Water Use Rules in Sonoma County, CA (2026)
2 county-level rules, plus city-specific rules for 2 cities in Sonoma County, California.
Verified from official government sources
Turf Replacement Rebates
Unincorporated Sonoma County bans replanting turf on slopes over 10%, strips 8 feet wide or less, and any median or traffic island under the county's water-efficient landscape law.
Sonoma County Turf Replacement Rules
Some RestrictionsSonoma County Code § 7D3-7(A)(4)
Turf shall not be planted in the following conditions: a. Slopes exceeding ten percent (10%). b. Planting areas eight feet (8') wide or less. c. Street medians, traffic islands, planter strips, or bulbouts of any size.
Recycled Water Rules
Sonoma County's water-efficient landscape ordinance requires recycled water for water features, ponds, fountains, artificial streams, and pools, whenever it's available on site, part of the county's water conservation standards for new and rehabilitated landscape projects.
Sonoma County Recycled Water for Landscapes
Some RestrictionsSonoma County Code § 7D3-7(C)
C.Water Features.1.Recirculating water systems shall be used for all water features.2.Recycled water shall be used when available on site.3.Surface area of water features shall be included in the high water use hydrozone area of the water budget calculation.
Water Use Rules by City in Sonoma County
2 cities in Sonoma County have their own water use rules rules. Each link goes to that city's dedicated page with code citations.
All Sonoma County ordinances
See every category we cover for Sonoma County: parking, noise, fences, fires, animals, pools, and more.
Sonoma County Ordinance Hub →