Palmdale, CA Invasive Plant Rules: Prohibited Species (2026)
Key Facts
- Standard
- invasive species strongly discouraged, not banned by name
- Definition source
- PMC Sec. 14.05.020(GG)
- Design plan rule
- PMC Sec. 14.05.090(A)(1)(m)
- Priority areas
- parks, buffers, greenbelts, water bodies, open space
- Reference lists
- Cal-IPC inventory and USDA noxious weed database
- Trigger threshold
- 500 sq ft new or 2,500 sq ft rehab landscape
Summary
Palmdale's water efficient landscape ordinance tells every project applicant to avoid invasive plant species when designing a required landscape, especially near parks, buffers, greenbelts, water bodies and open space, because these plants can damage environmental or economic resources once they escape cultivation.
"Invasive plant species" means species of plants not historically found in California that spread outside cultivated areas and can damage environmental or economic resources. Invasive species may be regulated by County agricultural agencies as noxious species. Lists of invasive plants are maintained at the California Invasive Plant Inventory and USDA invasive and noxious weeds database. ... (m) The use of invasive plant species, such as those listed by the California Invasive Plant Council, is strongly discouraged. Invasive species of plants shall be avoided especially near parks, buffers, greenbelts, water bodies, and open spaces because of their potential to cause harm in sensitive areas.
Full Breakdown
020(GG) defines an invasive plant species as one not historically found in California that spreads outside cultivated areas and can damage environmental or economic resources, noting that county agricultural agencies may separately regulate such plants as noxious species and pointing landscapers to the California Invasive Plant Inventory and the USDA invasive and noxious weeds database for current lists. 090(A)(1)(m) then applies that definition directly to the mandatory landscape design plan every covered project must submit: the use of invasive plant species, such as those listed by the California Invasive Plant Council, is strongly discouraged, and invasive species are to be avoided especially near parks, buffers, greenbelts, water bodies and open spaces because of their potential to cause harm in sensitive areas.
010(B)(5), frames this as part of protecting and creating habitat by choosing local native plants and climate-adapted nonnatives while avoiding invasive plants, paired with integrated pest management using least-toxic methods first. 030: new development with 500 square feet or more of landscape area, or rehabilitated landscaping of 2,500 square feet or more, requiring a permit, plan check or design review. 040 before construction can begin, and the plan itself must bear a licensed landscape professional's certification that its criteria were applied.
Violations & Fines
Section 14.05.050 gives the City general authority to establish and administer penalties against a project applicant for noncompliance with the water efficient landscape ordinance to the extent permitted by law, which for a landscape documentation package means withholding approval of the permit, plan check or design review until the invasive-species review item is corrected, since the design plan cannot be approved as submitted under Section 14.05.040 while it conflicts with Section 14.05.090's own list of required design criteria.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Palmdale ban specific invasive plant species by name?
Which Palmdale projects have to avoid invasive plants in their landscaping?
Why does Palmdale single out parks, greenbelts and water bodies for invasive plant avoidance?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Palmdale
California rules heatmap·Compare Palmdale to another location·View the California invasive plant rules overview
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Prohibited Species in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Los Angeles County handle prohibited species.