Bakersfield encourages drought-tolerant and native landscaping for the San Joaquin Valley climate. California Civil Code §4735 bars HOAs from prohibiting drought-tolerant or native plants, and Civil Code §4735(f) requires HOAs to allow dead lawns during declared droughts. The Model Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance (MWELO) applies to new and rehabilitated landscapes.
California Civil Code §4735 preempts HOA rules that prohibit or restrict the use of low-water-using plants or require irrigation that violates state water conservation orders. Bakersfield has adopted the state's Model Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance (MWELO) under BMC landscape standards; new residential landscapes over 500 sq ft and commercial landscapes over 2,500 sq ft require a landscape documentation package demonstrating compliance with the MAWA (Maximum Applied Water Allowance) using plant factors from the WUCOLS database. Native San Joaquin Valley plants like valley oak, California buckwheat, deergrass, toyon, and native sages have low plant factors (0.1-0.3) and help meet MWELO limits. The city Planning Division provides a plant list aligned with regional native nurseries (Intermountain Nursery, Las Pilitas). Cal Water offers turf replacement rebates (typically $2/sq ft) that favor native landscape designs.
HOAs that violate Civil Code §4735 can be ordered to reverse fines and pay the homeowner's legal costs. MWELO non-compliance on new installations can delay final inspection; projects must submit a Certificate of Completion before certificate of occupancy. There are no direct city prohibitions against native plants themselves.
Bakersfield, CA
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Bakersfield, CA
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Bakersfield, CA
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Bakersfield, CA
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Bakersfield, CA
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Bakersfield, CA
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See how Bakersfield's native plants rules stack up against other locations.
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