Tuolumne County, CA Landscaping Rules: Native Plants (2026)
Key Facts
- Controlling ordinance
- Chapter 15.28.040 (Ord. 3293, 2015)
- Ornamental plants
- Drought-tolerant, low/very-low water use only
- Invasive/noxious species
- Prohibited (covered projects)
- Native vegetation
- Retain to maximum extent feasible
- Applies to
- Covered development projects, not ordinary home yards
- Fire-prone plants
- Avoid fire-prone plants and flammable mulches
Summary
For covered development projects, Tuolumne County's Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance (Chapter 15.28.040) requires drought-tolerant ornamental plants rated low or very-low water use, prohibits invasive or noxious species, and directs that native or existing vegetation be retained to the maximum extent feasible. Ordinary homeowner plant choices are not regulated.
by the Model Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance (MWELO) . The MWELO is also referenced by Title 24, Part 11, Chapters 4 and 5 CalGreen Building Code. All local agencies must adopt, implement, and enforce the MWELO or a local Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance (WELO) that is at least as effective as the MWELO. Usually, local agencies that adopt WELOs create a more stringent ordinance than MWELO. The purpose of water efficient landscape ordinances is to not only increase water efficiency but to improve environmental conditions in the built environment.
Official source re-checked September 8, 2026: the cited page had not changed since it was quoted.
Full Breakdown
28, Ord. 040. Subsection (A) requires that only drought-tolerant vegetation species be planted for ornamental purposes, that such plants be listed in the County's Landscape Guidelines and rated as having low or very-low water need, and that the use of invasive or noxious plant species be prohibited. Subsection (B) requires that native or existing vegetation be retained on the project site to the maximum extent feasible. The ordinance also directs designers to reflect plants' horticultural attributes (mature size, invasive roots) to avoid damage to buildings, sidewalks, and power lines, keeping mature vegetation at least 10 feet from power lines; to use solar orientation for summer shade and winter solar gain; and to avoid fire-prone plant materials and highly flammable mulches.
020. So while there is no mandate that homeowners replace lawns with natives, the County's covered-project rules strongly favor native, climate-adapted, drought-tolerant planting and ban invasive species.
Violations & Fines
For covered projects, using invasive/noxious species or high-water-use ornamental plants instead of the required low/very-low-water, drought-tolerant species can cause the landscape documentation package and plan to fail County review, blocking approval until corrected. There are no county penalties for plant choices on ordinary, non-covered residential properties. Invasive-species and fire-prone-plant restrictions apply through the permit/plan-check process rather than retroactively to existing home gardens.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Tuolumne County require me to plant native plants?
Can I plant whatever I want in my yard?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Tuolumne County
California rules heatmap·Compare Tuolumne County to another location·View the California landscaping rules overview
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