Vacaville, CA Landscaping Rules: Native Plants (2026)
Key Facts
- WELO Citation
- VMC Sec. 14.27
- State Rule
- Cal. MWELO (CCR Tit. 23 Sec. 490+)
- Plant Factor Source
- WUCOLS IV
- Rebate Threshold
- >=50% low-water/native at maturity
- Rebate Administrator
- Solano County Water Agency
- Resource
- UC Davis Arboretum + Solano RCD
Summary
Vacaville does not require native plants in standard residential yards, but the City's Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance at VMC Section 14.27 strongly favors low-water and California-native species through plant-factor calculations under the WUCOLS classification. Solano County Water Agency lawn-conversion rebates require at least 50% drought-tolerant or California-native plants at maturity.
About 40% of the water Californians use at home is used outdoors. Large water savings can be gained by efficient landscape design, installation, management, and maintenance. This is accomplished by choosing climate adapted plants, improving soil conditions, using, and maintaining high efficiency irrigation equipment and managing the irrigation schedule to fit the plants water needs as they are influenced by local climate. ... New development and retrofitted landscape water efficiency standards are governed by the Model Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance (MWELO). All local agencies must adopt, implement, and enforce the MWELO or a local Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance (WELO) that is at least as effective as the MWELO.
Official source re-checked September 8, 2026: the cited page had not changed since it was quoted.
Full Breakdown
Native and drought-tolerant plants are encouraged in Vacaville rather than mandated. VMC Section 14.27 (Vacaville's Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance, implementing the state Model Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance) requires new and rehabilitated landscapes meeting the size threshold to demonstrate a water budget calculated through plant factors from the Water Use Classification of Landscape Species (WUCOLS) list - effectively favoring low-water-use natives over thirsty turf and ornamentals. High-water-use plants (WUCOLS factor 0.7-1.0) are limited. Beyond the regulatory framework, the City partners with the Solano County Water Agency on lawn-conversion rebates: eligible converted areas must be at least 50% covered by low-water, drought-tolerant, or California-native plants at maturity, with high-water-use plants excluded. The Solano Resource Conservation District, UC Davis Arboretum, and the California Native Plant Society run native-plant sales in the Vacaville area each fall - the recommended planting season. The City's own park and median plantings increasingly use natives such as deergrass, California poppy, ceanothus, and coast live oak.
Violations & Fines
Failing the WELO water-budget calculation on a covered project under VMC 14.27 blocks landscape final on the building permit. There is no penalty for choosing non-native plants in a standard residential yard outside the WELO trigger, but homeowners forfeit eligibility for SCWA conversion rebates if planting fewer than 50% qualifying low-water/native species.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Vacaville require native plants?
Can I get a rebate for replacing my lawn?
When is the best time to plant California natives?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Vacaville
California rules heatmap·Compare Vacaville to another location·View the California landscaping rules overview
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Native Plants in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Solano County handle native plants.