San Benito County, CA Landscaping Rules: Native Plants (2026)

San Benito County does not mandate that homeowners use native plants, nor does it ban them; choice of ornamental plantings on a private lot is generally up to the owner. The County does, however, steer larger and new landscapes toward water-efficient, climate-appropriate planting through its Water Efficiency Landscape Ordinance, which implements California's Model Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance (MWELO). MWELO sets limits on high-water-use plants and irrigation equipment and encourages low-water and native species for new and rehabilitated landscapes that meet its size thresholds. Native, drought-tolerant plants are an easy way to comply because they typically use less water and reduce the project's water budget. Separately, the County protects existing native trees and woodlands: Chapter 19.33 (Management and Conservation of Woodlands) limits removal of native trees in unincorporated areas to maintain and enhance native tree cover, and the Tree Protection ordinance protects qualifying trees in residential districts. So while planting natives is a choice for routine yards, preserving established native trees is a regulated obligation. Owners planning a permit-triggering landscape should design plant palettes that meet the County's water-efficiency requirements.