Unincorporated San Mateo County encourages California native plants under MWELO and the Bay-Friendly Landscaping program. Civil Code §1353.8 prohibits HOAs from banning low-water plants. County offers rebates through BAWSCA and Peninsula water suppliers.
San Mateo County promotes native and drought-tolerant landscaping aligned with California's Model Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance (MWELO, Title 23 CCR §490). New or rehabilitated landscapes over 500 sq ft must comply with MWELO including Maximum Applied Water Allowance calculations and hydrozone plans. California Civil Code §1353.8 and §4735 preempt HOA CC&Rs that prohibit low-water plants or require living plant material during drought declarations. Native plant rebates available from BAWSCA (Bay Area Water Supply & Conservation Agency) member districts including Cal Water Mid-Peninsula and California American Water, typically $2-$3 per square foot of lawn converted. Invasive plant removal encouraged; pampas grass, Himalayan blackberry, and French broom widespread in Coastside and Skyline areas. California Native Plant Society Santa Clara Valley Chapter and Yerba Buena Chapter provide local plant lists. Coastal zone installations should use Coastside-appropriate natives (coastal sage, California poppy, coyote bush).
MWELO non-compliance: certificate of occupancy withheld for new projects. HOA violations of Civil Code §4735: homeowner may sue for injunctive relief and attorney's fees. County does not penalize native landscaping; enforcement targets overgrown/blighted lots separately.
San Mateo County, CA
Amplified music in unincorporated San Mateo County is regulated by County Code Chapter 4.88 Noise Control, which caps exterior noise at 55-75 dBA daytime and...
San Mateo County, CA
Unincorporated San Mateo County enforces CVC §22651(k) for vehicles on public streets (72 hours) and Ordinance Code Chapter 4.48 for inoperable vehicles on p...
San Mateo County, CA
Unincorporated San Mateo County has no general overnight parking ban on most streets. Specific residential neighborhoods may have permit parking. California ...
San Mateo County, CA
Unincorporated San Mateo County enforces California Swimming Pool Safety Act (H&S Code §115920-115929) and CBC Chapter 31B. Minimum 60-inch barrier, self-clo...
San Mateo County, CA
Unincorporated San Mateo County requires building permits for retaining walls over 4 feet measured from bottom of footing to top of wall, per California Buil...
San Mateo County, CA
Unincorporated San Mateo County allows backyard chickens on residential parcels of at least 2,500 sq ft under the County Zoning Regulations. 2,500 to 7,500 s...
See how San Mateo County's native plants rules stack up against other locations.
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