Cupertino, CA Landscaping Rules: Native Plants (2026)
Key Facts
- Native/low water-use plant minimum
- 80% of plants in non-turf areas
- Alternative path
- Prepare a full water budget calculation
- Turf cap paired with the 80% option
- 25% of landscape area or 1,250 s.f., lesser
- HOA restriction
- Cannot override this chapter or ban low water-use plants
- High + low/moderate water plant mix
- Not allowed in the same hydrozone
- Reviewing office
- Director of Community Development
Summary
Under Cupertino's Landscape Ordinance, at least 80% of the plants in non-turf areas of a covered landscape project must be native or low water-use, unless the applicant instead prepares a full water budget calculation.
Total turf area shall not exceed 25% of the landscape area, or 1,250 square feet, whichever is lesser in area and At least 80% of the plants within non-turf areas shall be native or low water-use OR b. Prepare a water budget calculation, per the provisions of Section 14.15.070.
Full Breakdown
030 as a plant indigenous to the coastal ranges of central and northern California that is suited to the ecology of the present or historic natural community in the project's vicinity. 070. 060(B); low and moderate water use plants together remain allowed but are classified as moderate for water budget purposes. 060 also bars any common interest development's architectural guidelines, CC&Rs, or conditions from superseding the chapter by prohibiting low water use plants or otherwise restricting their use, protecting a homeowner's ability to plant native or drought-tolerant species even where an HOA might prefer otherwise.
Violations & Fines
Compliance with the native/low-water-use plant requirement is verified through the Landscape Documentation Package or Prescriptive Compliance Application reviewed by the Director of Community Development before final permit issuance, and confirmed again at final inspection through the project's Certificate of Completion and Certificate of Installation under Section 14.15.050; a landscape that does not meet the 80% threshold or an approved water budget can be held at that inspection stage until it is brought into compliance.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much of my Cupertino yard must be native plants under the landscape ordinance?
Can my Cupertino homeowners association stop me from planting drought-tolerant natives?
Can I mix high water use plants with drought-tolerant natives in the same planting bed in Cupertino?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Cupertino
California rules heatmap·Compare Cupertino to another location·View the California landscaping rules overview
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Native Plants in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Santa Clara County handle native plants.