Water Use Rules in La Mesa, CA (2026)
2 verified water use rules for La Mesa, California, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Turf Replacement Rebates
In the City of La Mesa, new landscape projects covered by the Water Efficient Landscape Regulations cannot use turf freely: medians, parking lot islands, narrow strips under six feet wide, and steep slopes all carry specific bans or irrigation-method mandates under LMMC Chapter 14.29.
La Mesa Turf Restrictions on New Landscaping
Some RestrictionsLa Mesa Municipal Code § 14.29.140
(a)Only low volume or subsurface irrigation shall be used for turf in a landscaped area:(1)On a slope greater than twenty-five percent grade where the toe of the slope is adjacent to an impermeable hardscape.(2)Where any dimension of the landscaped area is less than six feet wide.(b)On a commercial, industrial, institutional or multi-family project, no turf shall be allowed on a center island m...
Recycled Water Rules
In the City of La Mesa, a landscape permit holder must irrigate with tertiary treated recycled water whenever the water purveyor serving the property has it available, install a purple dual-pipe distribution system, and gets a favorable water-budget credit for doing so under LMMC § 14.29.160.
La Mesa Mandatory Recycled Water for Irrigation
Heavy RestrictionsLa Mesa Municipal Code § 14.29.160
(a)A person who obtains a permit for a project that is subject to this chapter shall use recycled water for irrigation when tertiary treated recycled water is available from the water purveyor who supplies water to the property for which the City of La Mesa issues a permit.(b)A person using recycled water shall install a dual distribution system for water received from a public water purveyor. ...
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