Del Norte County, CA Landscaping Rules: Native Plants (2026)

Del Norte County does not mandate native-plant landscaping for ordinary residential yards, nor does it prohibit it. Two parts of county policy touch native plants. First, the County's Model Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance (MWELO), adopted March 24, 2020, follows the statewide model that favors climate-appropriate, low-water and drought-tolerant plant selection for qualifying new and renovated landscapes processed through permitting; native and Mediterranean-climate plants are a natural fit for meeting its water-budget targets. Second, in the coastal zone the County's Coastal Element and Title 21 zoning recognize native habitat as a protected resource: the code references 'native wooded habitat' as an area where vegetation, particularly trees, is indigenous to the site without cultivation (Section 21.04.580), and treats riparian vegetation along rivers, streams, creeks, and sloughs, plus wetlands and dune areas, as sensitive 'resource conservation areas.' Development that would disturb those native and riparian systems faces additional review. For a homeowner, the practical points are: you are free to plant California natives, doing so helps satisfy MWELO water-efficiency standards if you are permitting a qualifying landscape, and you should avoid clearing native or riparian habitat in the coastal zone without checking with the Planning Division. Statewide, Government Code 53087.7 also bars local agencies from prohibiting drought-tolerant landscaping on residential property.