Santa Barbara, CA Landscaping Rules: Native Plants (2026)

Santa Barbara strongly favors native and Mediterranean-climate, low-water plantings through its Water Efficient Landscape Standards (WELS), adopted under SBMC Section 14.23.005 (Ordinance 6101 and Council Resolution 23-007). California's Department of Water Resources approved the City's WELS for use in lieu of the statewide Model Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance (MWELO). Compliance is mandatory whenever a landscape or irrigation plan is required by the Municipal Code or by a City design review body, generally triggered by new construction or substantial redevelopment of more than 500 square feet. For residential projects, the standards target about 80% low-water-using plants or a maximum 0.5 Evapotranspiration Adjustment Factor (ETAF); non-residential projects target 100% low-water plants or a 0.37 ETAF. While the City does not mandate that existing yards be torn out and replanted with natives, these standards effectively steer regulated new landscapes toward drought-tolerant and California-native species. In the mapped high fire hazard area, plant selection is further constrained: under Ordinance #5920 all landscape species must be fire-resistant, an Unacceptable Plant Species list should not be planted within 150 feet of a structure, and the City encourages native and Mediterranean plantings in outer defensible-space zones. Residents replacing lawns can also earn rebates for installing water-wise plants.