Riverside County, CA Invasive Plant Rules: Prohibited Species (2026)

Section 17.276.030 defines an 'invasive species' as a non-indigenous plant or animal that adversely affects the habitats it invades economically, environmentally or ecologically, and it incorporates by reference the species lists in the Western Riverside County and Coachella Valley Multiple Species Habitat Conservation Plans, so which species count is set by those regional plans rather than a stand-alone county list. The avoidance rule itself sits inside the chapter's planting-plan requirements at Section 17.276.050(B)(6), directing that invasive species 'be avoided especially near parks, buffers, greenbelts, water bodies, conservation areas/reserves and other open space areas.'

The chapter reaches rehabilitated residential landscapes of 2,500 square feet or more that need a discretionary permit, all new residential landscapes needing one, and all new or rehabilitated commercial or industrial landscapes needing one, per Section 17.276.040(A). It exempts registered historical sites, ecological restoration projects without a permanent irrigation system and under a five-year establishment period, mined-land reclamation projects without permanent irrigation, and public botanical gardens and arboretums, under Section 17.276.040(D). Every landscape documentation package must be signed by a California-licensed landscape architect certifying compliance with the chapter, and before a final inspection or certificate of occupancy, a second signed certificate of completion, plus a certified irrigation auditor's audit report, must confirm the approved planting plan, invasive-species avoidance included, was actually installed. Section 17.276.060 also gives the planning director standing authority to enter the project site before, during and after installation to inspect for compliance.