Roseville, CA Landscaping Rules: Rainwater Harvesting (2026)
Key Facts
- Rain capture target
- 1-inch or 85th-percentile 24-hr storm (recommended)
- Mandatory element
- Friable soil for retention, Sec. 14.18.050(4)(f)
- Plan disclosure
- Rain-harvesting features must show 24-hr capacity
- Governing section
- RMC Sec. 14.18.120
- Enforcing agency
- Environmental Utilities Director
Summary
Roseville's landscape ordinance recommends, but does not require, capturing stormwater onsite: Section 14.18.120(C) urges designs to hold back the one-inch or 85th-percentile 24-hour storm event, and (D) lists rain gardens, cisterns and other harvesting systems as ways to do it, while Section 14.18.050(B)(4)(g)(vi) requires any such feature that is used to be documented on the plan with its 24-hour retention capacity.
C. It is strongly recommended that landscape areas be designed for capture and infiltration capacity that is sufficient to prevent runoff from impervious surfaces (i.e., roof and paved areas) from either: (1) the one-inch, 24-hour rain event; or (2) the 85th percentile, 24-hour rain event, and/or additional capacity as required by any applicable local, regional, state or federal regulation. D. It is recommended that stormwater projects incorporate any of the following elements to improve on-site stormwater and dry weather runoff capture and use: ... 5. Incorporate rain gardens, cisterns, and other rain harvesting or catchment systems.
Full Breakdown
120 sits inside the mandatory landscape package every covered project must submit before a building permit, plan check, or design review approval issues. 050(B)(4)(f). Subsection C recommends designing capture and infiltration capacity sufficient to prevent runoff from roofs and paved areas during the one-inch or 85th-percentile 24-hour rain event, plus any additional capacity a local, regional, state or federal regulation requires. Subsection D recommends grading impervious surfaces to drain to vegetated areas, minimizing paved surfaces, using pervious pavement, directing roof and paved-area runoff into planting beds, incorporating rain gardens, cisterns and other rain harvesting or catchment systems, adding infiltration beds, swales, basins and drywells, and considering constructed wetlands and ponds. 120 along with their 24-hour retention or infiltration capacity, so the environmental utilities director can confirm the system is sized as designed.
Violations & Fines
The recommended catchment measures in Section 14.18.120(C) and (D) are not independently punishable, but the mandatory friable-soil requirement in subsection B and the plan-disclosure duty in Section 14.18.050(B)(4)(g)(vi) are enforceable under the chapter's general provisions. Section 14.18.150(A) voids any permit issued in conflict with the chapter, and Section 14.18.160 makes a violation a misdemeanor carrying up to a $500 fine or six months in jail, reducible by the city attorney to a $250 infraction.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Roseville require rain barrels or cisterns on new landscaping?
What does Roseville require if I do install a rain barrel or cistern?
What storm event is Roseville's landscaping ordinance designed to capture?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Roseville
California rules heatmap·Compare Roseville to another location·View the California landscaping rules overview
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