Davis encourages California native and low-water landscaping and cannot prohibit drought-tolerant living-plant landscaping under state law; new and remodeled larger landscapes must meet the Model Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance.
Davis promotes water-wise, climate-ready landscaping and does not restrict planting California native or drought-tolerant species. Under Government Code section 53087.7, no city may enact or enforce an ordinance prohibiting drought-tolerant landscaping using living plant material on residential property, so native and low-water gardens are fully protected. The city's Water-Wise and Climate-Ready Landscaping guidance directs residents to Arboretum All-Stars and California natives from the UC Davis Arboretum, chosen for low water use and pollinator value. New or rehabilitated landscapes over 500 square feet that require a permit must meet the state Model Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance, which caps high-water turf area. Otherwise Davis imposes no minimum lawn requirement, so residents may convert lawns to native gardens.
There is no penalty for planting native or drought-tolerant landscaping; state law bars cities from banning it. Compliance obligations arise only for permitted landscape projects that must meet MWELO water-efficiency and irrigation standards.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
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Davis Municipal Code Chapter 40 regulates fence height and placement under section 40.27.060 but does not, in the zoning provisions reviewed, expressly prohi...
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Davis Municipal Code 40.27.060 sets fence height and placement rules including a corner-lot sight-visibility triangle where fences over three feet are prohib...
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Davis Municipal Code 40.27.060 measures a fence on top of a retaining wall from the lowest existing grade within a three-foot radius to the highest point of ...
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Davis addresses animal hoarding through the adopted Yolo County animal-control code and California animal-cruelty law. Keeping too many animals in unsanitary...
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The City of Davis strongly discourages feeding wildlife such as coyotes and wild turkeys and manages them through wildlife plans. A 2018 ordinance to ban fee...
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Davis has no leash law for cats and does not require cat licensing; Yolo County keeps cat licensing voluntary. Cats are regulated mainly through nuisance rul...
See how Davis's native plants rules stack up against other locations.
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