Santa Clara County encourages California native plants with Valley Water rebates for turf conversions. MWELO requires 75 percent low-water plants in new landscapes, and heritage native oaks are protected countywide.
Santa Clara County supports California native plant landscaping through several programs. The Model Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance (MWELO), enforced locally for new and renovated landscapes over 500 square feet, requires that at least 75 percent of non-turf plants be classified as low or very low water use on the Water Use Classification of Landscape Species (WUCOLS) list, which favors natives and Mediterranean-adapted species. Valley Water offers the Landscape Rebate Program paying property owners per square foot to convert lawn to low-water landscapes, typically with native plant requirements. Heritage native oaks (Quercus agrifolia, Quercus lobata, Quercus douglasii, Quercus kelloggii) are protected under the county Heritage Tree Ordinance; summer irrigation within the dripline is discouraged to prevent oak root fungus. Homeowner associations cannot prohibit low-water or native landscaping (Civil Code 4735). Popular Santa Clara County natives include California poppy, deergrass, ceanothus, manzanita, toyon, redbud, and coffeeberry.
Contact your local code enforcement office for specific penalty information.
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Side-by-side rule comparisons with other cities in Santa Clara County.
See how other cities in Santa Clara County handle native plants.
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