Pomona, CA Landscaping Rules: Native Plants (2026)
Key Facts
- Permit required since
- April 1, 2017
- New project threshold
- 500 sq ft landscape area
- Min parcel landscaped (residential)
- 20 percent
- Native/water-conserving plant points
- 40 of 140 points
- Minimum score to approve plan
- 100 of 140 points/category
- Enforcing agency
- Development Services Department
Summary
Pomona's Zoning and Development Code requires every landscape permit to emphasize drought-tolerant and native plant species. Front and street-facing yards must use native water-conserving plants under Sec. 1300.I, and landscape plans earn up to 40 of 140 required points for covering 75 percent of the planted area with native or water-conserving species under Sec. 1300.O.
Landscape planting must emphasize drought-tolerant and native species, complement the architectural design of structures on the site, and be suitable for the soil and climatic conditions of the site, consistent with the requirement of this Section. ... The front yard landscaped area and visible street side yard must be landscaped with live vegetation, drought-tolerant landscaping, or a combination of the three, as further described below: ... c. Drought tolerant landscaping must include native water conserving plants. See Section 4.3 of the Guidelines.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: City Code: Supplement 31).
Full Breakdown
5 of the Zoning and Development Code (formerly Sec. 503-J) sets the citywide baseline: landscape planting must emphasize drought-tolerant and native species, complement the architectural design of structures on the site, and be suitable for the soil and climatic conditions of the site. For residential parcels, Sec. 1 requires at least 20 percent of the entire lot to be fully landscaped with plant materials, and Sec. 3 of the city's Implementation Guidelines for the approved plant palette (the code's own Plant List in Sec. N covers native and low-water species such as California lilac and Australian saltbush).
The rule is enforced through the permit process: since April 1, 2017, any new landscape project of 500 square feet or more, or rehabilitated landscaping of 25,000 square feet or more, needs a landscape permit from the Development Services Department before installation, and Sec. O's water-efficient landscape criteria award 40 of 140 available points for using water-conserving or native hot/dry-summer plants across 75 percent of the planted area, with 100 of 140 points required in each technique category before the Community Development Director will approve the plans. Exemptions in Sec. 3 cover registered historic sites, ecological restoration and mined-land reclamation projects without permanent irrigation, and existing botanical garden collections.
Violations & Fines
Installing landscaping without the required Sec. 1300 permit, or submitting a plan that fails to meet the 100-of-140-point technique threshold, blocks Development Services approval and can trigger a stop-work order on the installation. Sec. 11110 of the Zoning and Development Code routes ongoing violations, including unmaintained or noncompliant landscaping under Sec. 1300.P, to the enforcement provisions of Division 5 of the Pomona City Code for correction notices and civil citations.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Pomona require native plants in my front yard?
How much of my yard has to be landscaped?
Is a permit needed to install native landscaping?
Are any landscapes exempt from the native-plant standards?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Pomona
California rules heatmap·Compare Pomona to another location·View the California landscaping rules overview
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