Water Use Rules in Hayward, CA

If you live in Hayward or are thinking about moving there, water use rules are one of those things you probably won't think about until they affect you directly. Hayward has 2 specific rules on the books covering different aspects of water use rules, and some of them might surprise you.

Turf Replacement Rebates

Hayward's landscape ordinance bans turf outright in several settings rather than merely limiting it. Sec. 10-12.07(a)(2)(D) and (E) prohibit turf on slopes steeper than 25% draining onto hardscape, and in multifamily or non-residential landscapes unless the turf is a recreational area; single-family lawns stay legal as long as the project meets its water budget.

Key details: Slope ban: turf banned over 25% slope to hardscape. Multifamily/non-residential turf: banned unless recreational area. Single-family turf: allowed if water budget met. Street medians: high water-use plants banned. Compliance check: field inspection before occupancy.

A landscape design plan showing turf on a slope over 25% draining to hardscape, or non-recreational turf at a multifamily or commercial site, fails plan check under Sec. 10-12.07 and cannot get a building or landscape permit. If turf is installed anyway, the City Landscape Architect's field inspection before Certificate of Completion under Sec. 10-12.09 will flag it on the correction list, and the project cannot close out or receive a Certificate of Occupancy until the turf is removed or reconfigured to comply.

This is one of the stricter rules in Hayward's municipal code. If you are unsure whether your situation complies, it is worth checking with the city before proceeding.

Recycled Water Rules

Covered landscape projects in Hayward must be designed to accept recycled water even before it is available on site. Sec. 10-12.13 requires recycled water irrigation systems to allow for current and future use, mandates compliance with all state and local recycled-water laws, and classifies any landscape actually using it as a Special Landscape Area with its water-use adjustment factor capped at 1.0.

Key details: ETAF cap for recycled water: up to 1.0. Residential ETAF cap: 0.55 (non-recycled). Non-residential ETAF cap: 0.45 (non-recycled). Classification: Special Landscape Area. Design requirement: must allow future recycled-water use.

A recycled water irrigation system that is not designed for current and future recycled-water use, or that is not built and operated per applicable state and local law, fails plan check under Sec. 10-12.13 and blocks issuance of the landscape permit. Misclassifying an ordinary irrigated area as a recycled-water Special Landscape Area to claim the higher 1.0 ETAF is caught at the Sec. 10-12.09 Certificate of Completion field inspection, which generates a correction list before the City signs off and Certificate of Occupancy can issue.

The Bottom Line

Hayward's water use rules rules are a mixed bag. Some areas are strict, others are relaxed, and the details matter. The best approach is to check the specific rule that applies to your situation rather than assuming Hayward is broadly strict or permissive.

This guide is based on Hayward's current municipal code. Local rules can and do change, so check the individual ordinance pages for the latest details, penalties, and FAQs.