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PC - PUBLIC HEARING: Consideration of a City-Initiated Zoning Code Amendment (P2026-0170-ZCA) to adopt an exemption pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines Sections 15061(b)(3) and 15308; and amend the Culver City Municipal Code (CCMC) Chapter 17.310 - Landscaping, to incorporate California best practices in water conservation and native planting requirements in new and rehabilitated landscape projects.
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Meeting Date: October 14, 2026
Contact Person/Dept.: Gabriel Barreras, Senior Planner
Peer Chacko, Current Planning Manager
Phone Number: (310) 253-5776 / (310) 253-5755
Fiscal Impact: Yes [] No [X] General Fund: Yes [] No [X]
Attachments: Yes [X] No []
Public Notification: (Email) Public Notifications - Planning Commission (09/24/2026), Meetings and Agendas - Planning Commission (10/08/2026), (Posted) City website (09/24/2026), Social Media (09/24/2026); (Published) Culver City News (09/24/2026)
Department Approval Name, Title Date: Emily Stadnicki, Planning and Development Director (10/06/2026) _____________________________________________________________________
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends that the Planning Commission adopt Resolution No. 2026-P005 recommending the City Council adopt an exemption pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines Sections 15061(b)(3) and 15308, and amend the Culver City Municipal Code (CCMC) Chapter 17.310 - Landscaping, as detailed in Exhibit A.
BACKGROUND
The City’s current Landscape Ordinance, codified in CCMC Section 17.310, was last updated on October 9, 2024, as part of the City’s comprehensive Zoning Code Update. Since that time, staff from Planning and Development, Parks, Recreation and Community Services, and Environmental Programs and Operations (EPO) have continued to coordinate on potential updates to the Landscape Ordinance. These updates are intended to incorporate emerging best management practices, improve clarity and consistency, and further align the City’s landscape regulations with State requirements and the goals and policies of the General Plan.
On August 25, 2026, the City Council Standing Sustainability Subcommittee received a presentation on proposed amendments to the Landscape Ordinance. The presentation included an overview of proposed new definitions and revised standards incorporating landscape design best practices and providing greater clarity in the application and review process.
The Subcommittee discussed the potential requirement for California native plants in new and rehabilitated landscape areas. Planning staff provided information regarding the potential benefits and challenges associated with such a requirement, as well as available resources to support its implementation.
The Subcommittee also discussed whether to repeal the City’s existing prohibition on artificial turf (CCMC 17.310.025.B.2.b) and potentially allow its use under some circumstances. The Subcommittee requested staff to conduct further analysis and consider potential amendments related to artificial turf, as discussed below.
DISCUSSION
The proposed Zoning Code Amendment would provide greater clarity and consistency in the administration of the Landscape Ordinance by establishing new definitions and incorporating them into the applicable regulations. The proposed definitions are intended to provide clear and consistent terminology for applicants, property owners, landscape professionals, and City staff, thereby reducing ambiguity in the interpretation and application of the Landscape Ordinance. The proposed new definitions include:
• Graywater;
• Ground Cover;
• Ornamental Feature;
• Hardscape and Softscape Areas;
• New and Rehabilitated Landscape Areas;
• Planters, including removable/temporary and permanent planters;
• Special Landscape Areas; and
• Turf, including natural and artificial turf.
Clarifications to Zoning Landscape Standards
The proposed amendment would codify several established best management practices intended to improve the clarity, consistency, and effectiveness of the City’s landscape regulations. These provisions would provide more specific and objective standards for the design, installation, and maintenance of landscaped areas, while also establishing clearer expectations for applicants, property owners, landscape professionals, and City staff. The proposed standards include:
• Detailed Landscape Plan submittal requirements;
• Increasing the ratio of minimum tree sizes to support greater health and resilience of new landscape projects;
• Prohibiting the future planting of Ficus species, noting their ability to cause property damage to structures, sidewalks, and underground systems;
• Codified standards consistent with the California Model Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance (MWELO);
• Codified resources promoting the use of drought-tolerant and native plant species through the Water Use Classification of Landscape Species (WUCOLS) and California Native Plant Society (CalScape) databases.
• Requiring California native species, as detailed below.
California Native Planting Requirement
City staff explored establishing a native planting requirement for new and rehabilitated landscape projects, to advance stated goals and policies in the 2045 General Plan. Based on research and consultations with City’s Parks and Recreation Department, as well as input from the City Council’s Standing Sustainability Subcommittee, staff recommends the following native planting requirements:
• Native planting shall be required in the following percentages of eligible landscaped areas for projects proposing 500 square feet or more of new and rehabilitated landscaped areas:
o 25% for residential and mixed-use projects;
o 50% for non-residential projects; and
o 60% for all City-owned projects.
