Alhambra, CA Landscaping Rules: Native Plants (2026)

The City of Alhambra actively recommends landscaping with California native or drought-tolerant plants and ties its tree protections to native species. The Tree Preservation Ordinance (AMC 23.12.170) singles out oaks and other California native trees, drawing its protected-species list from the California Native Plant Society for the San Gabriel Valley (oaks, sycamore, toyon-family natives, walnuts, willows and more). For yard design, Alhambra's residential design standards require live plants to be the primary material in street-facing yards: up to 25% may be non-decorative hardscape and up to 25% decorative permeable hardscape, leaving a minimum of about 50% live plant landscaping (AMC Chapter 23.17, e.g., 23.17.030(A) and 23.17.050). Native and drought-tolerant plantings satisfy this live-plant requirement while reducing irrigation under the city's watering-day limits. At the state level, California Civil Code Section 4735 prohibits homeowners associations from banning low-water, drought-tolerant or native landscaping, and AB 1572 (amending the Water Code) phases out potable-water irrigation of nonfunctional turf on commercial, institutional and HOA properties. So while Alhambra does not mandate native plants for private homes, both the City and state strongly favor them.