Glendale, CA Landscaping Rules: Native Plants (2026)

010 governs landscaping in the ROS, R1R and R1 single-family zones. Projects covered by the State Model Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance (Cal. 31; where the two conflict, the state MWELO controls unless Glendale's own rule is more effective at conserving water, in which case the local rule prevails. 010(A) requires plant materials, or a mix of plant materials and permeable surfaces, to make up more than 50% of every street setback area, with any unplanted area top-dressed in wood chips, bark or decorative rock. Subsection (C) requires at least 40% of the total lot area to stay permanently landscaped open space, and neither the interior nor street setback areas may be completely paved or covered in gravel.

Subsection (D) credits drought-tolerant landscaping, including California-native plantings, by calculating the live plant material requirement at the plant's mature growth size rather than its size at planting, making native and low-water species easier to count toward the landscaping minimum. 5-inch blades and natural infill (no crumb rubber), and must be installed by a state-licensed landscaping or synthetic-products contractor. Subsection (F) requires any dwelling proposed on an R1R lot steeper than 2:1 to submit a landscaping plan by a licensed landscape architect, approved by the director of community development, before the building official may issue a permit.

Subsection (E) requires all plant material tied to a design-review-approved landscape plan to be maintained for at least five years, and subsection (G) bars painting turf or dirt to simulate green cover.