Chino, CA Landscaping Rules: Composting (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- CMC § 8.18.150(C)(1)(a)
- Minimum compost rate
- 4 cu. yd. per 1,000 sq. ft.
- Incorporation depth
- 6 inches into soil
- Exemption
- Soil already >6% organic matter
Summary
Chino requires new and rehabilitated landscape projects over the MWELO threshold to work compost into the soil at a minimum rate of four cubic yards per 1,000 square feet before planting.
C.Property owners or their building or landscape designers that meet the threshold for MWELO compliance outlined in Section 8.18.150(A) above shall:1.Comply with Sections 492.6(a)(3)(B), (C), (D) and (G) of the MWELO […] a.For landscape installations, compost at a rate of a minimum of four cubic yards per one thousand square feet of permeable area shall be incorporated to a depth of six inches into the soil. Soils with greater than six percent organic matter in the top six inches of soil are exempt from adding compost and tilling.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 38).
Full Breakdown
Chino Municipal Code § 8.18.150 folds the state Model Water Efficient Landscaping Ordinance's compost and mulch standards into city law. Property owners or designers building a new landscape over 500 square feet, or rehabilitating one over 2,500 square feet, must incorporate compost at a minimum of four cubic yards per 1,000 square feet of permeable area to a six-inch soil depth: this is not a backyard bin ordinance, it is a soil-preparation mandate tied to landscape permits. Soils that already test above 6% organic matter in the top six inches are exempt from the compost and tilling requirement.
Violations & Fines
Installing a covered new or rehabilitated landscape without incorporating the required compost rate, or without the soil-preparation documentation in the landscape design plan, is a violation enforceable through the city's landscape permit and plan-check process under § 8.18.150 and § 20.19.040.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Chino require compost when installing new landscaping?
Is this a rule about backyard compost bins in Chino?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Chino
California rules heatmap·Compare Chino to another location·View the California landscaping rules overview
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Composting in Nearby Cities
How other cities in San Bernardino County handle composting.