Chino, CA Landscaping Rules: Native Plants (2026)
Key Facts
- Status
- encouraged, not required
- Applies to
- existing single-family front yards
- Paired cap
- turf ≤25% of landscape area
- Paired floor
- water-efficient plants ≥50%
- Adopted
- Ord. 2015-008; amended Ord. 2016-005
Summary
For existing single-family front yards, Chino encourages, but does not mandate, landscaping built primarily around native or climate-appropriate plants that need less water in warm months.
It is encouraged that the planted material consist primarily of native plant or climate appropriate species and those that require less water during warmer months. The use of primarily non-native, high water demand, plant material or desertscape is discouraged. A mixture of this type of plant material to satisfy the requirements above is acceptable.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 38).
Full Breakdown
Chino Municipal Code § 20.19.040(C)(2)(a) sits inside the rules for existing single-family front-yard landscaping (turf removal and rehab work) and encourages planting primarily native or climate-appropriate species that use less water during warmer months, while discouraging mostly non-native, high-water-demand plants or desertscape. The preference is advisory, but it sits alongside enforceable numeric caps in the same paragraph: turf limited to 25% of the required landscape area, artificial turf to no more than 30%, hardscape to 25%, and water-efficient plant material required for at least 50%. The whole chapter implements the state Model Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance.
Violations & Fines
The native-plant language itself isn't independently enforceable: it's encouragement, not a mandate. What is enforceable in the same subsection are the numeric caps: turf over 25% of the required landscape area, or hardscape over 25%, fails plan-check review by the director of community development.
Frequently Asked Questions
Must Chino homeowners plant only native species?
Does this native-plant preference apply to brand-new landscaping too?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Chino
California rules heatmap·Compare Chino to another location·View the California landscaping rules overview
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Native Plants in Nearby Cities
How other cities in San Bernardino County handle native plants.