Yakima, WA Landscaping Rules: Native Plants (2026)

There is no Yakima ordinance imposing a native-plant requirement or restricting non-native landscape plants on private residential property. For commercial / multi-family development, YMC Chapter 15.07 (Sitescreening) requires planted buffers between incompatible uses. Standard B requires a three-foot-wide planting strip that will create a living evergreen screen at least six feet in height within three years. The chapter does not mandate any species be native, but the sitescreening plan submitted to the administrative official must show the approximate location, height, size and type of all plantings and fences. For street trees and other trees on public property, YMC 8.77 requires that the City of Yakima Public Works Department maintains a list of approved street tree species; the Yakima Tree Board reviews this list and provides the city arborist and Director with recommendations on additions or removals. No species other than those included on the approved list may be planted as a street tree without written permission of the Tree Board. Yakima Valley climate is arid (~8 inches annual precipitation), and water-wise native plants from Eastern Washington shrub-steppe (sagebrush, bluebunch wheatgrass, rabbitbrush) are commonly recommended by extension publications but are not legally required.