Los Angeles, from the 101 to the coast.

Las Virgenes Municipal Water District serves all four cities.

Verified Oct 2026Source: lvmwd.gov

Las Virgenes MWD's home page currently lists $3 per square foot 'for a limited time' to transform a lawn, paid through SoCal WaterSmart. Pre-approval with photos and a water bill comes first; the work must be done within 180 days.

Verified Oct 2026Source: lvmwd.gov, lvmwd.gov: transform your yard

Westlake Village: altering, removing or damaging a protected oak or heritage tree needs a protected-tree permit approved by the City Council. Trimming of live limbs over 4 inches, when an arborist certifies it, can be approved by city staff.

Verified Oct 2026Source: file.lacounty.gov (PDF)

Agoura Hills protects oaks, California sycamore and Southern California black walnut 6 inches and up in trunk diameter, and scrub oak at any size, under its 2025 tree ordinance. The protected zone runs 5 feet past the dripline, 15 feet at minimum, so a patio, wall or irrigation line near your oak, or your neighbor's, can need a tree permit.

Verified Oct 2026Source: agourahillscity.gov, agourahillscity.gov (PDF 2)

Calabasas protects oaks and scrub oak habitat. The protected zone starts 5 feet outside the dripline.

Verified Oct 2026Source: cityofcalabasas.com (PDF)

Hidden Hills: landscaping and tree removal need approval from the community association, even when no city permit is needed.

Verified Oct 2026Source: hiddenhills.org

Calabasas: retaining walls under 3 feet need no building permit unless they hold back a slope or structure, a stricter trigger than the state's 4 feet.

Verified Oct 2026Source: cityofcalabasas.com

Hidden Hills: the association's architectural stamp must be on your plans before the city issues a permit. Plan on association review first.

Verified Oct 2026Source: hiddenhills.org

Los Angeles County Fire Department. Every acre of Calabasas is a Very High fire hazard zone in the 2025 state maps.

Verified Oct 2026Source: State Fire Marshal maps (PDF), fire.lacounty.gov (PDF)

The City of Westlake Village is in Los Angeles County. The Westlake neighborhoods across the county line are part of Thousand Oaks, in Ventura County.

Verified Oct 2026Source: wlv.org

Many neighborhoods here have HOA architectural review. Plan time for it; we build to the approved plans. State law (Civil Code 4735) voids HOA rules that ban low-water plants or artificial turf, though HOAs can still set reasonable design standards.

Verified Oct 2026Source: leginfo.legislature.ca.gov

Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP).

Verified Oct 2026Source: ladwp.com

LADWP currently lists $5.00 per square foot for residential turf replacement ($3 from LADWP plus $2 from Metropolitan), for 250 to 5,000 square feet and up to $25,000. Pre-approval comes first, the work must be done within 6 months, and the new landscape must be kept for 5 years.

Verified Oct 2026Source: ladwp.com

The city's Protected Tree and Shrub ordinance covers native oaks (not scrub oak), Southern California black walnut, western sycamore and California bay laurel, plus toyon and Mexican elderberry shrubs, at 4 inches or more in combined trunk diameter measured 4.5 feet up. Removal needs a Board of Public Works permit and replacement trees, typically 4-to-1.

Verified Oct 2026Source: dbs.lacity.gov (PDF), cityclerk.lacity.org (PDF), streets.lacity.gov

LADBS: a masonry or concrete fence wall over 3.5 feet needs a building permit. The 4-foot retaining wall exemption does not apply on slopes steeper than 1 to 5.

Verified Oct 2026Source: dbs.lacity.gov (PDF), dbs.lacity.gov (PDF 2)

Some hillside lots fall under a city scenic parkway specific plan, with design review of grading, visibility and trees.

Verified Oct 2026Source: planning.lacity.gov (PDF)

Los Angeles Fire Department brush clearance: up to 200 feet around structures in Very High fire hazard zones. Check your parcel in ZIMAS.

Verified Oct 2026Source: lafd.org

Los Angeles County Waterworks District 29.

