Rancho Cucamonga encourages California native and drought-tolerant landscaping. HOAs cannot prohibit water-wise plants under Civil Code 4735, and MWELO requires efficient plant palettes for new landscapes.
Rancho Cucamonga supports California native and drought-tolerant landscaping through a combination of city policy, state law, and water district rebates. California Government Code 65595 prohibits cities from banning drought-tolerant landscaping, and Civil Code 4735 prohibits HOAs from restricting low-water plants, artificial turf, or water-wise landscape design. The citys General Plan encourages native planting along parkways and open space buffers. The Model Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance (MWELO), adopted through the California Code of Regulations Title 23 and applied locally to new landscapes over 500 square feet, requires plant lists with low Water Use Classification of Landscape Species (WUCOLS) ratings. Recommended natives for the Rancho Cucamonga climate (Sunset Zone 18 to 19) include California lilac (Ceanothus), white sage (Salvia apiana), manzanita, coast live oak, toyon, deergrass, and California poppy. The city partners with the Theodore Payne Foundation and the California Native Plant Society for educational events. Invasive species such as fountain grass (Pennisetum setaceum), which is a fire risk, are discouraged. Parkway plantings must remain within the city-approved street tree list and MWELO compliance is reviewed through Building and Safety during permit.
Contact your local code enforcement office for specific penalty information.
Rancho Cucamonga, CA
Outdoor music in Rancho Cucamonga is allowed under Chapter 8.17 during daytime with dBA limits at the property line. Commercial venues require a conditional ...
Rancho Cucamonga, CA
Rancho Cucamonga has no citywide overnight parking ban, but posted restrictions apply near parks, trails, and commercial zones. Street sweeping days and 72-h...
Rancho Cucamonga, CA
Rancho Cucamonga requires a permit for retaining walls over 3 feet or any wall with a surcharge. Engineered plans are required for taller walls, especially i...
Rancho Cucamonga, CA
Rancho Cucamonga Development Code requires fences to meet setback, sight-triangle, and material standards. Perimeter block walls are required for new tract h...
Rancho Cucamonga, CA
Rancho Cucamonga allows chickens and livestock only on larger lots under the Development Code. Standard lots cannot keep roosters, while Etiwanda equestrian ...
Rancho Cucamonga, CA
Rancho Cucamonga does not ban specific dog breeds. California Food and Agricultural Code section 31683 preempts breed-specific bans and limits cities to gene...
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 Rancho Cucamonga's native plants rules stack up against other locations.
Quick Compare
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.