Water Use Rules in San Diego County, CA (2026)
3 county-level rules, plus city-specific rules for 8 cities in San Diego County, California.
Verified from official government sources
Turf Replacement Rebates
In unincorporated San Diego County, new and remodeled landscaping capped at 25% irrigated turf for single-family and multi-family projects under County Code § 86.716. No irrigated turf is allowed at all in non-residential landscaped areas outside a special landscape area.
San Diego County Turf Limits in Landscaping
Some RestrictionsSan Diego County Code § 86.716
SEC. 86.716. LIMITATIONS ON USE OF TURF IN LANDSCAPED AREAS. The following regulations shall apply to the use of turf on a project subject to this chapter: (a) Irrigated turf shall not exceed 25 percent of the total aggregate landscaped area for single family residences and multi-family residential projects. (b) No irrigated turf is allowed in non-residential areas unless included ...
Recycled Water Rules
Unincorporated San Diego County requires new discretionary development to use recycled water for irrigation, toilet flushing, and industrial uses instead of potable water whenever a suitable recycled supply is available under County Code section 67.520.
San Diego County Recycled Water Use Rules
Significant RestrictionsSan Diego County Code § 67.520
No person or public agency shall use water from any source of quality suitable for potable domestic use for non-potable uses, including the irrigation of greenbelt areas, highway landscaped areas, flushing of toilets and urinals in non-residential structures and industrial uses if suitable recycled water is available as provided in Water Code Section 13550 through 13554. This prohibition shall ...
Leak Reporting Duty
Letting delivered water leak or seep off your unincorporated San Diego County property is itself evidence of a code violation. The person in possession or control of the premises is presumed responsible, and violations run through the code's general misdemeanor penalty.
San Diego County Water Waste & Leak Liability
Some RestrictionsSan Diego County Code §§ 67.101-67.103
No person shall waste or cause or permit to be wasted any water furnished or delivered by any agency distributing for public benefit any water dedicated to or provided for public use within the unincorporated territory of the County of San Diego. ... It shall be prima facie evidence of the violation of this chapter for any person to permit any water supplied from such a source to the premises o...
Water Use Rules by City in San Diego County
8 cities in San Diego County have their own water use rules rules. Each link goes to that city's dedicated page with code citations.
2 verified rules • Leak Reporting Duty, Turf Replacement Rebates
2 verified rules • Recycled Water Rules, Turf Replacement Rebates
3 verified rules • Leak Reporting Duty, Recycled Water Rules
2 verified rules • Recycled Water Rules, Turf Replacement Rebates
1 verified rule • Recycled Water Rules
3 verified rules • Leak Reporting Duty, Recycled Water Rules
2 verified rules • Recycled Water Rules, Turf Replacement Rebates
2 verified rules • Recycled Water Rules, Turf Replacement Rebates
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