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Santa Fe, NM Invasive Plant Rules: Prohibited Species (2026)

Significant Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified September 2026

Key Facts

Governing section
SFCC 1987 § 14-8.4(F)(3)(b)
Banned species
Russian olive and salt cedar, sale and installation
Scope
Applies citywide, not limited to permitted development
Related turf rule
Kentucky bluegrass capped at 25% of any seed mix
First-offense fine
$100 civil fine, up to $500 by third offense

Summary

Santa Fe's landscape code names two invasive species and shuts the door on them directly: Russian olive and salt cedar may not be sold or installed anywhere within the city limits. Section 14-8.4(F)(3)(b) sits inside the same Plant Material Standards that cap turf grass and steer new landscaping toward drought-tolerant, regionally appropriate species.

(3)Controlled or Prohibited Plant Materials(a)Turf grass sod or turf grass seed mixes installed within the city limits shall contain no more than twenty-five percent Kentucky Bluegrass.(b)Russian Olive (Elaeagnus angustifolia) and Salt Cedar (Tamarix spp) shall not be sold or installed within the city limits.

View official code

Full Breakdown

4(F)(3), Controlled or Prohibited Plant Materials, is short and direct. Paragraph (a) limits turf grass sod or seed mixes citywide to no more than 25 percent Kentucky bluegrass, a thirsty, non-native lawn grass. Paragraph (b) goes further for two specific invasive woody species: Russian Olive (Elaeagnus angustifolia) and Salt Cedar (Tamarix spp) shall not be sold or installed within the city limits. 1, as examples the New Mexico Department of Agriculture has designated noxious weeds, the formal classification the city relies on for the sale ban.

4(B)(2), the (F)(3)(b) sale-and-installation ban is not limited to permitted development. It reaches any nursery, landscaper, or property owner installing new plant material within Santa Fe's city limits, regardless of whether the work otherwise requires a landscape plan. 4(F)(5)(c).

Violations & Fines

Selling or installing Russian olive or salt cedar inside city limits is enforced the same way as any Chapter 14 landscape violation: the land use director's enforcement officer investigates complaints under Section 14-11.3 and issues a written notice ordering the prohibited plant removed or replaced within a set deadline. Noncompliance escalates to civil fines of $100, $250, and $500 for repeat offenses under Section 14-11.4, and a landscape plan that specifies either species can be rejected outright before a permit issues.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it illegal to sell Russian olive trees in Santa Fe?
Yes. Section 14-8.4(F)(3)(b) states plainly that Russian Olive and Salt Cedar shall not be sold or installed within the city limits. The ban covers nurseries, landscapers, and property owners alike and applies regardless of whether the planting is tied to a permitted development project.
Does the ban require me to remove existing Russian olive or salt cedar?
No. Subsection 14-8.4(F)(3)(b) only stops new sales and installations; it does not order removal of trees already on a property. Existing specimens are instead addressed under the tree-preservation rules in Subsection 14-8.4(F)(5)(c), which exempt noxious-weed species like these from the city's tree-removal review requirement.
Are there other plant restrictions in Santa Fe's landscape code?
Yes. The same Subsection 14-8.4(F)(3) caps Kentucky bluegrass at no more than 25 percent of any turf grass sod or seed mix installed citywide, because it requires more irrigation water than the drought-tolerant species the code otherwise favors for new landscaping.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Santa Fe

Parking Rules: Overnight ParkingSome RestrictionsParking Rules: Street Parking LimitsSome RestrictionsTree-of-Heaven RemovalLight RestrictionsNoise Ordinances: Vehicle NoiseSome RestrictionsParking Rules: Driveway RulesSome RestrictionsParking Rules: Abandoned VehiclesSome RestrictionsParking Rules: Preferential Parking DistrictsSignificant Restrictions

All Santa Fe rules

Compare Santa Fe to another location·View the New Mexico invasive plant rules overview

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