Gardena, CA Landscaping Rules: Native Plants (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- GMC § 18.42.075(A), (E)
- Water-efficient plant minimum
- 75% of plantings
- High water-use/turf cap
- 5% maximum
- Native plants
- California natives 'encouraged'
- Also permitted
- Plants native to South Africa, Australia
- Applies to
- New/expanded multifamily, commercial, industrial
Summary
Gardena requires new commercial, industrial, and multifamily landscaping plans to be at least seventy-five percent water-efficient plants, with California native plants explicitly encouraged alongside other Mediterranean-climate species. High water-use plants and turf are capped at five percent.
E. Plants. 1. At least seventy-five percent of plantings must be water efficient plants and not more than five percent may be high water use plants or turf grass. California native plants are encouraged, but plants native to other Mediterranean climates (including South Africa and Australia) are permitted.
Full Breakdown
Gardena Municipal Code § 18.42.075(E)(1) sets the plant-selection rule: at least seventy-five percent of plantings must be water-efficient plants, and not more than five percent may be high water-use plants or turf grass. The same subsection states that California native plants are encouraged, and extends that encouragement to plants native to other Mediterranean climates, naming South Africa and Australia specifically as acceptable sources. 'Water efficient' and 'high water use' are defined in § 18.42.075(A) by reference to the WUCOLS (Water Use Classification of Landscape Species) plant list for Region 3, published by the California Center for Urban Horticulture at UC Davis: 'low' or 'very low' rated plants count as water efficient, while 'high' rated plants count against the five percent cap.
The landscaping plan requirement itself, under § 18.42.075(B), applies to site development plans for all newly constructed or expanded buildings in multifamily residential, commercial, and industrial zones, with narrow exemptions for use changes without building alteration, alterations required by other code or state law provisions, and additions under five hundred square feet. Plans must show botanical and common names with a plant key, size and quantity, and spacing and design under § 18.42.075(C). Section 18.42.075(D) cross-references Section 18.40.090 for the landscaping quantity required in parking areas.
Maintenance obligations in § 18.42.075(F) require a permanently maintained automatic irrigation system using evapotranspiration or soil-moisture sensor controllers, with exposed piping and check valves screened and painted green. Community Development's planning division reviews and approves these landscaping plans as part of site development review.
Violations & Fines
Landscaping plans that fall short of the seventy-five percent water-efficient threshold, exceed the five percent cap on high water-use plants and turf, or lack the required irrigation controls, are deficient under § 18.42.075 and will not be approved by Community Development; installed landscaping that later falls out of compliance under the maintenance requirements of subsection F is enforceable as a property maintenance violation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Gardena require native plant landscaping?
How much of my landscaping must be water-efficient?
Which projects have to submit a landscaping plan?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Gardena
California rules heatmap·Compare Gardena to another location·View the California landscaping rules overview
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