Yucaipa, CA Landscaping Rules: Rainwater Harvesting (2026)

Rainwater capture is covered by Section 810.0485, Stormwater management and rainwater retention, in Chapter 4, Water Conservation, of Division DC10 of the Yucaipa Development Code. Subsection (a) says implementing stormwater best management practices in the landscape and grading design plans, to minimize runoff and increase on-site rainwater retention and infiltration, is encouraged. Subsection (b) sends project applicants to the City or the Regional Water Quality Control Board for any applicable stormwater technical requirements. The one hard requirement is subsection (c): all planted landscape areas are required to have friable soil to maximize water retention and infiltration.

Subsection (d) strongly recommends that landscape areas be designed with capture and infiltration capacity sufficient to prevent runoff from impervious surfaces, meaning roof and paved areas, from either the one-inch, 24-hour rain event or the 85th percentile, 24-hour rain event, plus any additional capacity required by local, regional, State or Federal regulation. Subsection (e) lists recommended elements, including grading driveways to drain to vegetated areas, pervious or porous surfaces, directing roof and paved runoff into planting beds, infiltration beds, swales, basins and drywells, and under (e)(5) rain gardens, cisterns and other rain harvesting or catchment systems.

The soil rule connects to § 810.0435(a)(3): before planting, compacted soils shall be transformed to a friable condition, and compost at a minimum of four cubic yards per 1,000 square feet of permeable area is incorporated to a depth of six inches.

When a system is used, it shows up in the paperwork. The landscape design plan must identify the location, installation details and 24-hour retention or infiltration capacity of applicable stormwater practices, and any applicable rain harvesting or catchment technologies as discussed in Section 810.0485 (§ 810.0435(b)(10) and (11)). Under § 810.0405(c), a lot with less than 2,500 square feet of landscape that meets its Estimated Total Water Use entirely with graywater or stored rainwater captured on site is subject only to Appendix B Section (5). Section 810.0497 lets the City consider Effective Precipitation, defined as 25% of annual precipitation, in tracking water use.