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

Yuba County's 2030 General Plan strongly favors native and climate-appropriate plants. Policy NR10.2 says the County will encourage preservation of healthy native vegetation during development and, where that is not feasible, will require landscaping that uses climate-appropriate plant materials. Policy NR12.5 requires new developments to use climate-appropriate landscaping in parks, open space, rights-of-way and yards to the maximum extent feasible, and Policy NR7.1 requires new development to address conservation in landscaping methods, materials and design. These standards are implemented at the project level through the County's zoning Landscaping Ordinance, Chapter 12.87 of Title XII. That ordinance applies landscape requirements to residential, commercial and industrial development across the listed zoning districts (per Section 12.87.025), giving the County a hook to require water-wise, climate-appropriate plant palettes in approved landscape plans. For an existing single-family homeowner, native landscaping is voluntary and encouraged, not mandated; the requirements bite when a permit-triggering project goes through design review. Foothill Yuba County's blue oak woodlands and oak savanna make native oaks, grasses and drought-tolerant shrubs natural choices that also support the County's habitat-conservation goals.