San Ramon's Water Use Rules: The Rules That Matter

Every city handles water use rules a little differently. In San Ramon, California, there are 2 distinct rules that residents and property owners should be aware of. Some are stricter than what neighboring cities enforce, and others are more relaxed. Here is what you need to know.

Turf Replacement Rebates

San Ramon caps turf and ornamental water features at 25% of irrigated landscape area on new and rehabilitated projects. Municipal Code § C4-122 requires drought-tolerant plant selection and efficient irrigation design, enforced through mandatory landscape plan review before installation.

Key details: Turf/water feature cap: 25% of irrigated area. Governing section: Municipal Code § C4-122(D). Plan review window: 30 days per review or re-review. Turf water use limit: Tall fescue or lower. Exempt uses: Parks, golf courses, cemeteries, greenbelts, school fields.

San Ramon enforces § C4-122 through the landscape plan review and building/planning permit process rather than after-the-fact citations: a project cannot receive landscape installation approval, and by extension cannot finalize permits, until plans demonstrate compliance with the 25 percent turf cap, plant-selection ratios and irrigation standards. Noncompliant plans are returned for re-review, with the same 30-day review window applying to each resubmittal, and changes to an approved landscape's plant material or irrigation design must go back through city review and approval before installation.

Recycled Water Rules

New landscaping in San Ramon must use recycled water for irrigation whenever it is available under Municipal Code Section D3-21(C)(1), and if recycled water is not yet available, the project must install purple-pipe recycled water infrastructure when it is expected to become available within 15 years.

Key details: Recycled water use: Required if available, Sec. D3-21.C.1. Purple pipe trigger: Required if available within 15 years. Graywater: Allowed under Cal. Plumbing Code Ch. 15. Related standard: Cross-references Municipal Code Sec. C4-122.

Installing potable-only irrigation on a new landscape plan without documenting that recycled water is unavailable, or skipping the purple-pipe infrastructure required when recycled water is reasonably available within 15 years, is a Landscape Plan compliance failure under Section D3-21 and is enforced as an infraction under the City's general penalty section, Section A1-32: up to $100 for a first offense, $200 for a second, and $550 for each further violation within a year.

The Bottom Line

San Ramon'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 San Ramon is broadly strict or permissive.

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