Baldwin Park, CA Landscaping Rules: Native Plants (2026)
Key Facts
- Citywide low-water-use minimum
- 50% of planted area
- Multi-family native species floor
- 25% of landscaped area
- Citywide turf cap
- 50% of landscaped area
- Multi-family turf cap
- 30% of landscaped area
- State authority
- Cal. Gov't Code § 65591 et seq.
- Plan review body
- Design Review Committee, § 153.160.060
- Penalty
- Up to $1,000 fine or 6 months jail
Summary
Every new or rehabilitated landscape project on any parcel in Baldwin Park must emphasize drought-tolerant and native plant species under Municipal Code § 153.160.030(F), with at least 50% of the planted area in low-water-use plants. New multi-family and mixed-use residential developments face a stricter mandate: at least 25% native species under § 153.135.050(A)(4).
(F) Water Conservation in Landscaping Act. Landscape planting shall emphasize drought-tolerant and native species, complement the architectural design of structures on the site and be suitable for the soil and climatic conditions of the site. Consistent with the purposes of Cal. Gov't Code §§65591 et seq. (Water Conservation in Landscaping Act), all new and rehabilitated landscape projects shall comply with the following water-conserving landscape requirements: (1) To the greatest extent possible, landscape material shall consist of drought-tolerant plants. Low-water-use plants shall be used in at least 50% of the total planted area. Planted areas shall consist of plant material well-suited to the given soil and climate of the region.
Full Breakdown
030 apply to every parcel in Baldwin Park, not just new construction. Subsection (F), tied to the state Water Conservation in Landscaping Act (Cal. ), requires that landscape planting emphasize drought-tolerant and native species suited to the soil and climate of the Eastern San Gabriel Valley, and sets a hard floor: low-water-use plants must cover at least 50% of the total planted area on any new or rehabilitated landscape. The same subsection caps turf at 50% of the landscaped area citywide, bars turf on planting strips narrower than five feet or slopes steeper than 15%, and requires any decorative water feature to recycle water.
050(A)(4): landscaped areas must include at least 25% native plant species drawn from the California Native Plant Society's list for the Eastern San Gabriel Valley on Calscape, and turf is capped at 30% rather than 50% of the landscaped area. Non-plant materials such as decomposed granite, bark, pebbles, rocks or boulders may not exceed 20% of any landscaped area, and gravel is barred outright. 050 before a Preliminary Landscape Design Plan is approved.
Violations & Fines
Landscaping is enforced as part of the Zoning Code. Under § 153.020.090(C), the City Manager's designated Code Enforcement Officer, working with the Director of Community Development, cites violations of any Title XV landscaping standard to the general penalty at § 10.99: a misdemeanor punishable by up to $1,000 and six months in jail, or, where the city treats the item as an infraction, escalating fines of $100 for a first offense, $200 for a second, and $500 for a third within one calendar year.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Baldwin Park require me to plant native species in my yard?
How much of my landscaped yard can be turf?
Who reviews landscape plans in Baldwin Park?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Baldwin Park
California rules heatmap·Compare Baldwin Park to another location·View the California landscaping rules overview
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