Water Restrictions: Santa Rosa vs Sonoma
How do water restrictions rules compare between Santa Rosa, CA and Sonoma, CA?
Santa Rosa and Sonoma have similar restriction levels.
Santa Rosa, CA
Sonoma County
Santa Rosa enforces water conservation regulations including restrictions on outdoor watering days and times. The city is served by Sonoma Water and follows state drought regulations.
View full Santa Rosa rules →Sonoma, CA
Sonoma County
Sonoma Municipal Code Chapter 14.32 implements California's Model Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance (MWELO) for new and rehabilitated landscapes, with most provisions triggered at 500 sq ft (new) or 2,500 sq ft (rehabilitated). Single-family private residential landscaping is not affected by AB 1572's non-functional turf irrigation ban.
View full Sonoma rules →Key Facts Comparison
| Fact | Santa Rosa | Sonoma |
|---|---|---|
| Watering | Restricted days and hours | - |
| Runoff | Prohibited onto streets/sidewalks | - |
| New Landscaping | Must comply with MWELO | - |
| Incentives | Lawn conversion rebates available | - |
| Code section | - | SMC Ch. 14.32 |
| New-construction trigger | - | ≥ 500 sq ft landscape |
| Rehabilitation trigger | - | ≥ 2,500 sq ft landscape |
| State authority | - | MWELO — 23 CCR § 490+ |
| AB 1572 turf ban (residential) | - | Does NOT apply to single-family homes |
Highlighted rows indicate differences between cities.
Santa Rosa FAQ
When can I water my lawn in Santa Rosa?
Outdoor watering is restricted to certain days and times. Check the city's current water conservation rules as they vary by drought conditions.
Are there rebates for removing my lawn?
Yes. Santa Rosa offers rebates for converting grass lawns to drought-tolerant landscaping under its water conservation program.
Sonoma FAQ
I'm replacing my front-yard lawn with drought-tolerant plants — do I need a permit under Ch. 14.32?
Only if your project is a 'rehabilitated landscape' of 2,500 sq ft or more AND it requires a building or landscape permit, plan check, or design review. Most simple homeowner lawn-to-xeriscape swaps below that threshold or without permitted hardscape changes are exempt, though state drought rules and Sonoma Water conservation requirements still apply.
Does California's AB 1572 turf ban force me to remove my front lawn by 2027?
No. AB 1572 (Cal. Water Code § 10608.14) prohibits irrigating 'non-functional turf' with potable water on commercial, industrial, institutional, public-agency and HOA common-area properties, phased 2027-2029. Single-family residential landscaping is expressly excluded.
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