Water Use Rules in Petaluma, CA (2026)
3 verified water use rules for Petaluma, California, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Turf Replacement Rebates
New and remodeled landscapes in Petaluma cannot rely on lawn as their main planting. Section 15.17.050 caps turf at twenty percent of the landscape area on residential projects and bans it outright on nonresidential sites, plus forbids turf on steep slopes and in narrow street parkways. The rule applies to any project with 500 square feet of new landscape or 2,500 square feet of rehabilitated landscape needing a building permit or design review.
Petaluma Turf Coverage Limits in Landscapes
Some RestrictionsPetaluma Municipal Code § 15.17.050(A)(4)(e), (B)(1)
e. Turf shall comply with all of the following: (1) Turf shall not exceed twenty percent of the landscape area in residential areas, and there shall be no turf in nonresidential areas. (2) Turf shall not be planted on sloped areas which exceed a slope of one foot vertical elevation change for every four feet of horizontal length. (3) Turf is prohibited in parkways less than ten feet wide, unles...
Recycled Water Rules
Petaluma runs its recycled water program on standardized paperwork rather than a council ordinance for every hookup. Chapter 15.90 lets the city council approve form agreements and easements for recycled water service by resolution, and authorizes the city manager to sign individual agreements with customers, many outside city limits, using those pre-approved forms.
Petaluma Recycled Water Service Agreements
Light RestrictionsPetaluma Municipal Code §§ 15.90.100, 15.90.200
The large number of recycled water service agreements for properties located outside the city boundaries makes approval of individual agreements and easements by ordinance impractical and costly in terms of staff time and other public resources. ... In accordance with Section 46 of Article VII of the City of Petaluma Charter, the city council of the city of Petaluma may approve form agreements ...
Leak Reporting Duty
A leaking pipe on your side of the meter is water waste under Petaluma law the moment it runs longer than it should. Section 15.17.070(A)(2) presumes a customer has one hour to stop the flow of a discovered leak and seventy-two hours to fix it completely, whether you find the break yourself or the city notifies you of one.
Petaluma Plumbing Leak Repair Deadlines
Some RestrictionsPetaluma Municipal Code § 15.17.070(A)(2)
2. The escape of water through breaks or leaks within the customer’s plumbing or private distribution system for any substantial period of time within which such break or leak should reasonably have been discovered and corrected. It shall be presumed that a period of one hour to stop the flow of water from such break or leak after the consumer discovers such a break or leak or receives notice f...
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