the San Luis Obispo County Code, the Building and Construction Ordinance, by adding new chapter 19.95, incorporating by reference the California Model Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance. All new development projects with 500 sq. ft. or more landscaping area are subject to ...
Rainwater Harvesting
San Luis Obispo County normally requires an abandoned septic tank to be pumped out and completely filled with earth or gravel. Section 19.07.027(a) carves out one exception: the tank may instead be kept and reused as a rainwater storage cistern, but only after a county abandonment permit, inspection, and disinfection process confirms it is safe and disconnected from the wastewater system.
SLO County Septic-to-Cistern Rainwater Reuse Rule
Some RestrictionsSan Luis Obispo County Code § 19.07.027(a) (septic tank abandonment - rainwater cistern exception)
(a)Every cesspool or septic tank that has been abandoned...shall have the sewage removed therefrom and be completely filled with earth, sand, gravel, concrete or other approved material. Exception: Septic tanks may be re-used as rainwater storage cisterns if all the following conditions are met. (1)The applicant shall obtain a system abandonment permit from county building department...(6)...Th...
Native Plants
San Luis Obispo County exempts land kept in native vegetation from its formal landscaping standards. Under Section 22.16.020.B, setback and undeveloped areas on Agriculture and Rural Lands parcels, and all undeveloped area on rural parcels over two acres, skip Chapter 22.16's plant-list and irrigation rules entirely as long as the land is cultivated or maintained in native vegetation and complies with Chapter 22.50 fire safety standards.
SLO County Native Vegetation Landscape Exemption
Few RestrictionsSan Luis Obispo County Code Sec. 22.16.020.B.2, B.3
Agriculture and Rural Lands categories. Except where required for a special use by Article 4, setbacks and areas not proposed for development are not required to meet the standards of this Chapter when the areas are cultivated or maintained in native vegetation, provided that any applicable requirements of Chapter 22.50 (Fire Safety) are satisfied... Large rural parcels. When located outside of...
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