Landscaping Rules in Santa Cruz County, CA (2026)
7 county-level rules, plus city-specific rules for 1 city in Santa Cruz County, California.
Verified from official government sources
Tree Trimming
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 Tree Trimming Rules
Few RestrictionsSanta 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...
Tree Removal & Heritage Trees
In the unincorporated Coastal Zone, cutting down, poisoning, or trimming more than one-third of a significant tree's foliage requires a significant tree removal permit under SCCC § 16.34.040. A significant tree is any tree of 20 inches or more in diameter at breast height inside the urban or rural services line, or 40 inches outside it. Skip the permit and face Title 19 enforcement.
Santa Cruz County Tree Removal Permit
Significant RestrictionsSanta Cruz County Code § 16.34.040
Except for those exempt activities as enumerated in SCCC § 16.34.090, no person shall do, cause, permit, aid, abet, suffer, or furnish equipment or labor to remove, cut down, or trim more than one-third of the green foliage of, poison, or otherwise kill or destroy any significant tree as defined in this chapter within the Coastal Zone until a significant tree removal approval for the project ha...
Weed Ordinances
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 Grass Height & Overgrown Vegetation
Some RestrictionsSanta 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.
Water Restrictions
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.
Santa Cruz County Outdoor Water Use Restrictions
Some RestrictionsCounty 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
Santa Cruz County's landscape water ordinance encourages, but does not mandate, rain gardens, cisterns and other rain-harvesting systems as stormwater best practices under SCCC § 13.13.060(F)(6). Landscapes irrigated entirely by captured rainwater are exempt from the chapter altogether under SCCC § 13.13.030(D)(2)(g), and projects drawing at least 30 percent of their water from harvested rainwater can file a simpler checklist under SCCC § 13.13.040(B)(2).
Santa Cruz County Rainwater Harvesting Landscaping Rules
Few RestrictionsSCCC § 13.13.060(F)(6)
Stormwater best management practices to control runoff and increase on-site filtration are strongly encouraged. The following elements are recommended: (a) Minimize impervious surfaces and direct runoff into planting beds or landscaped areas. (b) Incorporate rain gardens, cisterns, and other rain harvesting or catchment systems. (c) Incorporate infiltration beds, swales, basins and drywells to ...
Native Plants
For landscaping covered by the County's Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance, SCCC § 13.13.060(C) requires plant selection to fit the site's climate, soil, and fire-district defensible space guidelines, and it strongly encourages planting trees and protecting existing native species and natural areas. A "native plant" means one indigenous to Santa Cruz County and suited to the project vicinity's natural community, per § 13.13.020(24).
Santa Cruz County Native Plant Standard
Light RestrictionsSanta Cruz County Code § 13.13.060(C)(1)-(2)
(C) Landscape Design. (1) Plants selected for subject landscapes shall be consistent with: (a) The climate, soil and topographic conditions of the site; (b) Fire district fuel modification and defensible space guidelines; and (c) The County Code and implementing documents such as agricultural buffer guidelines, significant tree replacement requirements and the urban forestry master plan. (2) Pl...
Artificial Turf
Santa Cruz County's water-efficient landscape ordinance lets artificial turf into "special landscape areas" (active-recreation sites or areas irrigated 60-plus percent with nonpotable water) only after a public hearing under SCCC § 13.13.060(A)(1). Ordinary residential lawns don't qualify. Because the code defines "turf" as mowed grass needing irrigation, synthetic turf outside those special areas escapes the chapter's 25 percent natural-turf cap entirely.
Santa Cruz County Artificial Turf Landscaping Rules
Light RestrictionsSCCC § 13.13.060(A)(1)
The maximum applied water allowance for subject shall not exceed 50 percent of reference evapotranspiration, except in special landscape areas, which are allowed 100 percent of reference evapotranspiration. Consideration shall be given to incorporate artificial turf into special landscape areas where appropriate and feasible, and after a public hearing.
Landscaping Rules by City in Santa Cruz County
1 cities in Santa Cruz County have their own landscaping rules rules. Each link goes to that city's dedicated page with code citations.
All Santa Cruz County ordinances
See every category we cover for Santa Cruz County: parking, noise, fences, fires, animals, pools, and more.
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