Imperial County, CA Landscaping Rules: Native Plants (2026)

While Imperial County does not mandate a specific list of native species, its water-conserving landscape chapter strongly steers covered projects toward drought-tolerant and well-adapted plants. Section 90302.15 requires that plants selected for non-turf areas be 'well suited or adaptable to the climate of this region' and that they be grouped according to water needs and irrigated separately; low-use and high-use species may not share the same irrigation zone. Each landscape must pass a water-use calculation that classifies planting areas as low, medium, or high use so the design stays within the 30-inch/year supplemental-water limit (§90302.15, Table I). A minimum of 3 inches of organic mulch must be placed in shrub areas (§90302.15.B.2). For plant guidance, §90302.19 directs designers to references including the 'Sunset Western Garden Book,' Robert Perry's 'Trees and Shrubs for Dry California Landscapes,' and EBMUD's 'Water Wise Gardening,' all oriented to low-water and desert-appropriate species. Mobile-home/RV and other development planting must use materials suitable for the area and a minimum five-gallon size (§90302.02.G, §90302.04.G). These provisions apply to development and rehabilitated landscaping, not to homeowner landscaping for single-family homes and duplexes (§90302.09). Statewide MWELO similarly favors climate-appropriate, low-water plantings and limits high-water turf.