Perris, CA Landscaping Rules: Composting (2026)

120, rather than only cross-referencing state regulations. 120(a) catches any new single-family, multi-family, public, institutional or commercial project with a landscape area over 500 square feet, and any rehabilitated landscape over 2,500 square feet, if the project needs a building or planning permit, plan check, or landscape design review from the city. Property owners and their landscape designers meeting that threshold must submit a landscape design plan containing a soil preparation, mulch and amendments section. 120(c)(1)a, that plan must show compost incorporated to a depth of six inches into the soil at a minimum rate of four cubic yards per 1,000 square feet of permeable area; soils already testing above six percent organic matter in the top six inches are exempt from both the compost addition and the tilling requirement.

120(c)(1)b requires a minimum three-inch mulch layer across exposed soil in planting areas, excluding turf, groundcovers and direct-seeded areas, though up to five percent of the landscape may be left unmulched if it is designated insect habitat on the plan. 120(c)(1)c further directs that mulch be organic material made from recycled or post-consumer content ahead of inorganic or virgin forest products, unless recycled organic mulch is not locally available, and organic mulch is not required where local fuel modification guidelines prohibit it. 7 for irrigation, plant selection and other standards the city has not separately codified. 120(d) automatically pulls the revised state standard into force in Perris.