Murrieta, CA Invasive Plant Rules: Prohibited Species (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing chapter
- Development Code Ch. 16.28
- Invasive-species rule
- §16.28.060(B)(1)(i)
- New-landscape trigger
- 500 sq ft or more
- Rehab-landscape trigger
- 2,500 sq ft or more
- Enforcement
- Infraction, §16.84.030(B)
- Adopted
- Ord. 539, 2018
Summary
Murrieta's landscaping standards bar invasive plant species from covered projects, requiring extra caution near parks, greenbelts, water bodies and open space because these areas are vulnerable to ecological harm. The Development Code ties the ban to the Western Riverside County Multi-Species Habitat Conservation Plan and the California Invasive Plant Inventory, and the rule reaches new landscapes of 500 square feet or more and rehabilitated landscapes of 2,500 square feet or more.
1. Plant and Materials Requirements. Consistent with the landscape standards established in Section 16.28.080, plant and material selections shall comply with the following; ... i. Invasive species of plants shall be avoided especially near parks, buffers, greenbelts, water bodies, and open spaces because of their potential to cause harm to environmentally sensitive areas.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: 2026 S-23: A Codification of the General Ordinances of the City of Murrieta, California through Ord. 634-26, passed 7-7-2026).
Full Breakdown
060(B)(1). Item (i) of that list directs that invasive species of plants be avoided, calling out parks, buffers, greenbelts, water bodies, and open spaces as the locations most at risk of ecological harm. 030 defines "Invasive Species" as non-indigenous plants or animals that adversely affect the habitats they invade, expressly including species listed in the Western Riverside County Multi-Species Habitat Conservation Plan and directing applicants to the California Invasive Plant Inventory and the USDA invasive and noxious weeds database for current lists. 020 to new construction with an aggregate landscape area of 500 square feet or more that needs a building or landscape permit, plan check, or design review, and to rehabilitated landscapes of 2,500 square feet or more under the same permit triggers.
Projects at or under the 2,500-square-foot threshold can instead follow the prescriptive measures in Appendix D of the state Model Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance regulations. 090 folds ongoing invasive-species control into the required landscape maintenance schedule.
Violations & Fines
Violating any Chapter 16.28 landscape standard, including the invasive-species restriction, is enforced under Section 16.84.030(B): each day noncompliant landscaping remains is a separate infraction, and a party convicted twice or more within one year is guilty of a misdemeanor. Citywide Section 1.08.050 sets infraction fines at $100 for a first conviction, $200 for a second, and $500 for a third within a year; a misdemeanor carries up to a $1,000 fine, six months in county jail, or both.
Frequently Asked Questions
What counts as an invasive plant species under Murrieta's code?
Does the ban apply to my home landscaping project?
Where does Murrieta enforce the invasive-species rule most strictly?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Murrieta
California rules heatmap·Compare Murrieta 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 Riverside County handle prohibited species.