San Bernardino, CA Landscaping Rules: Native Plants (2026)

California has steadily moved landscape law toward favoring native and drought-tolerant plantings over turf and high-water exotics. The Model Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance (MWELO), updated by the Department of Water Resources, applies to all new and substantially renovated landscapes at new single-family homes over 500 square feet of irrigated area and at commercial, multi-family, and public sites. MWELO prescribes a maximum applied water allowance, requires hydrozones grouping plants by water need, and restricts turf in non-recreational areas. The City of San Bernardino incorporates MWELO into its landscape plan review.

California Civil Code Section 4735, amended several times, prohibits HOAs and common interest developments from requiring irrigated turf or from imposing architectural rules that prevent homeowners from installing low-water or native plant landscaping, including during declared droughts. HOAs cannot fine or force removal of drought-tolerant or California native plantings that are maintained in a neat, non-weed-infested condition. The San Bernardino Municipal Water Department and Metropolitan Water District offer turf replacement rebates, typically paying per square foot of turf replaced with approved drought-tolerant plants, permeable mulch, and efficient irrigation.

Native plant palettes suited to the inland chaparral and coastal sage scrub climate include manzanita, toyon, California buckwheat, white sage, and ceanothus. Landscape designs in VHFHSZ must also follow defensible space spacing rules, so low, widely spaced fire-resistant plants are preferred near structures.