Alameda, CA Invasive Plant Rules: Prohibited Species (2026)
Key Facts
- Prohibited species list
- California Invasive Plant Council ratings
- Covered new landscape
- 500 sq ft or more
- Covered renovation
- Over 2,500 sq ft
- Governing section
- AMC Sec. 30-58.4(h)
- Adopted
- Ord. No. 3153 N.S., June 7, 2016
- Enforced at
- Landscape plan review, Community Development Dept.
Summary
Alameda's Bay-Friendly and Water-Efficient Landscape Ordinance bars installing any plant species the California Invasive Plant Council rates as invasive on covered new and renovated landscape projects. The rule sits in Section 30-58.4(h) alongside the city's broader mandate to implement the state Model Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance.
g.Discourage the planting of invasive plants. ... 30-58.4 - Requirements. ... h.Plant species considered invasive by the California Invasive Plant Council shall not be installed.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 74).
Full Breakdown
Article IV of Chapter XXX, the Bay-Friendly and Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance adopted by Ordinance No. in 2016, governs landscaping on covered projects: new landscapes of 500 square feet or more and renovations of landscaped areas over 2,500 square feet. 4(h) turns that purpose into a hard rule: plant species considered invasive by the California Invasive Plant Council shall not be installed. Org Bay-Friendly Landscape Guidelines, and route a Water Efficient Landscape Worksheet to East Bay Municipal Utility District before a Certificate of Completion issues.
4 standards, including a requirement to divert 100 percent of excavated soil and plant debris and to size plantings for their mature spread near buildings, sidewalks and roads. Historic sites, ecological restoration projects without permanent irrigation, and existing botanical-garden plant collections are exempt from the article.
Violations & Fines
Because the invasive-species rule is a condition of landscape plan approval, a project that specifies a California Invasive Plant Council-listed species will not receive Landscape Document Package or Certificate of Completion approval from the Community Development Department. Installing prohibited plants after approval is a Municipal Code violation subject to the general infraction or misdemeanor penalty of up to $1,000 under Section 1-5.1, or an administrative citation under Article 1-7.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I plant invasive species in my Alameda yard?
What list does Alameda use to define an invasive plant?
Who reviews landscape plans for invasive species compliance?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Alameda
California rules heatmap·Compare Alameda to another location·View the California invasive plant rules overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.
Prohibited Species in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Alameda County handle prohibited species.