Santa Ana encourages the use of native and drought-tolerant plants for landscaping in compliance with the California Model Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance (MWELO). New development and major landscape projects must meet water efficiency standards.
Santa Ana implements the California Model Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance (MWELO) under Government Code Section 65595, which requires new and rehabilitated landscapes over 500 square feet to meet maximum applied water allowance standards. Native and drought-tolerant plant species are encouraged as they typically require less irrigation. The city does not mandate native plants for existing residential properties but recommends them for water conservation. Residential homeowners replacing existing landscaping with native plants generally do not need a permit. Under California Civil Code Section 4735, HOAs cannot prohibit or unreasonably restrict drought-tolerant landscaping including native plant gardens.
Non-compliance with MWELO on new development projects may delay project approval. There are no penalties for existing residential properties choosing not to use native plants.
Santa Ana, CA
Santa Ana does not regulate decorative lawn ornaments, statuary, or year-round yard decorations on private property. Property maintenance standards in SAMC C...
Santa Ana, CA
Santa Ana does not specifically regulate residential inflatable holiday displays. There is no size cap, lighting curfew, or fan-noise limit specific to infla...
Santa Ana, CA
Santa Ana does not have a specific ordinance regulating residential holiday light displays. Display dates, brightness, and decorative content are not regulat...
Santa Ana, CA
Built-in outdoor kitchens in Santa Ana require building, electrical, plumbing, and gas permits under SAMC Chapter 8 (Building and Construction Standards), wh...
Santa Ana, CA
Santa Ana does not have a specific ordinance regulating backyard smokers or wood-fired ovens by time of day. Use is governed by the general nuisance provisio...
Santa Ana, CA
Santa Ana enforces the California Fire Code (CFC) through SAMC Chapter 14 (Fire Prevention) and OCFA (Orange County Fire Authority) under contract. Under CFC...
Side-by-side rule comparisons with other cities in Orange County.
See how other cities in Orange County handle native plants.
See how Santa Ana'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 If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.