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

Inyo County has adopted the Model Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance (MWELO), administered by the County Planning Department in Independence. For new and rehabilitated landscape projects subject to the ordinance, the County's prescriptive compliance path requires that, on residential projects, at least 75% of the landscape area consist of plants with a WUCOLS plant factor of 0.3 or lower (little or no summer water), excluding edibles and recycled-water areas; for non-residential projects (including multifamily), 100% of the landscape area must use such low-water plants. The ordinance expressly prohibits planting invasive species — no plant listed by the California Invasive Plant Council's 'Don't Plant a Pest' brochure may be used. The state MWELO text the County incorporates encourages choosing local native plants and climate-adapted non-natives, using integrated pest management, and planting climate-appropriate shade trees. There is no county ordinance restricting a homeowner from choosing native, drought-tolerant, or xeriscape plantings; the rules push toward low-water and native-friendly landscaping rather than away from it. Outside of projects triggering MWELO review, residents are free to plant native gardens.