Tulare Municipal Code Chapter 10.196 (Landscaping) implements California's Model Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance (MWELO, 23 CCR § 490 et seq.) for new and substantially renovated landscapes. Residential projects ≥ 500 sq ft of new landscape area and non-residential ≥ 500 sq ft must submit a Landscape Documentation Package with a Water Efficient Landscape Worksheet showing the Estimated Total Water Use does not exceed the Maximum Applied Water Allowance. Native and low-water plants are strongly favored.
TMC Ch. 10.196 sections include Purpose, Objectives, Definitions, Applicability, Designation of responsibilities, Compliance with Landscape Documentation Package, Penalties, Elements of the Landscape Documentation Package, and Water Efficient Landscape Worksheet. The ordinance follows MWELO thresholds (23 CCR § 491): MAWA = (ETo)(0.62)(ETAF × LA + (1 − ETAF) × SLA), with residential ETAF capped at 0.55 and non-residential at 0.45. Plant Factor categories track WUCOLS (Water Use Classification of Landscape Species); selection of low (PF ≤ 0.3) and very low water-use natives is encouraged. Civil Code § 4735 separately preempts HOA rules restricting drought-tolerant landscaping during state or local drought emergencies. Tulare's location in the Kaweah Subbasin (SGMA critical-overdraft) sharpens enforcement, and the city's annual irrigation program references ETo data for the local CIMIS station.
Project denial of Certificate of Completion; civil penalties under MWELO § 495 and TMC Ch. 10.196 penalty section; potential lien for non-compliance with retrofit conditions of approval.
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