ENCINITAS — Under a first-of-its-kind municipal ordinance, developers will be required to use plant species native to the region in future landscape plans for public and private projects in Encinitas.
Sara Cadona, a city planner and project manager for the native plant ordinance, said that while other California cities have programs and recommendations encouraging residents to use local species, Encinitas staff could not find another municipality with an approved native plant ordinance.
“The goal of this ordinance is to establish clear landscaping requirements for qualifying development projects to increase local pollinator species, promote environmental sustainability and resilience, improve habitat and local native biodiversity, foster long-term successful native landscapes, and define what a Southern California native plant is,” Cadona said.
The ordinance codifies a Planning Commission policy in effect since 2016 requiring that 50% of plants on eligible projects be native to Southern California, according to Cadona. Construction or renovation of a single-family residence is exempt.
That figure rises to 100% native plants for city projects, unless an exception applies, such as for cemeteries, golf courses, botanical gardens and state-owned beaches.
Any proposed landscaping within 50 feet of an environmentally sensitive area or open space must include 100% Southern California native plants, according to the city.
“I think this is as close as possible to nailing it,” Councilmember Luke Shaffer said about the ordinance. “The staff, the group here, everybody that’s been involved in this — I think this is the long ball. It’s putting our best foot forward. I think this is some of the best staff work we’ve seen yet.”
The official database of Southern California native plants is available on the Calscape website, maintained by the California Native Plant Society. City staff and an outside consultant collaborated with CNPS to make the website more user-friendly and capable of filtering by “EcoRegions.”
Mayor Bruce Ehlers said codifying the ordinance places it on the same footing as other design requirements, including fire safety. He added that it does not add new steps to the process but formalizes how native plants are addressed in projects that already require a landscape plan.
“I’m a native plant nerd and I’m amazed at the number of residents in Encinitas that are into native plants,” Ehlers said.
Ordinance origins
In August 2021, the City Council voted to form an ad hoc joint committee to develop what became the native plant ordinance. Then-Councilmember Kellie Hinze, who is no longer on the council, and Councilmember Joy Lyndes were selected to represent the council on the subcommittee. Ehlers later replaced Hinze.
The council allocated $150,000 in May 2024 for the project, including hiring an outside consultant. In June 2024, the council selected SWCA Environmental Consultants — an employee-owned firm with offices in San Diego — to assist in developing the ordinance.
The process included city staff and SWCA hosting workshops and gathering feedback from the community and stakeholders. The Planning Commission recommended adoption of the ordinance at its February 2026 meeting.
Public commenters were largely supportive, with many calling the ordinance a success, while others questioned whether it could have a chilling effect on development due to costs.
Basey Klopp, a member of Native Plants for Encinitas, said she wanted “to express my enthusiastic support” for the ordinance, which represents “a commitment to the future of this region.”
“Native plants are not only beautiful, they are the foundation of all native wildlife,” Klopp said. “They sustain our native bees, butterflies, and other pollinators whom the city has previously committed to protecting through the Bee City USA program. They protect our lagoons by reducing runoff and eliminating the need for chemical fertilizers. And once established, they use a fraction of the water of conventional ornamental landscapes.”
Dave Dean, creator of Dave’s Rock Garden, voiced his support as well, adding that watching lizards, bees and hummingbirds in the morning “is just a magical time.”
“It is absolutely amazing what happens in nature,” Dean said.
Julie Thunder, a recent appointee to the city’s Senior Citizen Commission, said that while she appreciated the ordinance’s goals, “there’s probably a reason” other cities had not codified similar rules. Thunder said she would prefer limiting it to city-owned properties.
Rachel Graves said she worried about the costs involved in bringing the ordinance forward. While she supported it in theory, she cited “concerns with cost of government and also cost of living,” including whether it could limit developers’ ability to provide affordable housing.
Still, she saw a potential benefit.
“Maybe that’s a way that you all who are fighting these overdevelopments can get something for our community,” she said. “And maybe if you put this ordinance through, these big developers aren’t going to walk all over us in that small way. And I think that’s a way to get a win for the city and a loss for the big developers.”
Council responds
Before the discussion, Lyndes addressed a complaint filed with the Fair Political Practices Commission related to the native plant ordinance.
According to the complaint, Lyndes, a licensed landscape architect who participated in early discussions as a member of the council’s subcommittee, may have had a potential conflict of interest because the ordinance could increase demand for professional landscape design and maintenance services.
The complaint questions whether her involvement in shaping the policy could result in financial benefit even after her term ends. The complaint is currently under investigation.
Lyndes denied that she would have any “financial benefit from this item.”
Lyndes also added two amendments to Shaffer’s motion, which he accepted. One clarified that plant arrangements must include a mix of species forms — trees, shrubs, grasses and others — along with varied life cycles and blooming periods. The other excluded planter boxes and potted plants from calculations.
Deputy Mayor Jim O’Hara said cost remains a key concern.
“My understanding is the cost of a native plant is more than the cost of a regular plant,” O’Hara said. “Which is what it boils down to for landscaping for 99% of the people out there.”
O’Hara added that the issue is compounded by state mandates to increase the supply of affordable housing.
“Every time we add an ordinance, the price goes up,” O’Hara said. “Doesn’t matter what that ordinance is, it makes the cost of living go up.”
Shaffer said native plants could save money long term because they “seamlessly fit right in because this is where they’re meant to be,” requiring less water and maintenance.
Lyndes said native plants are not typically priced differently from non-native ones. Ehlers agreed.
“I don’t think it adds cost — at least not significant cost — to landscaping,” Ehlers said. “In fact, native plants require less water, and when planted in native soil, they tend to thrive.”
Councilmember Marco San Antonio said he supported the ordinance, especially after Fire Chief Josh Gordon provided written assurance that “the city is not placing habitat goals above fire safety.”
“I wish I could wax poetic like you guys do about this stuff,” San Antonio said. “I’m scarred for life on gardening.”
O’Hara also requested language requiring a progress review within 12 to 15 months, which was included.
The council also directed staff to analyze incentives and educational programs based on budget and impact.
“We are a community of ecological supporters, and this is us,” Lyndes said. “I’ve always rested in the belief that we support environmental quality because we believe it also supports our own human quality of life and our quality of life in our community.
“This is our context. Our ecology is our context. The more we continue to be in touch with it and develop our ordinances and our regulations around it, the better we will become.”
Shaffer said the ordinance could encourage more people to explore the benefits of native plants, including reduced water use and food sources.
“I don’t think this is enough, I hope the globe takes this on,” he said. “But I think this is great right where it is and I think it’s a good first step.”
