Santa Cruz County, CA Landscaping Rules: Rainwater Harvesting (2026)

The County treats rainwater capture and graywater as desirable conservation tools rather than regulated nuisances. The Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance (Chapter 13.13) overview tells owners to 'consider including rainwater harvesting and/or a graywater system,' noting both are relatively simple to install and provide significant water savings. Landscapes irrigated entirely by captured rainwater, graywater, or recycled water are exempt from WELO efficiency requirements, and garden areas watered with at least 60% harvested water, graywater, or recycled water qualify as 'Special Landscape Areas' allowed up to 100% of reference evapotranspiration. The County points residents to its rain-barrel information and to the Central Coast Greywater Alliance. As elsewhere in California, laundry-to-landscape graywater systems that meet the state requirements are exempt from a building permit, while more complex graywater systems require a plumbing permit under the California Plumbing Code adopted by the County. Larger cisterns or systems with structural, electrical, or backflow connections may require County building permits. The County also offers conservation rebates through the regional Water Conservation Coalition of Santa Cruz County.