Water Restrictions: Lompoc vs Santa Maria

What outdoor watering rules apply to me in Santa Barbara County?

Two layers always apply, plus a third when drought emergencies are declared. (1) California's permanent statewide rules at Cal Code Regs Title 23 Sections 996-997 prohibit at all times: irrigation runoff across property lines; hosing off hardscapes (sidewalks, driveways); washing a vehicle with a hose lacking a shut-off nozzle; using potable water in a non-recirculating decorative fountain; and irrigating during or within 48 hours after measurable rainfall. (2) Your retail water supplier (Goleta WD, Montecito WD, Carpinteria Valley WD, City of Santa Barbara, City of Santa Maria, Golden State Water, or a small mutual) sets stage-specific assigned watering days and hours, customer allocations, and surcharges; check your last bill or the district's website for your current stage. (3) When the Governor declares a drought emergency, the State Water Resources Control Board may add statewide emergency regulations that override local rules to the extent stricter.

How does Lake Cachuma affect my water restrictions?

Lake Cachuma is the South Coast's primary surface-water reservoir, operated by the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation under the Cachuma Project and allocated through the Cachuma Operation and Maintenance Board to the City of Santa Barbara, Goleta Water District, Montecito Water District, and Carpinteria Valley Water District. When Cachuma storage drops below trigger levels (set by each district's water-shortage contingency plan), the participating retail suppliers escalate to higher drought stages, tightening watering-day, irrigation-hour, and allocation rules. The 2012-2016 drought drove Cachuma below 10 percent of capacity and triggered Stage 3 restrictions, customer allocations, and reactivation of the City of Santa Barbara's Charles E. Meyer Desalination Plant in 2017. Conditions improved in 2017, 2019, and especially 2023, but the County's overall water supply remains stressed.

What do I have to do if I'm building a new home or doing a major landscape remodel?

Your landscape design must comply with the State of California's Model Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance (MWELO), codified at Cal Code Regs Title 23 Sections 490-495, as adopted and implemented by Santa Barbara County and its cities. MWELO sets a Maximum Applied Water Allowance (MAWA) based on landscape area and reference evapotranspiration, restricts turf area on residential and non-residential projects, requires high-efficiency drip or pressure-regulated overhead irrigation, mandates smart controllers and weather- or sensor-based scheduling, requires a Landscape Documentation Package and Certificate of Completion, and prohibits irrigation on slopes greater than 25 percent except by drip. Without MWELO sign-off, your project cannot receive a final landscape inspection or, in many cases, a certificate of occupancy.

Are there water restrictions in Santa Maria?

California water conservation rules apply. During drought conditions, mandatory restrictions may limit outdoor watering.

Can I replace my lawn with drought-tolerant plants in Santa Maria?

Yes. The city encourages water-efficient landscaping and may offer rebate programs.