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.
Santa Clara County, CA
In unincorporated Santa Clara County, the County Noise Ordinance (Title B, Division B11, Chapter VIII of the County Ordinance Code) sets exterior noise limit...
Santa Clara County, CA
In unincorporated Santa Clara County, fence height is regulated by the County Zoning Ordinance administered by the Department of Planning and Development. Fe...
Santa Clara County, CA
ALL fireworks - including state-approved 'Safe and Sane' fireworks - are illegal in unincorporated Santa Clara County. The County has banned the sale, posses...
Santa Clara County, CA
Residential pools and spas in unincorporated Santa Clara County are governed by California Health and Safety Code Sections 115920 through 115929 (the Pool Sa...
Santa Clara County, CA
Unincorporated Santa Clara County allows movable tiny homes as a substitute for one Accessory Dwelling Unit under Zoning Ordinance Section 4.10.015(E), adopt...
Santa Clara County, CA
In unincorporated Santa Clara County, sheds are regulated as accessory buildings under Zoning Ordinance Section 4.20.020. A shed whose combined length plus w...
See how Santa Clara County's native plants rules stack up against other locations.
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.