Indio, CA Landscaping Rules: Native Plants (2026)
Key Facts
- Min. native/drought-tolerant share
- 50%
- Applies to
- new development, major renovations
- Exempt zones
- OS and RR
- Street/parking trees
- from CVWD desert guidebook
Summary
Indio requires new landscaping to be at least 50 percent drought-tolerant and native species, suited to the desert climate, under the Unified Development Code's landscaping standards.
Landscape planting shall incorporate at minimum 50 percent drought-tolerant and native species (especially along natural, open space areas), and shall be suitable for the soil and climatic conditions specific to the site.
2. Group Plants by Water Use.Plants shall be grouped according to their water needs and irrigated separately from other groupings to promote water efficiency.
3. Street and Parking Lot Trees.
a. Street and parking lot trees shall be selected from the Coachella Valley Water District's "Lush and Efficient: Desert-Friendly Landscaping in the Coachella Valley" guidebook.
b. Trees planted within ten feet of a street, sidewalk, paved trail, parking area, or walkway shall be a deep-rooted species or shall be separated from hardscapes by a root barrier to prevent physical damage to public improvements.
H. Turf and Synthetic Turf.
1. Turf areas shall be limited to activity or recreation areas.
2. Synthetic turf may be used as a substitute for natural turf for the purposes of water conservation, or in high activity or foot-traffic areas such as sports fields. The following standards shall apply to the use and maintenance of synthetic turf.
a. Synthetic turf shall consist of lifelike individual blades of grass that emulate real grass in look and color and have a minimum pile height of one and one-half inches.
b. Synthetic turf used for pet areas shall be specifically formulated for that purpose.
c.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4796010; v13 updated 2026-02-04; through 02-04-2026).
Full Breakdown
Indio's Unified Development Code sets a plant-palette floor for new landscape installations: at minimum 50 percent of the planting must be drought-tolerant and native species, especially along natural or open-space areas, and all plants must suit the soil and climate of the Coachella Valley. Street and parking-lot trees must additionally be selected from the Coachella Valley Water District's desert-friendly landscaping guidebook. The standard applies to new development and major additions or renovations reviewed under the city's landscape and irrigation plan process, with exemptions for Open Space (OS) and Resource Recovery (RR) zoned properties.
Violations & Fines
Landscape plans that fall short of the 50 percent drought-tolerant/native species minimum won't be approved by the Director, delaying building permits or planning entitlements.
Frequently Asked Questions
What share of new Indio landscaping must be native or drought-tolerant?
Does this rule apply to every property?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Indio
California rules heatmap·Compare Indio to another location·View the California landscaping rules overview
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Native Plants in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Riverside County handle native plants.