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

San Marcos supports native and drought-tolerant landscaping through several regulatory and incentive programs. The California Model Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance (MWELO), adopted locally, requires new residential landscapes over 500 square feet and rehabilitated landscapes over 2,500 square feet to meet maximum applied water allowances. This effectively requires the use of low-water-use and climate-appropriate plants for a significant portion of the landscape. Native San Diego County plants including coast live oak, California sagebrush, buckwheat, toyon, and various manzanita species are well-suited to San Marcos conditions and meet MWELO requirements. The Vallecitos Water District offers turf replacement rebates for homeowners who remove conventional lawns and replace them with drought-tolerant landscaping, mulch, or permeable hardscape. The city does not mandate native-only landscaping for existing properties, but its development standards encourage water-efficient plant selection. San Marcos HOAs may have separate landscape guidelines, though California law (Civil Code Section 4735) prohibits HOAs from imposing fines or requiring removal of drought-tolerant landscaping installed in response to a declared drought emergency. The city's landscape design standards also address fire-resistant plant selection for properties in wildfire risk areas.