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

There is no Sutter County code provision prohibiting or specially permitting residential rainwater harvesting; the activity is governed by California state law, which is generally permissive. 4, sections 10573-10574) allows landowners to install, maintain and operate rain-barrel and rooftop rainwater-capture systems for on-site use, and provides that a landowner is not required to obtain a permit or other authorization from a local public agency simply to install or operate a rain-barrel system. Collecting rainwater from your own rooftop for outdoor use also does not require a water-right permit from the State Water Resources Control Board.

The permissive treatment applies to outdoor, non-potable uses such as irrigation. More complex systems - for example, plumbing captured rainwater indoors for non-potable uses like toilet flushing - are treated like other plumbing work and must meet the California Plumbing Code (Title 24) and obtain a building/plumbing permit with inspection, which in the unincorporated county would be handled by Sutter County Building. For ordinary rain barrels, gutters and downspout diverters feeding garden beds, no county permit applies. Owners should still site barrels safely, keep them covered to prevent mosquito breeding, and avoid creating drainage onto neighbors.