Livermore, CA Landscaping Rules: Rainwater Harvesting (2026)
Key Facts
- Soil requirement
- Friable soil required in all planted areas
- Recognized BMPs
- Rain barrels, rain gardens, catchment systems
- Hard rule
- Catchment systems cannot connect to domestic water
- Before installing
- Must contact water district about permit needs
- Related ordinance
- Chapter 7.74 LMC governs stormwater discharge
Summary
Livermore encourages rain barrels, rain gardens and catchment systems in landscape plans under LMC § 13.25.180, but bars connecting any rainwater catchment system to the domestic water supply and requires applicants to check with the water district on whether a permit is required before installing one.
A. Stormwater management practices minimize runoff and increase infiltration that recharges groundwater and improves water quality. Including stormwater best management practices into landscape and grading design plans to minimize runoff and to increase on-site rainwater retention and infiltration are encouraged. ... C. All planted landscape areas are required to have friable soil to maximize water retention and infiltration. D. It is recommended that projects incorporate any of the following elements to improve on-site stormwater and dry weather runoff capture and use: ... Incorporate rain gardens, rain barrels, and other rain harvesting or catchment systems. ... Rainwater catchment systems cannot be connected with the domestic water system. Applicants shall contact the water district to determine if a permit is required for the installation of the rainwater catchment system.
Full Breakdown
180, "Stormwater management and rainwater retention," frames most of its content as encouragement: subsection (A) says stormwater best management practices that minimize runoff and increase on-site rainwater retention and infiltration are "encouraged," not mandatory. 25. Subsection (C), by contrast, is a hard requirement: all planted landscape areas must have friable soil to maximize water retention and infiltration. Subsection (D) then lists eight recommended elements, including grading impervious surfaces to drain to vegetated areas, minimizing paved surface area, using pervious or porous paving, directing roof and paved-area runoff into planting beds, and incorporating rain gardens, rain barrels, and other rain harvesting or catchment systems, plus infiltration beds, swales, or basins.
The last two items in that list read as firm rules rather than recommendations: rainwater catchment systems cannot be connected with the domestic water system, and applicants must contact the water district to determine whether a permit is required before installing one. 080(B)(2)(i).
Violations & Fines
Connecting a rainwater catchment system to the domestic water supply violates LMC § 13.25.180(D)(7) outright, and skipping the required water-district check on permit needs under § 13.25.180(D)(8) can also draw enforcement. Chapter 13.25 violations, including noncompliant stormwater retention design or unfriable soil under § 13.25.180(C), allow the City to suspend any development permit already issued for the property under § 13.25.220 until compliance is demonstrated to the Public Works Director.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is installing a rain barrel required in Livermore, or optional?
Can I plumb my rain barrel system into my house's water lines?
Do I need a permit for a rainwater catchment system?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Livermore
California rules heatmap·Compare Livermore to another location·View the California landscaping rules overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.
Rainwater Harvesting in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Alameda County handle rainwater harvesting.