Verified Oct 2026Source: dpw.lacounty.gov

Malibu protects native oak, California walnut, western sycamore, alder and toyon with one trunk 6 inches or more (or two trunks totaling 8 inches). The City Biologist must approve before any trimming or removal.

Verified Oct 2026Source: malibucity.org

Malibu is in the Coastal Zone. The city issues Coastal Development Permits under its certified Local Coastal Program, and the City Biologist reviews projects.

Verified Oct 2026Source: malibucity.org

Los Angeles County Fire Department. All of Malibu is a Very High fire hazard zone in the 2025 state maps.

Verified Oct 2026Source: State Fire Marshal maps (PDF), fire.lacounty.gov (PDF)

Santa Monica and Beverly Hills run their own water utilities. West Hollywood is split: Beverly Hills water on the west side and LADWP on the east side, so check your bill.

Verified Oct 2026Source: mwdh2o.com, beverlyhills.org, weho.org

Santa Monica runs its own 'Cash for Grass' program for replacing living lawns. Beverly Hills homes on city water can use SoCal WaterSmart, currently $2.00 per square foot. East West Hollywood homes on LADWP can use the LADWP program.

Verified Oct 2026Source: santamonica.gov, beverlyhills.org, ladwp.com

Beverly Hills: a Tree Removal Permit is needed for heritage trees (48 inches around or more), for native trees such as coast live oak, valley oak, California sycamore and California bay (24 inches around or more), and for any tree in an Urban Grove of 50 or more trees.

Verified Oct 2026Source: beverlyhills.org, beverlyhills.org: Protected Trees

Under California's residential code, a retaining wall up to 4 feet tall, measured from the bottom of the footing, generally needs no building permit unless it holds back a slope, driveway or structure. Zoning height limits still apply, and some cities and counties set a lower trigger.

Verified Oct 2026Source: codes.iccsafe.org

Santa Monica got its first Very High fire hazard acreage (276 acres) in the 2025 maps. Beverly Hills has 1,542 acres Very High.

Verified Oct 2026Source: State Fire Marshal maps (PDF)

Pasadena Water and Power and Burbank Water and Power serve their cities. Altadena is served by several water companies, with Foothill MWD as the wholesaler for most of them.

Verified Oct 2026Source: pwp.cityofpasadena.net, burbankwaterandpower.com, fmwd.com, file.lacounty.gov (PDF)

Pasadena Water and Power currently lists $2 per square foot for homes plus $100 per tree for up to 5 trees. Burbank residents use the SoCal WaterSmart turf rebate, currently up to $4 per square foot for a limited time. In Altadena, Foothill MWD lists a $1,000 Landscape Design Rebate, and Metropolitan waived its existing-turf rule for homes damaged or destroyed in the Eaton Fire.

Verified Oct 2026Source: pwp.cityofpasadena.net, burbankwaterandpower.com, fmwd.com, socalwatersmart.com

Pasadena protects native trees over 8 inches (13 listed species, including coast live oak) and a list of specimen trees in the front, required side and rear yards of single-family lots. Removing or injuring one needs a permit.

Verified Oct 2026Source: cityofpasadena.net

Altadena follows the LA County oak tree permit: oaks 8 inches and up. The protected zone is the dripline plus 5 feet, or 15 feet from the trunk, whichever is greater, and pruning branches or roots over 2 inches needs a permit.

Verified Oct 2026Source: planning.lacounty.gov (PDF)

Unincorporated LA County, including Altadena: retaining walls up to 4 feet from the bottom of the footing are exempt unless they hold back a slope or structure. A fence on top of a retaining wall is exempt only up to 6 feet total, with no more than 4 feet retained.

Verified Oct 2026Source: ladpw.org (PDF)

Pasadena (4,152 acres Very High) and Burbank (3,565 acres Very High) have their own fire departments. Altadena is served by Los Angeles County Fire.

Verified Oct 2026Source: State Fire Marshal maps (PDF), fire.lacounty.gov (PDF)