Aliso Viejo, CA Landscaping Rules: Water Restrictions (2026)

Section 7.30.050(B) covers irrigation of every landscaped area in the City of Aliso Viejo, not just new projects, and it works by reference. Irrigation must conform to the rules, regulations and requirements, including any established watering windows, and is subject to the penalties and incentives for water conservation and water waste prevention, as determined and implemented by the city, the applicable local water purveyor, the state, a regional agency, or as the purveyor and the city mutually agree. Section 7.30.020 defines a 'watering window' as the time of day irrigation is allowed under any applicable city, regional, state or local water purveyor water conservation or drought response laws, rules, policies or regulations. The section prints no watering days or hours, so the schedule that binds an irrigator is the one those agencies have adopted.

Two storm drain rules reach every irrigator. Section 7.40.030 bars an owner, occupant or person in control of land adjoining the storm drain system from causing or permitting waste or irrigation water to flow into the storm drains or onto their right-of-way. Section 7.40.040 bars anyone using water for commercial, domestic or irrigation purposes from running wastewater into or upon any public street, alley or other public place. The stormwater chapter's definition of prohibited discharge also names landscape irrigation runoff (7.35.030).

New and rehabilitated landscapes carry design limits as well. Under 7.30.050(A), estimated applied water use cannot exceed the maximum applied water allowance (MAWA) calculated with an ET adjustment factor of 0.55 for residential areas and 0.45 for nonresidential areas, or 1.0 for special landscaped areas. The findings in section 7.30.020 record that new irrigation controllers installed after January 1, 2012 shall be smart automatic irrigation controllers.