9 county-level rules, plus city-specific rules for 10 cities in Ventura County, California.
Verified from official government sources
Unincorporated Ventura County regulates grass and vegetation height through its property maintenance and fire prevention codes. Grass exceeding 12 inches and dry vegetation creating fire hazards are subject to code enforcement and weed abatement requirements.
Tree trimming in unincorporated Ventura County is regulated primarily through the county's oak tree protection ordinance and general land use regulations. Native oaks and other protected species require permits before significant trimming or removal.
Cal. Pub. Resources Code § 4291
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...
Ventura County has a strong oak tree protection ordinance for unincorporated areas. The county's Oak Woodland Preservation Ordinance prohibits removal of oak trees with trunk diameter of 9.5 inches or greater without a permit from the Resource Management Agency.
Ventura County enforces weed abatement requirements in unincorporated areas under VCC Chapter 2, Division 4 (Fire Protection). Property owners must clear weeds, brush, and combustible vegetation to reduce fire hazards, particularly in fire hazard severity zones.
Water use in unincorporated Ventura County is regulated by the county and local water districts consistent with California's permanent water conservation framework under AB 1668 and SB 606. Outdoor irrigation is restricted to specific days and times, with prohibitions on water waste.
Cal. Code Regs. tit. 23, § 490 et seq. (Model Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance)
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 ...
Rainwater harvesting is legal and encouraged in unincorporated Ventura County under California Water Code Section 10574. No permit is required for residential rain barrels, and the county's watershed protection programs support stormwater capture.
California Water Code §§ 10570-10574 (Rainwater Capture Act of 2012, AB 1750)
This part shall be known, and may be cited, as the Rainwater Capture Act of 2012. The Legislature finds and declares all of the following: (a) As California has grown and developed, the amount of stormwater flowing off buildings, parking lots, roads, and other impervious surfaces into surface water streams, flood channels, and storm sewers has increased, thereby reducing the volume of water all...
Ventura County encourages native plant landscaping in unincorporated areas through its water-efficient landscape ordinance, consistent with the California Model Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance (MWELO). New development and major renovations must use water-efficient plants.
California Model Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance (MWELO), CCR Title 23 § 490 et seq.
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 ...
Artificial turf installation in unincorporated Ventura County is generally permitted and encouraged as a water conservation measure. The county does not prohibit synthetic lawns, consistent with California's AB 2104 which prevents HOAs from banning artificial turf.
California Civil Code § 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 that ha...
Backyard composting is permitted and encouraged in unincorporated Ventura County. SB 1383 requires organic waste diversion statewide. Composting must not create nuisance conditions (odor, pests) that violate Division 13.
California SB 1383 (Lara, 2016) — Public Resources Code Chapter 13.1, §§ 42652-42654
(a) The Legislature finds and declares all of the following: (1) Short-lived climate pollutants, such as black carbon, fluorinated gases, and methane, are powerful climate forcers that have a dramatic and detrimental effect on air quality, public health, and climate change. (2) These pollutants create a warming influence on the climate that is many times more potent than that of carbon dioxide....
10 cities in Ventura County have their own landscaping rules rules. Each link goes to that city's dedicated page with code citations.
9 verified rules • Artificial Turf, Composting
6 verified rules • Composting, Grass Height Limits
9 verified rules • Artificial Turf, Composting
8 verified rules • Artificial Turf, Grass Height Limits
8 verified rules • Artificial Turf, Grass Height Limits
8 verified rules • Artificial Turf, Grass Height Limits
8 verified rules • Artificial Turf, Grass Height Limits
8 verified rules • Artificial Turf, Grass Height Limits
8 verified rules • Artificial Turf, Grass Height Limits
8 verified rules • Artificial Turf, Grass Height Limits
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