Montebello has no ordinance prohibiting residential rainwater harvesting, and California law expressly allows rooftop capture without a water-rights permit. Barrels and simple cisterns are generally allowed; larger tanks, plumbing tie-ins, or structural supports may need building or plumbing permits under the City's adopted codes.
Montebello's code contains no prohibition on collecting rainwater, and rooftop capture is affirmatively allowed under California's Rainwater Capture Act of 2012 (Water Code Section 10574 and following), which lets residents collect roof runoff without a State water-rights permit. Using rain barrels or a simple cistern for landscape irrigation is therefore generally allowed. Practical limits come from the City's adopted building and plumbing codes in Title 15: a small gravity-fed barrel usually needs no permit, but a larger tank, structural support, or any connection into the home's plumbing can trigger building-, plumbing-permit, and backflow requirements. Harvested water must not create standing water that breeds mosquitoes. Rainwater harvesting for irrigation is consistent with the City's water-conservation and drought-tolerant landscaping goals.
Simple rain barrels for landscape use are allowed and not cited. Larger or plumbed systems installed without required permits, or cross-connected to potable plumbing without backflow protection, can be red-tagged under Title 15. Standing water breeding mosquitoes is a nuisance.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
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Montebello public parks are closed from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. under MMC 12.24.160. No person may enter, loiter, or remain in any park or park parking lot during ...
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Montebello has no standalone light-trespass ordinance, but zoning controls limit glare onto neighbors. Parking areas serving five or more cars adjacent to re...
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Montebello has no dedicated dark-sky or astronomical lighting ordinance. Outdoor lighting is instead controlled through zoning site-plan review and specific ...
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Montebello prohibits attaching any sign to public property, including utility poles, fences, trees, or the public right-of-way, under MMC 17.62.050. Garage s...
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Montebello exempts temporary election posters from most sign limits under MMC 17.62.110(E). Such signs must be placed on private property and removed after t...
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Montebello allows manufactured, mobile, and factory-built homes as single-family dwellings only if placed on a permanent foundation and meeting all residenti...
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