Lynwood, CA Invasive Plant Rules: Prohibited Species (2026)

Section 25-45-11(A)(1)(f) is one clause inside the Plant Material design criteria of Article 45, Lynwood's Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance (WELO): the use of invasive and/or noxious plant species is strongly discouraged. The city does not maintain a prohibited-species list in this article and attaches no penalty specifically to planting an invasive species; the clause instead sits alongside recommendations under subsection (A)(1)(a) to select water-conserving plant and turf species, protect native vegetation, and choose plants based on disease and pest resistance, all in service of keeping a project's estimated water use within the maximum applied water allowance.

Subsection (A)(1)(g) separately bars the architectural guidelines of a common interest development, such as a condominium or planned development, from prohibiting or conditioning against the use of low-water-use plants as a group, which further shows the ordinance regulates water use and group plant choices rather than individual species by name. The Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance applies under section 25-45-3 to public agency and private development projects, and developer-installed single-family or multi-family landscapes, at 2,500 square feet of new or rehabilitated landscape or more, and to homeowner-installed residential landscapes at 5,000 square feet or more. Development Services reviews the landscape documentation package containing the design plan under section 25-45-6 before approving a permit, plan check, or design review.