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

Native-plant landscaping is supported, not regulated against, in unincorporated Mariposa County. The County sits in Sierra foothill oak woodlands and pine forest near Yosemite, and its General Plan Conservation and Open Space Element actively encourages native vegetation. Policy 11-4a directs the County to conserve the diversity of native ecosystems, plant communities, wildlife habitat, and species; Implementation Measure 11-4a(4) states the County shall publish landscaping guidelines for the use of site-appropriate native plant species, working with the Planning Department and the Resource Conservation District, with the intended consequence of increased use of native plants and reduction of invasive species. On the water side, Policy 11-2a and Implementation Measure 11-2a(1) call for drought-tolerant or low-water landscaping and retention of existing native plant material in larger developments. Native and low-water plantings also help satisfy the water-efficiency standard adopted in Development Code Chapter 17.36, which incorporates the state Model Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance. There is no ordinance requiring turf or prohibiting native or naturalistic yards; in fact, retaining native vegetation also supports wildfire-resilient, low-fuel landscaping when combined with PRC 4291 defensible-space spacing. Residents should still keep flammable native shrubs appropriately spaced and cleared within the defensible-space zone around structures.