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

AB 1750 (Water Code §10574) authorizes landowners to install rainwater-capture systems for onsite non-potable use without a water right. Riverside County Building and Safety does not require a permit for simple rain barrels or aboveground tanks up to approximately 5,000 gallons that are gravity-fed and serve only outdoor landscape irrigation. Larger systems, buried cisterns, or systems connected to indoor plumbing require a plumbing permit under the California Plumbing Code Chapter 17 (non-potable water systems). Cross-connection to potable supply is prohibited, and all harvesting components must be clearly labeled 'non-potable.' Tanks must be structurally stable, with mosquito-proof screening and overflow directed to landscaping or approved drainage. In Coachella Valley, collected water is an important supplement for desert-adapted landscapes but annual rainfall is too low for significant supply. In the San Jacinto mountains and Anza/Aguanga areas, sizable storage tanks are common and often combined with well water. Some water agencies offer rebates for rain barrel and cistern installations.