Victorville, CA Landscaping Rules: Rainwater Harvesting (2026)
Key Facts
- State law
- Rainwater Capture Act (AB 1750)
- Small barrels
- Generally no permit
- Large cisterns
- Plumbing permit required
- Indoor use
- Permit and backflow device
- Annual rainfall
- About 5 inches in Victor Valley
Summary
California's Rainwater Capture Act (AB 1750) lets Victorville residents collect roof rainwater for outdoor use without a permit for simple barrels. Large cisterns and indoor use require plumbing permits.
This part shall be known, and may be cited, as the Rainwater Capture Act of 2012. Solely for the purposes of this part, and unless the context otherwise requires, the following definitions govern the construction of this part:
(a) “Developed or developing lands” means lands that have one or more of the characteristics described in subparagraphs (A) to (C), inclusive, of paragraph (4) of subdivision (b) of Section 56375.3 of the Government Code.
(b) “Rain barrel system” is a type of rainwater capture system that does not use electricity or a water pump and is not connected to or reliant on a potable water system.
(c) “Rainwater” means precipitation on any public or private parcel that has not entered an offsite storm drain system or channel, a flood control channel, or any other stream channel, and has not previously been put to beneficial use.
(d) “Rainwater capture system” means a facility designed to capture, retain, and store rainwater flowing off a building rooftop for subsequent onsite use.
(e) “Stormwater” means temporary surface water runoff and drainage generated by immediately preceding storms. Use of rainwater collected from rooftops does not require a water right permit pursuant to Section 1201.
Full Breakdown
, added by AB 1750) authorizes residents and businesses to capture rainwater from rooftops for non-potable use without a state water right. California Plumbing Code Appendix K and the California Building Standards Commission set technical standards. In Victorville, simple above-ground rain barrels under 55 to 100 gallons collected at downspouts for outdoor irrigation generally do not require a permit from the city, so long as they are stable, screened to prevent mosquito breeding (per San Bernardino County Mosquito and Vector Control), and do not cross-connect to potable plumbing.
The High Desert averages only about 5 inches of annual rainfall, so rainwater harvesting yields are modest, but even small catches help pre-water new native landscapes. Larger cisterns, buried tanks, pressurized systems, or any system feeding indoor plumbing such as toilet flushing require a plumbing permit from Victorville Development Department and a licensed plumbing contractor. Backflow preventers are required where any connection to city water supplements the cistern. Graywater systems are separately governed by Plumbing Code Chapter 16.
Violations & Fines
Unpermitted pressurized or indoor rainwater systems can trigger a stop work order and required correction. Mosquito breeding violations are cited by San Bernardino County Mosquito and Vector Control rather than the city.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a permit for a 55-gallon rain barrel in Victorville?
Is rainwater harvesting worth it in the High Desert?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Victorville
California rules heatmap·Compare Victorville to another location·View the California landscaping rules overview
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Rainwater Harvesting in Nearby Cities
How other cities in San Bernardino County handle rainwater harvesting.