9 county-level rules, plus city-specific rules for 1 city in Santa Cruz County, California.
Verified from official government sources
Unincorporated Santa Cruz County has no numeric lawn-height limit. Tall grass and weeds are regulated only as a wildfire fuel hazard: under California Public Resources Code 4291 (via the County Fire Code) and CAL FIRE, owners in State Responsibility Areas must keep grass and flashy fuels managed within 100 feet of structures. Aesthetic height rules do not apply.
Santa Cruz County Code Ch. 7.92 (Fire Code) § 304.1.2 (Vegetation)
Weeds, grass, vines or other growth that is capable of being ignited and endangering property, shall be cut down and removed by the owner or occupant of the premises... Grass and other vegetation located more than 30 feet (9144 mm) from the building or structure and less than 18 inches (457 mm) in height above the ground may be maintained where necessary to stabilize the soil and prevent erosion.
In unincorporated Santa Cruz County, routine trimming of trees on your own property is generally allowed without a permit. But in the Coastal Zone, cutting more than one-third of a 'significant tree's' foliage requires a Significant Tree Removal permit (SCCC 16.34), and heavy trimming inside a riparian corridor or sensitive habitat may need approval (SCCC 16.30 / 16.32).
Santa Cruz County Code § 16.34.030 (Definitions)
Per County Code section 16.34.030, a 'significant tree' shall include any tree, sprout clump, or group of trees, as follows: Within the Urban Services Line or Rural Services Line, any tree which is equal to or greater than 20 inches d.b.h. (approximately 5 feet in circumference); any sprout clump of five or more stems each of which is greater than 12 inches d.b.h.; or any group consisting of fi...
In the unincorporated County, tree removal is regulated mainly by location. Inside the Coastal Zone, removing a 'significant tree' requires a Significant Tree Removal permit (SCCC 16.34). Removing trees in a riparian corridor (16.30) or sensitive habitat (16.32) needs additional approval. Outside those areas, most private tree removal needs no County permit, though CAL FIRE timber rules may apply.
Unincorporated Santa Cruz County controls weeds primarily as a wildfire fuel hazard. The County adopts the California Fire Code (SCCC Ch. 7.92) and follows state defensible-space law (PRC 4291), which requires clearing flammable weeds, brush, and dead vegetation within 100 feet of structures. There is no general 'noxious weed' nuisance-height ordinance; abatement is fire-driven.
Santa Cruz County Code Ch. 7.92 (Fire Code) § 304.1.2.1 (Firebreaks)
A firebreak shall be made by removing and clearing away, for a distance of not less than 30 feet (9144 mm) on each side of the building or structure or to the property line, whichever is nearer, all flammable vegetation or other combustible growth... Areas within 10 feet (3048 mm) horizontal and 15 feet (4572 mm) vertical on each side of portions of highways, public and private streets, roads a...
Most outdoor water restrictions for unincorporated Santa Cruz County come from state law and local water districts, not one county ordinance. The State Water Board's permanent water-waste prohibitions ban hosing down pavement, irrigation runoff, and unattended hose washing statewide. Many residents are served by Soquel Creek Water District or other purveyors that set their own watering-day limits.
County of Santa Cruz Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance Overview (implementing SCCC Ch. 13.13)
The Maximum Applied Water Allowance (MAWA) for any landscape is set at 50% of reference evapotranspiration (ETo)... The combined area of turf, high water use plants and water features is not allowed to exceed 25 percent of the total landscape area... The controller is required [to] have a rain-detector to shut off the system during localized rain events, and to suspend irrigation for 48 hours a...
Rainwater harvesting is encouraged in unincorporated Santa Cruz County. The County WELO actively promotes rain barrels, captured rainwater, and graywater, and exempts landscapes watered entirely by harvested rainwater, graywater, or recycled water from water-efficiency limits. Simple rain barrels are generally permit-free; larger systems and graywater follow state plumbing/building codes.
Unincorporated Santa Cruz County encourages native and climate-adapted planting but does not mandate native plants for ordinary yards. The County WELO exempts native and other low-water plant landscapes from water limits, asks owners to remove invasive species, and warns against planting native cultivars that could hybridize with rare endemic manzanita and ceanothus.
Unincorporated Santa Cruz County permits artificial turf and even suggests it as a recreation surface in its WELO guidance. There is no county ban on synthetic lawns. The County asks owners to choose low-petroleum, biodegradable products and to design sites so runoff from the artificial surface is filtered or captured rather than sent straight to storm drains.
Backyard composting is allowed and encouraged in unincorporated Santa Cruz County. Separately, California's SB 1383 requires organic-waste recycling: residents in the mandatory-collection area of the unincorporated County must subscribe to organics (Green Cart) service for food scraps and yard trimmings, which are composted at the Buena Vista Landfill. SB 1383 is a state mandate the County implements.
1 cities in Santa Cruz County have their own landscaping rules rules. Each link goes to that city's dedicated page with code citations.
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