Santa Clara County, CA Invasive Plant Rules: Prohibited Species (2026)
Key Facts
- Applies to
- landscape areas over 500 sq ft
- Banned list
- Cal-IPC moderately/highly invasive species
- Approval required
- before landscape work begins
- Scope
- unincorporated county land only
Summary
New landscape and irrigation projects on unincorporated Santa Clara County land can't use California Invasive Plant Council-listed species; the county's Landscape Design Plan review flatly bans them under Section B33-9.
Section 492.6 (Landscape Design Plan), subdivision (a)(1)(G), of the MWELO is amended to read as follows: (G) The use of invasive plant species, such as those listed by the California Invasive Plant Council, is prohibited.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 65).
Full Breakdown
Division B33 amends the state Model Water-Efficient Landscape Ordinance for unincorporated county land, applying to new-construction landscaping over 500 square feet, larger irrigation installations, grading-permit earthwork, and use-permit or design-review projects (Sec. B33-3). Sec. B33-9 amends MWELO Section 492.6's Landscape Design Plan requirements to state flatly that use of invasive plant species is prohibited. "Invasive plant species" is defined in Sec. B33-4(cc) as species on the California Invasive Plant Council inventory rated moderately or highly invasive within its Central West region, plus species on the USDA invasive and noxious weeds database.
Violations & Fines
The county will not approve a required Landscape Documentation Package that includes a prohibited invasive species, and a covered project may not begin landscape work until the County approves that package (Sec. B33-6(b)); noncompliance is enforced as part of the underlying building, grading, or design-review permit.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does this ban invasive plants already growing in my yard?
What list decides which species are banned?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Santa Clara County
California rules heatmap·Compare Santa Clara County to another location·View the California invasive plant rules overview
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