Hollywood, FL Landscaping Rules: Rainwater Harvesting (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- Hollywood Code § 151.153(M)
- Priority order
- Wastewater reuse first, rainwater second
- Design standard
- Broward County rainwater harvesting guidelines
- Verification
- Plumbing inspector, final inspection
- Adopted by
- Ord. O-2011-06, 2-16-11
Summary
Under Hollywood's green building code, a project that claims credit for the irrigation-reuse practice must use wastewater reuse where it is available, and switch to rainwater harvesting, built to Broward County's rainwater harvesting guidelines, where wastewater reuse is not.
(M) Reuse for irrigation. Where wastewater reuse is available, wastewater reuse shall be used. Where wastewater reuse is not available, rainwater reuse shall be used. Plans shall indicate system to be used, and if rainwater reuse is to be used, system shall substantially comply with rainwater harvesting guidelines adopted by the Broward County Board of Rules and Appeals. System must be verified by plumbing inspector at final inspection. In determining whether to count this green building practice towards the minimum number of green building practices required, the city does not expect single-family properties to use wastewater reuse unless it is reasonably available to access.
Full Breakdown
156. The rule sets a hierarchy: wastewater reuse must be used if it is available, and rainwater reuse must be used if it is not. A project claiming this practice has to show on its plans which system it is using, and if it picks rainwater reuse, the system must substantially comply with the rainwater harvesting guidelines adopted by the Broward County Board of Rules and Appeals. The plumbing inspector verifies the installed system at final inspection before it counts toward the project's green-practice minimum.
The code also builds in a practical limit for single-family homes: when deciding whether to count this item, the city does not expect a single-family property to use wastewater reuse unless it is reasonably available to connect to, which in practice steers most single-family rainwater systems in Hollywood toward the rainwater harvesting path rather than a municipal reuse hookup. 153(K)-(L), any combination of which can be mixed to reach the required number of green practices.
Violations & Fines
A rainwater or wastewater reuse system that the plumbing inspector cannot verify at final inspection does not count toward the project's required green-practice minimum, which can hold up the certificate of occupancy until the project substitutes another approved practice or brings the system into compliance; a project that certifies compliance falsely is subject to the Code's general penalty under § 10.99, up to a $500 fine or 60 days imprisonment, with each day of a continuing violation a separate offense.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Hollywood, FL require rainwater harvesting on new homes?
What standard must a Hollywood rainwater harvesting system meet?
Can a single-family home in Hollywood skip wastewater reuse for irrigation?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Hollywood
Florida rules heatmap·Compare Hollywood to another location·View the Florida landscaping rules overview
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Rainwater Harvesting in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Broward County handle rainwater harvesting.