Tustin, CA Landscaping Rules: Native Plants (2026)

Tustin's Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance (Ord. 1465) and its implementation Guidelines steer landscaping toward native and low-water plants without mandating any specific native percentage for ordinary homeowners. The Guidelines call for 'selection of water-conserving plant, tree and turf species' and 'protection and preservation of non-invasive water-conserving plant, tree' material. Plant water use is scored by a plant factor from the State Department of Water Resources WUCOLS list: 0 to 0.1 is very low water use, 0.1 to 0.3 low, 0.4 to 0.6 moderate, and 0.7 to 1.0 high. The Guidelines note that highly drought-tolerant native plant areas can qualify as a very-low-water hydrozone with a plant factor of 0.1. Two clear restrictions: high-water-use plants (plant factor 0.7 to 1.0) 'are prohibited in street medians,' and 'the use of invasive plant species, such as those listed by the California Invasive Plant Council, is strongly discouraged.' The Guidelines also protect homeowner choice: 'the architectural guidelines of a common interest development... shall not prohibit or include conditions that have the effect of prohibiting the use of water efficient plant species as a group,' echoing California Civil Code limits on HOA bans of drought-tolerant landscaping. For projects in fire-prone or fuel-modification zones, fire-safety requirements take priority over water-conservation design where the two conflict.