Victorville, CA Landscaping Rules: Native Plants (2026)

The California Department of Water Resources Model Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance (MWELO, 23 CCR 490 et seq.) requires cities, including Victorville, to enforce landscape water-budget rules on new construction and major rehabilitation projects. Residential projects over 500 square feet subject to permit, and commercial projects over 2,500 square feet, must submit a Landscape Documentation Package with plant factor calculations, high-efficiency irrigation design, soil management, and hydrozoning. Climate-appropriate Mojave Desert plants including creosote, desert sage, brittlebush, Mojave yucca, desert willow, and California natives are encouraged because their plant factors meet water budgets easily. Western Joshua trees (Yucca brevifolia) are the marquee native: they are protected under California Fish and Game Code 1927 (Western Joshua Tree Conservation Act, AB 122 / SB 122), so both preserving existing Joshua trees on site and relocating them during construction require CDFW permits and mitigation fees. AB 1572 phases out potable water on non-functional turf at commercial and HOA common areas by January 2027, making desert-native plantings the practical alternative. HOA CC&Rs that forbid low-water landscaping conflict with Civil Code 4735 and are unenforceable.