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

Native and drought-tolerant planting is encouraged rather than required in unincorporated Plumas County. There is no general ordinance forcing native plants in residential yards. For new and rehabilitated landscapes requiring a building or special use permit, however, Plumas County's Water Efficient Landscape ordinance (Title 9, Chapter 2, Article 42) channels plant selection toward water efficiency: plants are chosen using WUCOLS plant-factor data and the property's Sunset Western Climate Zone, the project must stay within a calculated maximum applied water allowance, and a minimum three-inch layer of mulch must be applied on exposed soil in planting areas (except turf areas). These standards naturally favor native and Mediterranean-climate species suited to the Sierra. From a wildfire standpoint, California Public Resources Code 4291 encourages retaining native fire-resistant vegetation while controlling flammable non-native grasses, and CAL FIRE fire-wise landscaping guidance recommends well-spaced, low-resin, high-moisture plantings near the home. Statewide, California Civil Code Section 4735 bars homeowners associations from prohibiting low-water-use plants or drought-tolerant landscaping, and protects landscaping installed in response to a state drought emergency from forced removal. Native-plant gardeners should still observe defensible space spacing within the home ignition zone.