Apple Valley encourages desert-adapted, drought-tolerant landscaping and protects native Mojave vegetation. Development Code Chapter 9.76 (Plant Protection and Management) governs removal and relocation of desert native plants, while western Joshua trees and other desert natives are also protected under state law (Western Joshua Tree Conservation Act and the California Desert Native Plants Act).
As a Mojave Desert town, Apple Valley both favors xeriscape/native plantings for water efficiency and restricts destruction of existing native vegetation. The Town's Development Code Chapter 9.76 (Plant Protection and Management) addresses desert native plants, requiring on qualifying projects that an application and fee be submitted to the Town for removal or relocation of those plants before grading, and includes a dedicated Joshua-tree provision (9.76.040). Western Joshua trees carry additional statewide protection: under the Western Joshua Tree Conservation Act, take of a western Joshua tree generally requires a permit from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW), and development plans must identify Joshua trees on-site or within 40 feet of disturbance. The California Desert Native Plants Act (Food and Agricultural Code, Division 23) further regulates harvesting of protected desert species, including Joshua trees, other yuccas, and certain cacti, in desert counties such as San Bernardino County. On the encouragement side, the Town's water-efficiency framework (Chapter 9.75, implementing MWELO) and the High Desert climate favor low-water native and desert-adapted plant palettes. State law also bars cities from prohibiting drought-tolerant landscaping on residential property (Government Code section 53087.7).
Removing or relocating protected desert native plants without the Town's required application and fee, or taking a western Joshua tree without a CDFW permit, are enforcement matters that can stop grading and require mitigation. Harvesting protected desert plants in violation of the Desert Native Plants Act is also unlawful.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
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Apple Valley parks are open dawn to dusk under Municipal Code Section 11.68.050; remaining from dusk to dawn is a violation, with lighted facilities usable u...
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Apple Valley limits light trespass through Development Code Section 9.70.020(H). Lighting must be projected below the horizontal plane of the fixture and dir...
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Apple Valley, a High Desert town, protects night skies through Development Code performance and sign standards, not a stand-alone dark-sky chapter. Section 9...
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Per the Town of Apple Valley, signs advertising a garage or yard sale on any public street, alley, right-of-way, or publicly owned property are prohibited. G...
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Apple Valley regulates temporary political signs under Development Code Section 9.74.170. Election signs may go up 45 days before an election and must come d...
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Apple Valley has no separate "tiny home" category. A movable tiny house or manufactured home used as a second dwelling is treated as an accessory dwelling un...
Side-by-side rule comparisons with other cities in San Bernardino County.
See how other cities in San Bernardino County handle native plants.
See how Apple Valley's native plants rules stack up against other locations.
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