Landscaping Rules in San Mateo County, CA (2026)

Cal. Public Resources Code Sec. 4291 (Vegetation Clearance Around Structures)

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 (B). The amount of fuel modification necessary sha...

San Mateo County Zoning Regulations § 8.256.210(B), (B)(1)

B. The replacement of lost trees when required shall be in a manner prescribed by the Design Review Committee or Design Review Administrator, as is applicable, but shall not exceed the following specifications: 1. For each loss of a significant indigenous tree, there shall be a replacement with three (3) or more trees of the same species using at least five (5...

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...

San Mateo County Ordinance Code § 4.36.120

Landscaping of new developments or of any open area, such as parks, playgrounds and golf courses, shall be planned to conserve water through choice of plants, landscape design, and irrigation techniques. It shall be the responsibility of the developer and the County to assure that the following water saving concepts are incorporated into landscape plans: evapotranspiration rates for different p...

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 ...

California Civil Code § 4735

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...

San Mateo County Ordinance Code § 4.04.140(c)

Organic waste Generators may additionally manage their Organic Waste by preventing or reducing their Organic Waste, managing Organic Waste on site, and/or using a Community composting site pursuant to CCR Title 14: Natural Resources, Division 7, Chapter 12, Section 18984.9(c). (d) Shall participate in the County's Organic Waste Collection Service(s) by placing designated materials in designat...