Davis encourages residents to capture rain in barrels and cisterns and to redirect downspouts into the landscape; under California law, rain captured from a rooftop for on-site use does not require a state water right.
The City of Davis actively promotes rainwater harvesting through its stormwater Green Gardening program, defining it as capturing, infiltrating, or using rainwater for irrigation rather than letting it run off. The city recommends connecting downspouts to rain barrels or cisterns (screened against mosquitoes), redirecting downspouts into landscape beds to recharge soil and groundwater, and using rain gardens and vegetated swales to slow and soak in runoff. California's Rainwater Capture Act of 2012 lets property owners collect rooftop rainwater for on-site use without a water-right permit. Small rain barrels generally need no plumbing permit, but larger cisterns, elevated tanks, or systems tied into indoor plumbing may require a building or plumbing permit. Davis does not prohibit residential rainwater harvesting.
There is no penalty for harvesting rooftop rainwater for landscape use in Davis. Enforcement arises only if a large cistern or plumbing tie-in is installed without a required permit, or if a system creates a mosquito or drainage nuisance.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
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See how Davis's rainwater harvesting rules stack up against other locations.
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