Perris, CA Landscaping Rules: Rainwater Harvesting (2026)

The City of Perris does not publish a separate ordinance regulating residential rainwater collection, and nothing in its code prohibits rain barrels or cisterns. Perris's urban forestry standards actively favor on-site water capture: PMC 19.71.010 notes that trees 'capture storm flows at their base and moisture and rain in their leaves, thereby reducing urban runoff.' The governing rules are therefore state law. California's Rainwater Capture Act of 2012 (AB 1750) confirms that capturing rooftop rainwater does not require a water-right permit from the State Water Resources Control Board when the water is collected from rooftops and used for outdoor, non-potable purposes. The State Water Board's guidance is that no water-right permit is needed for rain barrels or cisterns under 360 gallons used for outdoor non-potable use, and most simple home rooftop systems do not require building or plumbing permits. Larger or pressurized systems, potable use, or containers above 360 gallons may require permits, inspection, or professional installation. Captured rainwater pairs well with EMWD's efficiency rules because it is non-potable and reduces demand. Homeowners should still position barrels safely, screen them against mosquitoes (consistent with Perris vector-control concerns in PMC Chapter 7.54), and avoid creating standing-water nuisances. Because there is no city restriction, rainwater harvesting is one of the most permissive landscaping practices in Perris.