Yuba County, CA Landscaping Rules: Rainwater Harvesting (2026)

Yuba County does not have a stand-alone ordinance restricting residential rainwater collection. The controlling rules are statewide. California Water Code Section 10573 provides that the collection and use of rainwater falling on a landowner's property is not a diversion of water and does not require a water-right permit, and the Rainwater Capture Act of 2012 (AB 1750) expressly authorizes capturing rainwater from rooftops and other surfaces for beneficial use. Homeowners may install rain barrels and cisterns to capture roof runoff for non-potable uses such as irrigating gardens and landscaping. Simple rain barrels are generally treated as a low-risk activity; larger cistern systems, or any system that connects to a building's plumbing or is used indoors, fall under the California Plumbing Code and may require a building permit and backflow protection. The County's 2030 General Plan encourages this direction: Policy NR12.7 says projects that include rainwater collection and use, climate-appropriate landscaping and other water-conserving measures beyond state requirements should benefit from proportionally lower development impact fees. Captured rainwater must be used on the property where it is collected.