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Sara Cadona
Project Manager/ Planner
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scadona@encinitasca.gov
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Government » Departments » Development Services » Policy Planning
Native Plant Ordinance
Key aspects of the Ordinance include:
- Defining what plants qualify as a southern California native plant
- Utilizes an existing list or data resource that is maintained by another professional organizations. So the City does not have to worry about maintaining a list. The referenced list is Calscape by the California Native Plant Society (CNPS)
- Qualifying private development projects are required to plant 50% of the total landscaping area with southern California native plants
- Qualifying City projects are required to plant 100% of the total landscaping area with southern California native plants
- Prioritizes flexibility for landscape professionals to tailor installation and maintenance approaches based on site-specific conditions while maintaining compliance with native planting requirements.
- Balances sustainability objectives with important considerations such as fire safety, proximity to environmentally sensitive habitat areas, and perpetual maintenance of healthy native landscapes
Goals
- Promote environmental sustainability and resilience.
- Improve habitat and local native biodiversity.
- Increase local pollinators.
- Improve natural spaces including habitat linkages.
- Promote community aesthetics and function.
- Foster long-term successful native landscapes.
- Promote reduced water usage.
Signed Ordinance 2026-07: Adding Chapter 23.27 Native Plants (Effective May 15, 2026)
Ordinance Resources
2. Landscape Certificate of Completion Form
3. Landscape Documentation Package Checklist
4. Example Landscaping Plan- to demonstrate compliance with the NPO
Native Plant Resources
The following table provides internal and external educational resources for professional and general public use related to native plant landscaping. This list is provided for informational purposes only, is not exhaustive, and does not constitute an endorsement of any organization, product, or specific material by the City of Encinitas.
Some resources identify plants as California native; however, not all plants listed in these materials meet the Encinitas native plant ordinance definition of a southern California native plant. The native plant ordinance and its definitions are codified in Encinitas Municipal Code Section 30.27.020.C.
The City of Encinitas recommends consulting with a qualified landscape professional when selecting, installing, and maintaining native plant landscapes. Use of these resources does not guarantee the success, survival, or performance of any planted landscape. The City of Encinitas assumes no responsibility or liability for outcomes resulting from plant selection, installation, or maintenance.
Sponsor Organization/Resource |
General Description |
Link |
| Be Waterwise/ A Planting Guide for San Diego County | A resource planting and watering guide for San Diego native gardens and landscapes. | A Planting Guide for San Diego County PDF |
| Calflora | A nonprofit database providing information on wild California plants. To be a trusted source of aggregated data about California wild plants for education, research, and conservation. | Calflora Website |
| California Botanic Garden | Leading native plant botanical garden with over 22,000 native plants. They host site visits and tours for general learning and exposure to native plants and horticulture. | California Botanic Garden Website |
| California Invasive Plant Council (Cal-IPC) | An inventory of non-native plant species that threaten and are at high risk of becoming invasive in the future to California's natural areas. Including resources for land managers, landscaping professionals and California residents. | Cal-IPC Website |
| California Native Plant Society (CNPS)/ Calscape | Comprehensive website that provides links to a variety of educational botanical resources including plants, design, and care. | Calscape Website |
| California Native Plant Society (CNPS) San Diego Chapter/ Native Landscape Planting Guide | CNPS created a native landscape planting guide to help design, plant and maintain a native plant garden. | Native Landscape Guide PDF |
| City of Encinitas- Bee City | Encinitas is recognized as a Bee City Affiliate and has a webpage with more information about pollinators, helpful resources information about the City’s Integrated Pest Management Policy. | Bee City Website |
| City of Encinitas- Habitat Stewardship Program | The City established a program to address the management and stewardship of City-owned open space areas to continue conserving and managing the habitats and biodiversity unique to the City. A Site Assessment Report (2019) guides the prioritization, needs, and stewardship actions under this program. | Habitat Stewardship Program Website |
| City of Encinitas- Permanent BMP Program | The City has created a Best Management Practices Design Manual to outline the requirements and recommendations, including a planting list for permanent stormwater BMP’s. The City is currently updating the recommended plant list, this new list will identify if it is California native and if it supports local native pollinators. | Permanent BMP Program Website |
| City of Encinitas- Urban Forest Advisory Committee (UFAC) | Information on Encinitas Arbor Day, Urban Forestry Management Program and tree planting and maintenance resources. | Completed City Council Ad-hoc Committees & Subcommittees |
| Homegrown National Park | Homegrown National Park (HNP) is a nonprofit that provides educational resources and encourages property owners to add native plants and remove invasive ones. They also provide a resource directory for online and local nurseries, landscape designers, and educational materials. | Homegrown National Park Website |
