Landscaping Rules in Sutter County, CA (2026)
6 county-level rules, plus city-specific rules for 1 city in Sutter County, California.
Verified from official government sources
Tree Trimming
Unincorporated Sutter County has no general tree-trimming permit. The Zoning Code requires property owners to trim shrubs, trees or foliage that obscures safe sight distance at driveways and corners, and to keep required landscaping healthy and maintained.
Sutter County Tree Trimming
Some RestrictionsCal. Civ. Code Secs. 833-834
833. Trees whose trunks stand wholly upon the land of one owner belong exclusively to him, although their roots grow into the land of another. 834. Trees whose trunks stand partly on the land of two or more coterminous owners, belong to them in common.
Tree Removal & Heritage Trees
Unincorporated Sutter County has no general tree-protection or oak-preservation ordinance. Most trees on private property may be removed without a county permit. The only siting limit appears in scenic/hillside combining districts, where development must be located to minimize tree removal.
Sutter County Tree Removal
Some RestrictionsCal. Civ. Code Sec. 3346(a)
3346. (a) For wrongful injuries to timber, trees, or underwood upon the land of another, or removal thereof, the measure of damages is three times such sum as would compensate for the actual detriment, except that where the trespass was casual or involuntary, or that the defendant in any action brought under this section had probable cause to believe that the land on which the trespass was comm...
Weed Ordinances
Unincorporated Sutter County abates weeds as a fire hazard, not a cosmetic nuisance. County Code section 600-250 authorizes the Fire Services Manager to order removal of dry grass, stubble, brush, rubbish and litter that endanger public safety, using the California Health and Safety Code weed-abatement procedure.
Sutter County Weed & Hazardous Vegetation Abatement
Light RestrictionsCal. Health & Safety Code Sec. 14875 (adopted by Sutter County Code Sec. 600-250)
14875. 'Weeds,' as used in this part, means vegetation growing upon streets, sidewalks, or private property in any county, including any fire protection district and may include any of the following: (a) Vegetation that bears seeds of a downy or wingy nature. (b) Vegetation that is not pruned or is otherwise neglected so as to attain such large growth as to become, when dry, a fire menace to ad...
Water Restrictions
Sutter County applies California's Model Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance (MWELO) by reference. New landscapes of 500 sq ft or more, and rehabilitated landscapes over 2,500 sq ft, must meet MWELO water-budget rules. Day-to-day drought watering limits come from the State Water Board, not the County.
Sutter County Water-Efficient Landscaping (WELO)
Some Restrictions23 Cal. Code Regs. Sec. 490.1(a); Cal. Gov. Code Sec. 65595(d)
490.1. Applicability General Provisions. (a) After December 1, 2015, and consistent with Executive Order No. B-29-15, this ordinance shall apply to all of the following landscape projects: (1) new construction projects with an aggregate landscape area equal to or greater than 500 square feet requiring a building or landscape permit, plan check or design review; (2) rehabilitated landscape proje...
Rainwater Harvesting
Unincorporated Sutter County has no ordinance restricting rainwater collection. Under California's Rainwater Capture Act of 2012 (AB 1750), homeowners may install and use rain barrels and simple rooftop capture systems for landscape use without a permit from the local agency.
Sutter County Rainwater Harvesting
Some RestrictionsCal. Water Code Sec. 10574
10574. Use of rainwater collected from rooftops does not require a water right permit pursuant to Section 1201. (Added by Stats. 2012, Ch. 537, Sec. 2. (AB 1750) Effective January 1, 2013.)
Native Plants
Sutter County encourages native and drought-tolerant landscaping and requires it in certain projects. In scenic/hillside combining districts, native and drought-tolerant plant materials, including native tree species, must be incorporated, and the County maintains a preferred Landscape Plant Materials List.
Sutter County Native & Drought-Tolerant Plants
Some RestrictionsCal. Gov. Code Sec. 53087.7
53087.7. (a) A city, including a charter city, county, or city and county, shall not enact any ordinance or regulation, or enforce any existing ordinance or regulation, that prohibits the installation of drought-tolerant landscaping using living plant material on residential property. (b) For the purposes of this section, 'drought-tolerant landscaping' shall not include the installation of synt...
Landscaping Rules by City in Sutter County
1 cities in Sutter County have their own landscaping rules rules. Each link goes to that city's dedicated page with code citations.
All Sutter County ordinances
See every category we cover for Sutter County: parking, noise, fences, fires, animals, pools, and more.
Sutter County Ordinance Hub →