Redlands, CA Landscaping Rules: Rainwater Harvesting (2026)

Capturing rainwater for landscape use is encouraged, not restricted, in Redlands. The city's drought-tolerant landscaping guidance promotes rain gardens, described as a shallow, depressed garden that captures stormwater from rooftops, gutters, and streets and allows it to infiltrate into the ground within 24 to 48 hours. Rain gardens planted with native California plants are noted to require about 75 percent less irrigation than grass lawns. The city does not publish an ordinance limiting rain barrels or residential rainwater capture systems. This aligns with California's statewide framework: the Rainwater Capture Act of 2012 allows residential, commercial, and governmental property owners to install and operate rooftop rainwater capture systems for landscape and non-potable use, generally without a water-rights permit. Larger or plumbed systems (for example, those connected to indoor plumbing or used for potable purposes) may trigger plumbing-code and health requirements, and any cistern or rain barrel should be screened and secured to avoid creating a mosquito-breeding nuisance, which the city could otherwise address under its nuisance authority. Because rainwater capture reduces demand on the city's own water system, it complements the Chapter 13.06 conservation rules. Residents considering larger storage or routing roof runoff should confirm setback, drainage, and overflow handling so captured water does not create runoff onto neighboring property or the public right-of-way. The city has not published a dedicated rain-barrel rebate in the material reviewed; residents should check current conservation-program offerings.