| Native Plants 4 Encinitas (NP4E) | Group of local Encinitas residents and professionals that are dedicated to public education and advocacy for restoring and preserving southern California’s native plants and the ecosystems they support. Special focus is given to both public and private spaces within urban and suburban settings. | www.np4e.org (copy and paste URL) |
| Native Plants 4 Encinitas/ Native Plant List | The NP4E plant list was developed to provide a curated selection of native plants that support biodiversity, enhance local ecosystems, and align with the unique environmental needs of San Diego County and Encinitas. This list serves as a practical resource for Encinitas residents who are creating resilient, wildlife-friendly landscapes. The NP4E plant list was developed based on nursery availability, native plants that are local to Encinitas, removed plants that are problematic and unsuitable for garden. This list has not been verified to be complying with the native plant ordinance and future updates to the list may not comply with the ordinance. | NP4E Plant List PDF |
| Pollinator Pathway | Pollinator Pathway is a community-driven platform that helps people connect through the common use of native plants to support bees, butterflies, birds, and other pollinators. Also an educational resource for native plants, sustainable landscape conversion, and pollinator-friendly ordinances and community policies. | Pollinator Pathway Website |
| San Diego Botanic Garden (SDBG) | Botanical garden with landscape installations from all over the world, including a Native plant garden and native people trail. The SDBG offers educational tours of the native plant garden. | SDBG Website |
| San Diego County Low Impact Development Handbook, Plant Palette | Guide with size and care information for some common landscape plants in San Diego County. | Plant Palette PDF |
| San Diego County/ Fire Safe California Native Plant List | A resource guide for fire resistant native plants and suggested plants for defensible space. | Fire Safe California Native Plant List |
| San Diego County/ San Diego Sustainable Landscape Guidelines | Resource to assist with plant section based on specific location and specialized needs, like climate zones, soils, irrigation, etc. | San Diego Sustainable Landscape Guidelines PDF |
| San Diego County Multiple Species Habitat Conservation Plan (MSHCP) | Resource material page for the County of San Diego’s MSHCP program. The MSHCP program is a regional conservation planning framework that contains best-available science on habitats, species, and conservation strategies. The City of Encinitas has not adopted the City’s specific draft plan but it can still use the document for landscape design, habitat protection guidance and species considerations. | MSHCP Website |
| San Diego Natural History Museum/San Diego County Plant Atlas | Resource with technical information commonly used by professional botanists or plant enthusiasts. | San Diego County Plant Atlas Website |
| San Diego County Water Authority/ Nifty Fifty | Online brochure with names and pictures of fifty attractive and easy to grow native and water smart plants with a short care guide. | Nifty Fifty PDF |
| Landscape Architecture Foundation/ Landscape Performance Series | An online set of resources to help designers, agencies, and advocates evaluate performance, show value and make the case for sustainable landscape solutions. | Landscape Performance Series Website |
| Theodore Payne Foundation/ Plant Learning Guides | Resource with many resources for guidance and lists to help you find a native plant for your specific needs such as defensible gardens, gardens for animals, aromatic, coastal and urban gardens, etc. | Plant Learning Guide Website |
| Tree People/ Southern California Native Plant Starter Guide | Illustrated guide to native plant selection, requirements, installation and maintenance. | Southern California Native Plant Start Guide PDF |
| University and Jepson Herbaria, UC Berkley/ Jepson eFlora | A statewide resource for industry professionals for the native and naturalized vascular plants of California. | Jepson eFlora Website |
| UC Davis, California Center for Urban Horticulture/ Water Use Classification of Landscape Species (WUCOLS) | Searchable database that provides water use information about plants commonly used in California gardens; plant list based on a poll of landscape architects. | WUCOLS Website |
| Water Conservation Garden | The garden’s webpage offers many landscaping and gardening resources, their garden is located at Cuyamaca College in El Cajon where they have educational exhibits, programs, workshops and events that promote water conservation and the sustainable use of related natural resources. | Water Conservation Garden Website |
| Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation/ Pollinator-Friendly Native Plant Lists | State or Ecoregion-specific lists of native plants for pollinators and beneficial insects. | Xerces Society Website |
To support native landscaping and water-wise practices throughout the community, the City has compiled a collection of local and regional programs that offer incentives, rebates, and educational resources for residents and property owners that are interested in converting their properties existing landscapes. These programs can help community members transition to native and climate-appropriate landscaping, improve water efficiency, reduce maintenance needs, and enhance local biodiversity. Explore the resources below to learn about available funding opportunities, technical assistance, and rebate programs that can help support your landscape improvement projects.
