Under CMC §19.68.050 and §19.68.070, at least 90% of plants in non-turf areas must be suited to Chico's climate and require minimal water once established. Species must be drawn from the 'very low' or 'low' WUCOLS categories (with limited 'moderate'), and turf areas must be under 10% of total landscape area. New landscapes meeting MWELO thresholds must submit a Landscape Documentation Package.
CMC §19.68.050(B) requires that 90% of plants in non-turf landscape areas be climate-adapted/low-water (the remaining 10% may be moderate-water if hydrozoned and on separate irrigation). CMC §19.68.070 implements California's Model Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance (MWELO, AB 1881, 23 CCR §490 et seq.). It requires plant species to come from the WUCOLS (Water Use Classification of Landscape Species) very-low, low, or limited moderate categories for the Chico region; species must be non-invasive; and plants must be grouped in distinct hydrozones. Developer-installed landscapes 2,500 sq ft or larger and homeowner-installed landscapes 5,000 sq ft or larger must submit a Landscape Documentation Package demonstrating MWELO compliance. Turf must comprise less than 10% of total landscape area and have separate irrigation.
Failure to submit a compliant Landscape Documentation Package halts building/landscape permit final sign-off. Post-installation deviations are violations of CMC Ch. 19.68 enforceable under CMC Ch. 1.14, including monetary administrative penalties and orders to bring the site into compliance.
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Chico, CA
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