• The following uses shall be exempt from native planting requirements:
o City-owned recreational fields;
o Special Landscape Areas, as defined by State law;
o Internal amenity and recreational spaces in multifamily and mixed-use projects;
o Historic sites, unless non-native plantings would result in adverse impacts to a historic resource;
o Green roofs;
o Cemeteries;
o Plant collections at botanical gardens and arboretums; and
o Community gardens and edible gardens.
See Attachment 1 - Exhibit A for all proposed standards.
Additionally, staff recommends that the proposed native planting requirements take effect on May 1, 2027. This proposed timeline will allow staff to conduct various forms of outreach and education on native planting resources, as well as to avoid new planting standards being required during the anticipated 2026 El Niño season.
General Plan Consistency
The proposed requirement would advance several goals and policies of the 2045 General Plan by promoting landscape designs that conserve water, enhance habitat quality, support biodiversity, and increase resilience to a changing climate, including but not limited to:
• Land Use and Community Design Goal LU-16: Landscape design for resilience. Landscape design standards for new development enhance habitat quality, reduce water use, support a diverse ecosystem, and increase resilience to a changing climate;
• Parks Recreation and Public Facilities Policy PR-7.2: Identify ways to reduce the City's long-term operations and maintenance costs, such as adapting more energy-efficient technologies for facilities, using low-water landscape palettes, and using recycled water for irrigation;
• Infrastructure Policy INF-5.4: Integrate green infrastructure strategies into City-owned landscapes - for example, use drought-resistant plants, native plants, recycled water to irrigate, permeable paving, and other low-impact development features.
• Conservation Policy C-2.3: Vegetation at parks and open spaces. Manage vegetation at parks and open spaces in Culver City to support biodiversity by reducing use of pesticides and non-native species.
• Conservation Policy C-2.5: Native species. Plant native species that provide valuable resources for native wildlife and increase habitat resiliency.
Native Planting Case Studies
Currently, only four cities in California have adopted requirements specifically addressing the use of native plant species, and one is in the process of doing so:
• City of Encinitas adopted a 50% native planting requirement in 2026 (single-family is exempt);
• City of San Clemente adopted a 60% requirement in 2022 (certain exemptions apply);
• City of Rio Dell adopted a 25% requirement in 2020;
• City of Fullerton has required native plants since 2009 without specifying a minimum percentage; and
• Los Angeles is considering a native planting requirement within its Wildlife Overlay District, although the regulation remains in draft form.
See Attachment 2 for a table summarizing these jurisdictions’ standards, applicability, and exceptions.
Native Planting Cost and Benefit Analysis
According to the University of California Office of Agriculture and Natural Resources, there are over 5,000 native plant species in California, and 60% of those species are “endemic”, or only native to California. Further, the California Native Plant Society notes that these native plants have adapted to the local area and provide numerous benefits including natural defenses to diseases and insects, reduced water requirements, and less need for maintenance and fertilizers.
In 2004, the city of Santa Monica constructed two 1,900-square-feet gardens on two adjacent front yards to test and compare the potential benefits of native planting. The first yard was landscaped with a “traditional garden” using common non-native plant species and grass lawn. The second yard was landscaped using exclusively native California plants.
The study found that the initial installation cost of the traditional garden was less totaling $12,400, and the native garden totaled $16,700, a difference of $4,300. The difference was due to the native garden requiring construction of an onsite stormwater management system consisting of a permeable pavement and infiltration pit. However, the higher installation cost of the native garden was offset by lower water and maintenance costs, saving approximately $2,200 per year more than the traditional garden. According to the American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA), the native garden required 77% less water, produced 66% less waste, and required 68% less labor.
In terms of cost, native versus non-native plants, trees, and shrubs were found to have similar plants available at various price points. In 2018, a UCLA study compared retail prices of commonly planted species between the Theodore Payne Foundation Nursery, a non-profit dedicated to the education and use of California natives, and retail prices at Home Depot. The study compared native and non-native plants that had similar characteristics and found that costs were comparable in most cases.
Table 1 - Native vs. Non-Native Plant Costs
Table Source: UCLA (2018) Environmental Science Practicum. “Assessing the Relationship Between California Native Plants and Pollinator Abundance.”
