Eastvale, CA Landscaping Rules: Rainwater Harvesting (2026)

There is no Eastvale Municipal Code provision banning or specially permitting residential rain barrels, so capturing rainwater is generally allowed. California's Rainwater Capture Act of 2012 permits residential, commercial and governmental property owners to install and operate rainwater capture systems that collect rooftop runoff, without needing a state water rights permit. JCSD, Eastvale's water provider, actively encourages rainwater harvesting and offers rebates: its Rebates and Water-Wise Incentives program lists rain barrels at rebates starting at $35 per barrel (up to two barrels) and $250-$350 for a cistern, applied for through the regional SoCalWater$mart program (socalwatersmart.com). The main local constraint is the EMC's nuisance rules: under EMC Sec. 8.18.030(a)(15), unsanitary or polluted standing water that can attract or harbor mosquitoes, insects or other vectors is a public nuisance. Rain barrels should therefore be tightly covered or screened and emptied/cycled regularly. Large above-ground cisterns may also need to comply with zoning setback and accessory-structure standards in the Zoning Code if they are sizable. For most homeowners, a covered rain barrel beneath a downspout is fully permitted and rebate-eligible.