Title |
Summary |
Estimated Cost (Check website for more information) |
Link |
|
Turf Replacement Program- Residential |
SoCal WaterSmart has a residential rebate program that encourages homeowners to remove their existing grass and replace it with California native and drought tolerant landscapes. |
Free. Rebate amounts vary by water agency and are based on the availability of funding. |
|
|
Turf Replacement Program- Commercial |
SoCal WaterSmart has a commercial turf replacement program that combines non-functional turf removal, irrigation modification and rainwater retention or filtration to support reuse or soil absorption of rainwater. |
Free. Rebate amounts vary by water agency and are based on the availability of funding. |
|
|
WaterSmart Landscape Contest |
Residents that fall under the authority of the San Dieguito Water District or Olivenhain Water District may participate in the WaterSmart landscape contest where an annual winner is selected for their native and/or drought tolerant landscaping. |
Free. The winner receives a $250 gift certificate and is recognized in the agency’s newsletter, website, and other promotional materials. |
|
|
Metropolitan Water District of Southern California (MWDSC) - Educational Classes and Workshops |
The MWDSC collaborates with other participating local water agencies to offer weekly California friendly landscaping classes. A variety of virtual and in-person workshops, seminars, and trainings on topics like California friendly native plant landscaping, turf removal, garden design, rainwater capture, irrigation and controller basics, and drip irrigation. |
Free. |
|
|
California Native Plant Society (CNPS) Membership |
Members of CNPS receive benefits such as discounts on native plant workshops and conferences, and discounts at nurseries. |
$150 annually for CNPS membership. |
|
|
Southern California Residential Habitat Kit Program |
The Xerces Society offers habitat restoration kits for residential projects which provide transplants of native and pollinator-friendly species (bees and butterflies) to residents in Southern California. The program requires an application, and the application period is usually from June to August. |
Free (if awarded). |
|
|
California Monarch and Pollinator Habitat Kit Program |
The Xerces Society offers habitat restoration kits that are intended to be used to create or enhance monarch and pollinator habitat on working lands, public lands, tribal lands and private/non-working lands recovering from wildfires, with landowner or land manager collaboration. This includes farms, ranches, tribal land, post-wildfire recovery areas, urban farms or gardens, City parks, school gardens or other public areas. These are not intended to be used for home gardens. The program requires an application, and the application period is usually from February to April. |
Free (if awarded). |
|
|
San Diego Botanical Garden (SDBG) |
|
$55 annually per person for membership or $18 per person for one day admission. |
|
|
Native Plants for Encinitas (NP4E) Group Outreach and Education |
The NP4E Group is a voluntary Encinitas community group that conducts outreach, provides educational opportunities, and is a great local community resource. The following is a list of activities that they have done to promote the use of native plants:
The N4PE Group also plans to schedule future tours of existing native landscapes and demonstration gardens. |
Free. |
Background
On August 11, 2021, the City Council voted to form an ad hoc joint committee to develop technical guidelines for a native plant policy and programs. The City Council designated Council Members Lyndes and Hinze to act as City Council subcommittee members. Council Member Ehlers later replaced Council Member Hinze on the subcommittee. The subcommittee held three joint meetings with the Planning Commission, Environmental Commission, and Urban Forest Advisory Committee on March 31, 2022, May 31, 2022, and August 3, 2022, respectively.
On January 25, 2023, the City Council unanimously adopted Resolution No. 2023-03 to initiate the preparation of a native plant ordinance establishing policies and programs based on the subcommittee recommendations outlined in the agenda report from that hearing. At this meeting, the financial aspects of the ordinance were not discussed.
On March 20, 2024, staff presented the City Council subcommittee’s refined scope of work for the native plant ordinance and estimated budget to the City Council for consideration. The City Council provided staff with policy direction, but no action was taken.
