Turlock, CA Landscaping Rules: Native Plants (2026)
Key Facts
- Species cap
- No species over 20% of mix
- Ground cover alone
- Not acceptable
- Selection standard
- Drought tolerant, climate-adapted
- State overlay
- CA Model WELO applies too
Summary
Turlock's landscaping ordinance doesn't mandate native species outright, but it requires plant selection for drought tolerance and climate adaptability, bans ground-cover-only designs, and caps any single species at 20% of the planting mix.
Plant materials shall be selected for maintenance efficiency, drought tolerance and adaptability, and relationship to Turlock's environment and climate. Trees and shrubs in reasonable numbers shall be used in the landscape design; ground cover alone shall not be acceptable. No one (1) species of plant shall exceed twenty (20%) percent of the plant material. Landscaped areas shall incorporate a minimum of two (2) of the following plantings: (1) grasses and ground covers, (2) shrubs, and (3) trees.
(ii) For all commercial, industrial and multifamily projects, plant materials shall be sized and spaced to achieve immediate effect and shall normally not be less than twenty-four (24") inch box for parking lot shade trees, fifteen (15) gallon container for trees, five (5) gallon container for shrubs, and a one (1) gallon container for mass planting. Non-turf areas, such as shrub beds, shall be top dressed with a bark chip mulch or approved alternative.
(iii) Turf shall be limited to twenty-five (25%) percent of the total landscaped area in all C and I districts. In residential districts turf shall not exceed fifty (50%) percent of the total landscaped area.
(aa)
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4937289; v6 updated 2026-06-25).
Full Breakdown
TMC § 9-2-109(f)(3)(i) requires that plant materials for required landscaping be chosen for maintenance efficiency, drought tolerance, adaptability, and fit with Turlock's climate, with trees and shrubs required alongside ground cover: no design may rely on ground cover alone. No single plant species may exceed 20% of the total plant material, pushing designs toward diverse, adapted plantings rather than a monoculture lawn. The section operates alongside the State of California Model Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance, which the city has adapted locally.
Violations & Fines
Landscape plans that fail the drought-tolerance, diversity, or 20%-species cap are rejected at plan review by the Development Services Department before a building or occupancy permit issues; noncompliant installed landscaping can be required to be replanted.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Turlock require native plants in landscaping?
Can a Turlock landscape plan use only ground cover?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Turlock
California rules heatmap·Compare Turlock to another location·View the California landscaping rules overview
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Native Plants in Nearby Cities
How other cities in this county handle native plants.