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Pasco, WA Landscaping Rules: Native Plants (2026)

Light Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified September 2026

Key Facts

Governing area
Broadmoor Overlay District only
Native plant source
WA Native Plant List, Franklin County
Drought-tolerant cap
Up to 50% of ground cover/street trees
Tree replacement ratio
1:1.5 for removed mature trees
Cross-referenced code
PMC 25.180.060 and 25.180.070
Review stage
Site plan review, PMC 25.97.110
Enforcement body
Pasco Code Enforcement Board

Summary

Inside Pasco's Broadmoor Overlay District, PMC 25.97.095(1)(b) tells developers to draw their plant palette from the Washington Native Plant List for Franklin County and to use xeriscape methods for drought-tolerant landscaping. Drought-tolerant deciduous and evergreen species can make up to half of the required ground cover and street tree planting.

Landscaping should maintain the selection of plants listed from the Washington Native Plant List for Franklin County (wnps.org). Xeriscape methods for drought-tolerant landscaping should be used. Plant material shall be a mixture of drought-tolerant deciduous and evergreen trees. Drought-tolerant plant materials may contribute up to 50 percent of the required landscaping ground cover and street trees.

View official code

Official source re-checked September 8, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: current through Ordinance 4837, passed May 4, 2026).

Full Breakdown

97 PMC), sets the standard that governs new development inside that master-planned area east of Road 68. org, and pair it with xeriscape techniques for drought tolerance. The code requires the plant mix to combine drought-tolerant deciduous and evergreen trees, and it caps how far a developer can lean on that palette: drought-tolerant material may supply up to 50 percent of the required landscaping ground cover and street trees, meaning the rest of the planting plan still has to meet the district's other landscaping standards.

070 for parking lot landscaping, so a native/drought-tolerant plant list does not replace those numeric requirements. 5 replacement ratio for any existing tree that is removed. 110, where the Community and Economic Development Department reviews landscaping plans for nonresidential and multi-unit residential projects in the Broadmoor area before permits issue.

Violations & Fines

Landscaping compliance in the Broadmoor Overlay is enforced as a Title 25 zoning matter through Pasco's Code Enforcement Board process (Chapter 1.40 PMC). A department director who finds a violation first seeks voluntary correction; if that fails, a notice of civil violation issues with a correction deadline, and the maximum monetary penalty per separate violation per day is set under Chapter 3.35 PMC, with a $200 minimum for a repeat violation. A hearing before the Code Enforcement Board follows within 10 days, and decisions are appealable to Franklin County Superior Court.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Pasco require native plants citywide?
No. PMC 25.97.095(1)(b) applies only inside the Broadmoor Overlay District (Chapter 25.97 PMC) and recommends drawing from the Washington Native Plant List for Franklin County rather than mandating it citywide. Other neighborhoods follow the general landscaping rules in Chapter 25.180 PMC instead.
How much of my landscaping can be drought-tolerant plants?
Up to 50 percent of the required ground cover and street trees can be drought-tolerant deciduous and evergreen material under PMC 25.97.095(1)(b). The remainder of the planting plan still has to satisfy the district's other landscaping standards, including the parking lot and street frontage rules.
What if I have to remove a mature tree during construction?
PMC 25.97.095(1)(d) sets a 1:1.5 replacement ratio, so removing one mature tree obligates the developer to plant one and a half replacement trees. Subsection (1)(c) also directs that preservation of mature trees should be considered before removal is chosen.
Where do I find the approved plant list?
PMC 25.97.095(1)(b) points to the Washington Native Plant List for Franklin County, published by the Washington Native Plant Society at wnps.org. Developers submit their landscaping plan against that list during PMC 25.97.110 site plan review.

Sources & Official References

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