At the budget introduction on May 15, 2024, City Council directed staff to allocate $150,000 towards the development of a simplified native plant ordinance (revised project scope) with the use of a consultant. The City Council adopted Resolution No. 2024-65, on June 12, 2024, approving the fiscal year 2024-25 operating budget and capital improvement program appropriations, including the work project for the simplified native plant ordinance and hiring a consultant.
On July 11, 2024, staff prepared and released a request for proposal (RFP) to hire a natural resources and project management services consultant for the Native Plant Ordinance. The RFP closed on July 25, 2024, and staff received seven proposals. On September 12, 2024, staff identified two of the seven candidates for interviews. Based on the review of the proposals and the outcome of the interviews. Staff selected the most qualified candidate, SWCA Environmental Consultants.
On October 23, 2024, the City Council approved the professional services agreement with SWCA Environmental Consultants. See the October 23, 2024 City Council agenda report.
The Public Review Period for the draft Native Plant Ordinance was from October 21 through November 18, 2025.
The Native Plant Ordinance in Encinitas encourages sustainable landscaping practices by promoting the use of drought-tolerant and native plants that support local ecosystems. By aligning with this policy, residents and developers contribute to water conservation, habitat restoration, and environmental resilience. Explore how this ordinance integrates with broader policy planning initiatives to ensure a greener and more sustainable Encinitas for future generations.
Public Participation
January 21, 2025 - Focused Stakeholder Meeting
The City of Encinitas and SWCA Environmental Consultants hosted a focused stakeholder meeting with the 'Native Plants for Encinitas' group and other key stakeholders that took place at City Hall in the Poinsettia Room on January 21, 2025 from 9:00 - 11:00 AM. The goal of this meeting was to review and discuss existing native plant list(s) and provide a recommendation of which existing list(s) are to be used in the native plant ordinance.
Meeting Recording (Audio Only)
Existing Native Plant List Pros/Cons Table (Handout #1)
March 24, 2025 - Public Workshop #1
The City of Encinitas and SWCA Environmental Consultants hosted the first public workshop for the Native Plant Ordinance on March 24, 2025 from 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM at City Hall in the Poinsettia Room. The purpose of this public workshop was to discuss the goals of the NPO and receive feedback on the draft outline of the ordinance which included the compiled existing native plant lists.
Native Plant Ordinance Draft Outline
Existing Native Plant List Pros/Cons Table (Revised)
June 23, 2025 - Public Workshop #2
The City and SWCA Environmental Consultants hosted the second public workshop on June 23, 2025, from 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM at City Hall in the Poinsettia Room. At this workshop we received feedback on the draft ordinance and discussed possible incentive programs for conversions of existing non-native landscapes.
Draft Ordinance (Strikethrough/Underline Version)
Draft Ordinance (Clean Version)
Southern California Native Plant Definition Map
Public Hearings
November 4, 2025 - Joint Environmental Commission and Urban Forest Advisory Committee Public Hearing
On November 4, 2025 at 5:00 PM the Environmental Commission and Urban Forest Advisory Committee (UFAC) held a public hearing to review the draft native plant ordinance and provide staff with any comments or recommended modifications for staff's consideration.
Meeting Materials:
February 19, 2026 - Planning Commission Public Hearing
On February 19, 2026, the Planning Commission held a public hearing to consider a recommendation to the City Council regarding approval and adoption of the Native Plant Ordinance. The Planning Commission approved unanimously (5-0).
Meeting Materials:
Planning Commission Agenda Packet
March 25, 2026 - City Council Public Hearing (Introduction)
On March 25, 2026, the City Council held a public hearing to consider the introduction of City Council Ordinance No. 2026-07 to adopt a Native Plant Ordinance and to provide staff direction on native plant incentive programs. The City Council unanimously approved the ordinance 5-0 with two recommended modifications and for staff to return to the City Council with a report on the ordinance in 12-15 months. The City Council also directed staff to conduct additional research and operational analysis of the potential incentive programs need to be conducted, and the results will be brought back to City Council for consideration and can be considered as an off-cycle budget item.
Meeting Materials:
April 15 2026 - City Council Public Hearing (Adoption)
On April 15, 2026, the City Council held a public hearing and unanimously adopted City Council Ordinance No. 2026-07 establishing the Native Plant Ordinance. The City Council also directed the Development Services Director to prepare an internal policy memorandum clarifying that all single-family residences, including those within subdivision applications, are exempt from the ordinance.
Meeting Materials: