Rainwater harvesting is legal and encouraged in Santa Ana under California Water Code Section 10574. Residential rain barrels up to a reasonable size typically do not require permits. The city promotes water conservation through stormwater capture.
California Water Code Section 10574 (Rainwater Capture Act of 2012) authorizes residential and commercial rainwater harvesting without a permit from the State Water Resources Control Board for most rooftop collection systems. Santa Ana residents may install rain barrels and cisterns to capture rooftop runoff for landscape irrigation. No city permit is typically required for standard rain barrels. Larger cistern installations may require plumbing or building permits depending on size and connection to irrigation systems. Harvested rainwater may be used for landscape irrigation but not for potable purposes without treatment. The Municipal Water District of Orange County and the city encourage rainwater capture as a water conservation practice.
There are no penalties for harvesting rainwater in Santa Ana. However, improperly installed large storage tanks that create safety hazards may be subject to building code enforcement.
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Side-by-side rule comparisons with other cities in Orange County.
See how other cities in Orange County handle rainwater harvesting.
See how Santa Ana's rainwater harvesting rules stack up against other locations.
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