Cupertino places no ban on residential rainwater harvesting and actively encourages on-site rainwater and graywater capture in its Water-Efficient Landscape and Green Stormwater programs. California law lets homeowners collect rooftop rainwater without a water right.
No Cupertino ordinance restricts residential rainwater harvesting. California's Rainwater Capture Act (Water Code Sections 10573-10574) confirms a landowner may capture rooftop rainwater on their parcel without an appropriative water right, and the California Plumbing Code (Title 24, Part 5, Chapter 16) governs system standards. Simple rain barrels for outdoor irrigation generally need no plumbing permit. Cupertino's Water-Efficient Landscape checklist credits on-site captured rainwater, graywater, and recycled water as landscape water sources, and the City's Green Stormwater Infrastructure Plan promotes rain gardens and catchment. Chapter 9.18 stormwater rules require certain larger 'regulated projects' to add permanent treatment measures, but small home rain barrels are unregulated and encouraged.
Residential rainwater harvesting is not a violation and carries no City penalty. Larger cisterns or indoor non-potable systems must meet California Plumbing Code Chapter 16, and regulated development projects must include the stormwater measures required by Chapter 9.18.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
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Cupertino city parks are closed overnight under Municipal Code Chapter 13.04. No person may remain, stay, or loiter in a public park between 10 p.m. and 6 a....
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Cupertino limits light trespass onto neighboring property under Municipal Code Chapter 19.102: no exterior light may cast more than 0.1 foot-candle onto an a...
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Cupertino's dark-sky lighting standards in Municipal Code Chapter 19.102 require all outdoor lighting to be fully shielded, directed downward, and away from ...
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Garage sale signs in Cupertino are allowed in residential zones under Municipal Code Table 19.104.250: one on-site sign and up to three off-site signs, each ...
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Temporary political signs in Cupertino need no permit and are allowed in all zones with no numeric limit, under Municipal Code Table 19.104.250. Each sign ma...
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A permanent tiny home on a foundation is treated as an accessory dwelling unit in Cupertino under Municipal Code Chapter 19.112, which allows detached ADUs u...
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