Native and drought-tolerant plants are encouraged throughout Alameda County. State MWELO requires climate-appropriate plants for new landscapes, and EBMUD/ACWD offer rebates for lawn-to-native conversions.
Native plants adapted to the Mediterranean climate of Alameda County are strongly encouraged by the county, state, and local water utilities. The California Model Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance (MWELO) applies to new and rehabilitated landscapes over 500 square feet and requires a certain percentage of climate-adapted or native plants, limits high-water-use turf, and mandates smart irrigation controllers, drip systems, and hydrozoning. EBMUD and ACWD both offer cash rebates for replacing thirsty lawn with qualifying low-water and native landscapes. Common appropriate natives for Alameda County include coast live oak, toyon, California lilac (Ceanothus), manzanita, sagebrush, yarrow, California poppy, buckwheat, and deer grass. In Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones, plant selection should balance drought tolerance with low flammability; CAL FIRE maintains a list of fire-wise plants. The Alameda County Resource Conservation District provides free technical assistance.
Contact your local code enforcement office for specific penalty information.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
Castro Valley, CA
Alameda County Code §6.60.050 prohibits repairing, rebuilding, modifying or testing vehicles in residential areas between 7 p.m. and 7 a.m. if it produces so...
Castro Valley, CA
Alameda County Code §6.60.050 limits use of electric or gas leaf blowers, sweepers, vacuums, mowers, trimmers, edgers and hedgers in residential areas to 7 a...
Castro Valley, CA
Alameda County Code §5.08.060 makes it unlawful for any person owning, keeping, or having custody of a dog or other animal to knowingly permit or suffer that...
Castro Valley, CA
Alameda County Code §6.60.080 exempts construction activity from Chapter 6.60 only if it occurs between 7 a.m.-7 p.m. on weekdays and 8 a.m.-5 p.m. on Saturd...
Castro Valley, CA
Castro Valley is unincorporated and operates under Alameda County Code Chapter 6.60 (Noise). §6.60.050 makes it a violation to operate any sound-producing de...
Castro Valley, CA
Heavy commercial vehicles - generally over 10,000 lbs GVW or 22 feet long - cannot be parked overnight on Castro Valley residential streets, and cannot be pa...
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See how other cities in Alameda County handle native plants.
See how Castro Valley's native plants rules stack up against other locations.
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