*2026 prices provided by Culver City Planning, accessed September 24, 2026.
Native Planting Availability
While drafting the proposed code amendment, City staff has received general questions on the availability of California natives for purchase by individuals and property owners. Currently, there are numerous nurseries and shopping resources available to the public.
The first is the California Native Plant Society (CalScape), a website that allows users to search for plant types, based on region and plant type (shrub, ground cover, trees, etc.). It also allows users to see what nurseries in the region currently stock a particular plant. As part of the ordinance, CalScape will be a codified resource in the Zoning Code.
A second resource is the Water Use Classification of Landscape Species (WUCOLS), a UC Davis plant search database, listing native and non-native plants that are compatible or native to Culver City (Region 3). Note, the WUCOLS database is the primary source for determining compliance with State MWELO requirements.
In July 2026, City staff contacted a number of local and regional nurseries within a 10-mile radius of Culver City. Eight out of 10 nurseries confirmed their ability to source and supply California natives, based on seasonal availability and growth cycles.
Artificial Turf
On October 13, 2025, meeting, the City Council received a presentation from the Public Works Environmental Programs and Operations Division on several options for regulating the use and sale of artificial turf within the City. The City Council voted to remand the topic back to the Standing Sustainability Subcommittee for further review, taking into consideration advancements in turf materials, end-of-life disposal and replacement options, enforcement options, and the economic impacts for businesses. Council requested updates every two years.
At the August 25, 2026, meeting of the Standing Sustainability Subcommittee, Planning staff clarified the Landscape Ordinance already prohibits the use of artificial shrubs, ground cover, and turf in the City, under CCMC Section 17.310.025.B.2b. Additionally, the Subcommittee received an informational presentation from a Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District representative regarding their ongoing study of both natural and artificial turf installed on their campuses. Subcommittee members expressed their interest in exploring alternative turf materials in the future, noting that State law allows local jurisdictions to prohibit artificial turf that contains PFAS or “forever chemicals, but does not prohibit all artificial turf.”
Given the range of financial, ecological, and operational considerations associated with artificial turf, staff recommends maintaining the City's existing prohibition on artificial turf within the Landscape Ordinance at the present time. If City Council directs staff to reconsider allowing artificial turf, staff recommends that a comprehensive analysis be conducted in coordination with the Parks, Recreation and Community Services Department, Environmental Programs and Operations, Economic Development, and other relevant City departments.
FISCAL ANALYSIS
The proposed Amendment, if approved, may impact the cost or availability of anticipated plant materials for Capital Improvement Projects - the exact impact will depend on the scope and size of the project. The proposed Amendment will not increase or change existing Landscape review fees.
ENVIRONMENTAL DETERMINATION
Pursuant to California Code of Regulations, Title 14, Sections 15061(b)(3) (Common Sense Exemption) and 15308 of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines, the proposed amendment is exempt from CEQA.
The proposed amendment updates the City's landscaping regulations to align with the California Model Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance (MWELO) requirements, revise tree and planting standards, and expand use of California native and climate-appropriate plant species. The amendment revises development standards but does not increase development intensity, modify permitted land uses, or authorize new development. Accordingly, the project is exempt from CEQA pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15061(b)(3) because it is consistent with the General Plan 2045 and can be seen with certainty that it will not result in a significant physical impact on the environment.
The project is also categorically exempt under CEQA Guidelines Section 15308, which applies to actions by regulatory agencies authorized by state or local ordinance to maintain, restore, enhance, or protect the environment through a regulatory process that includes environmental protection procedures. Updating these water-efficiency standards directly serves to protect and enhance natural water and ecological resources.
CONCLUSION
The revisions proposed in this amendment will serve to maintain internal consistency and improve the effective implementation and enforcement of the Zoning Code, while maintaining the public interest, health, safety, convenience and welfare. The proposed amendment is consistent with the General Plan, and the findings are made as outlined in Resolution No. 2026-P005 (Attachment 1).
ATTACHMENTS
1. Proposed Planning Commission Resolution No. 2025-P005 with Exhibit A: Proposed Text Changes in “strikethrough/underline” format
2. Summary of Native Planting Regulations - California Cities
recommended action
MOTION(S)
That the Planning Commission:
Adopt Resolution No. 2026-P005, recommending to the City Council to adopt an exemption pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines Sections 15061(b)(3) and 15308, and amend the Culver City Municipal Code (CCMC) Chapter 17.310 - Landscaping, as detailed in Exhibit A.