Ontario enforces the state Model Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance (MWELO). New residential landscapes over 500 sq ft must meet water-budget, plant, and irrigation rules favoring natives and low-water species.
The California Department of Water Resources Model Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance (MWELO, 23 CCR 490 et seq.) requires cities, including Ontario, to enforce landscape water-budget rules on new construction and major rehabilitation projects above a square footage threshold. Residential projects over 500 square feet subject to permit, and commercial projects over 2,500 square feet, must submit a Landscape Documentation Package including plant factor calculations, irrigation design with high-efficiency emitters, soil management, and hydrozoning. Climate-appropriate plants including California natives, Mediterranean species, and Inland Empire low-water palettes are encouraged to meet water budgets. AB 1572 (Water Code 10608.14) phases out potable water on non-functional turf at commercial, industrial, institutional, and HOA common areas, making native and drought-tolerant plantings the practical alternative at those sites. Ontario Municipal Utilities Company sometimes offers turf-replacement rebates when state programs are active. HOA CC&Rs that forbid low-water landscaping conflict with Civil Code 4735 and are unenforceable.
Landscape plans that fail MWELO review are rejected at permit. Existing non-conforming landscapes installed without required permits can be cited and required to retrofit to current standards as a condition of certificate of occupancy.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
Ontario, CA
Ontario Municipal Code section 5-29.14 prohibits operating any motor vehicle in a condition that creates excessive, impulsive or intrusive noise, including e...
Ontario, CA
Outdoor music is regulated under OMC Title 5 Chapter 29 and the special-event permit process. Venues and events with amplified sound need a city permit; resi...
Ontario, CA
No Ontario-specific ordinance directly regulates aircraft noise; the City's noise chapter exempts activities preempted by state or federal law (OMC 5-29.06(h...
Ontario, CA
Ontario prohibits razor wire on any wall or fence citywide, and bans barbed wire and electrified fences in residential, commercial, and residential mixed-use...
Ontario, CA
Every wall, fence, and gate in Ontario is subject to Planning Director design review regardless of whether a building permit is needed. A building permit is ...
Ontario, CA
Ontario fence requirements include zoning-based heights, setbacks, sight triangles, buffer walls on industrial edges, and CBC structural standards. Pool, ret...
Side-by-side rule comparisons with other cities in San Bernardino County.
See how other cities in San Bernardino County handle native plants.
See how Ontario's native plants rules stack up against other locations.
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.