Water Use Rules in Riverside County, CA (2026)

2 county-level rules, plus city-specific rules for 7 cities in Riverside County, California.

Verified from official government sources

Note: These county rules apply to unincorporated areas of Riverside County. If you live within an incorporated city, that city's own rules apply: see the city list below.

Turf Replacement Rebates

Riverside County prohibits new natural turfgrass lawns in the front yards of new residential subdivisions and bars installing new natural turf in medians and parkways along county-maintained roads, under the county's water-efficient landscape ordinance.

Riverside County Bans New Front-Yard Turf

Significant Restrictions

Riverside County Code § 17.276.050(B)(1)

New natural turfgrass lawns are effectively prohibited within the front yard for any new residential subdivisions. New natural turfgrass within medians and parkways within and along county maintained roads are effectively prohibited.

Full ordinance details →Official source ↗

Recycled Water Rules

Riverside County landscape rules push recycled water: permitted new and rehabbed landscapes may use up to 70% of reference evapotranspiration when serviced entirely by recycled water, versus only 50% on potable water.

Riverside County Recycled Water Landscaping

Some Restrictions

Riverside County Code § 17.276.020.F

To assure the attainment of water efficient landscape goals by requiring that landscapes serviced entirely by recycled water not exceed a maximum water demand of seventy (70) percent or 0.70 of its reference evapotranspiration (ETo)

Full ordinance details →Official source ↗