Sacramento County, CA Landscaping Rules: Native Plants (2026)
Key Facts
- Policy direction
- Zoning Code Section 5.2.4 emphasizes native and/or drought-tolerant plants
- Cash for Grass (residential)
- $1.00 per sq ft, up to $2,000 per household (SCWA customers)
- Cash for Grass (commercial)
- $1.50 per sq ft, up to $2,500
- Coverage requirement
- At least 50% plant coverage at maturity; minimum 200 sq ft project
- Irrigation requirement
- Drip with 20-40 psi regulator, filter, emitters under 2.5 gph, or hand-watering
- Native-plant mandate
- None; natives encouraged and incentivized, not required
Summary
Sacramento County encourages native and drought-tolerant landscaping. The County zoning code's landscape standards emphasize native and water-wise plants, and the Sacramento County Water Agency's Cash for Grass program pays $1.00 per square foot (up to $2,000 residential) to replace lawn with low-water, non-invasive landscaping plus drip irrigation.
Model Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance Low water using plants, mulch, and efficient irrigation save water while making habitat for pollinators. DWR/2015 About 40% of the water Californians use at home is used outdoors. Large water savings can be gained by efficient landscape design, installation, management, and maintenance. This is accomplished by choosing climate adapted plants, improving soil conditions, using, and maintaining high efficiency irrigation equipment and managing the irrigation schedule to fit the plants water needs as they are influenced by local climate. To increase water efficiency and better use a valuable resource, rainwater and stormwater collection and graywater and recycled water can replace or augment potable water use in landscapes. New development and retrofitted landscape water efficiency standards are governed by the Model Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance (MWELO) . The MWELO is also referenced by Title 24, Part 11, Chapters 4 and 5 CalGreen Building Code. All local agencies must adopt, implement, and enforce the MWELO or a local Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance (WELO) that is at least as effective as the MWELO. Usually, local agencies that adopt WELOs create a more stringent ordinance than MWELO. The purpose of water efficient landscape ordinances is to not only increase water efficiency but to improve environmental conditions in the built environment. Landscaping should be valued beyond the aesthetic because landscapes replace habitat lost to development and provide many other related benefits such as improvements to public health and quality of life, climate change mitigation, energy and materials conservation and increased property values.
Full Breakdown
Unincorporated Sacramento County affirmatively promotes native and drought-tolerant plants. 4 of the Zoning Code) state that landscaping should ensure the use of native and/or drought-tolerant plants appropriate to the County's climate, incorporate water-conservation and stormwater-control features, and use trees for shade and energy efficiency. For qualifying single-family and other residential development, required landscaping must be maintained (irrigated, mowed, trimmed), and on lots of 7,500 square feet or more meeting frontage minimums, at least two trees must be planted in the front yard. 50 per square foot up to $2,500.
5 gph) or hand-watering. New and rehabilitated landscapes are also subject to the state Model Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance (see water-restrictions and the artificial-turf entry). There is no mandate forcing homeowners to plant natives, but the regulatory and rebate framework strongly favors them.
Violations & Fines
No penalty exists for choosing native plants. Violations relate instead to failing to install or maintain required landscaping on regulated development sites, or planting invasive species in conflict with approved plans, which can be enforced as zoning/landscape-standard violations.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Sacramento County require native plants?
How much does Cash for Grass pay to replace my lawn?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Sacramento County
California rules heatmap·Compare Sacramento County to another location·View the California landscaping rules overview
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