Water Restrictions: Petaluma vs Rohnert Park
How do water restrictions rules compare between Petaluma, CA and Rohnert Park, CA?
Rohnert Park has fewer restrictions than Petaluma.
Petaluma, CA
Sonoma County
Petaluma Code §15.17.050 implements California's Model Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance (MWELO). New and rehabilitated landscapes must meet ETo-based water budgets and use approved plant palettes.
View full Petaluma rules →Rohnert Park, CA
Sonoma County
Sonoma County Code Chapter 7D3 requires water-efficient landscape design for qualifying new and rehabilitated landscapes in unincorporated areas, including a 2,500 sq ft cap on grass lawns for sites developed after October 4, 2022 unless they comply with the full Water Efficient Landscape Regulations.
View full Rohnert Park rules →Key Facts Comparison
| Fact | Petaluma | Rohnert Park |
|---|---|---|
| Code | Petaluma Code §15.17.050 | - |
| State Reference | MWELO (CCR Title 23 §490) | - |
| Drought Watering | 2 days/week (Stage 2) | - |
| Code Chapter | - | Sonoma County Code Ch. 7D3 |
| Effective Date | - | January 15, 2010 |
| Grass Lawn Cap | - | 2,500 sq ft (post 10/4/2022) |
| Homeowner Exemption Turf Limit | - | 600 sq ft |
| Plan Check Trigger | - | Buildings/additions > 400 sq ft |
Highlighted rows indicate differences between cities.
Petaluma FAQ
Do small DIY landscape projects need to comply?
Landscapes ≥500 sq ft (new construction) or ≥2,500 sq ft (rehab) trigger MWELO review.
Rohnert Park FAQ
Does Sonoma County limit how much lawn I can plant?
Yes. For sites developed after October 4, 2022, grass lawns may not exceed 2,500 square feet unless the project fully complies with the Water Efficient Landscape Regulations in Chapter 7D3.
Can a homeowner skip the landscape plan check?
Only if all three conditions are met: total landscape area under 5,000 sq ft, turf limited to 600 sq ft, and a weather-based self-adjusting irrigation controller with a rain sensor is installed.
Where is this codified?
It is codified in Sonoma County Code Chapter 7D3 (Water Efficient Landscape) within the Building Regulations title.
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