Petaluma, CA Landscaping Rules: Native Plants (2026)

020 sets two different terms that matter here. "Vegetation" is defined broadly to cover grass, weeds, bushes, shrubs and trees, living or dead. "Weed" is narrower: a useless, troublesome plant of uncontrolled growth and no value, but the definition specifically carves native vegetation out of that category. 075(D) declares overgrown vegetation and weeds a public nuisance in four ways, and only the fourth, the flat six-inch height trigger, is written to reach "grasses and weeds" rather than vegetation generally. 020, a native meadow or bunchgrass planting taller than six inches does not by itself trip that specific trigger the way an unmowed non-native lawn does.

The exemption is narrow, not blanket. 075 still reach vegetation of any kind, native or not, when it causes detriment to neighboring property values, creates a hazardous condition for pedestrians or vehicles at a driveway or corner, or is likely to harbor rats, vermin or other pests. A native landscape that becomes overgrown fuel next to a fence line or blocks a sightline triangle can still be cited under those broader clauses. 010 and issue a notice of violation if a qualifying nuisance condition, native-exempt or not, is found.