Plumas County, CA Landscaping Rules: Water Restrictions (2026)

Outdoor water use in unincorporated Plumas County is governed by a mix of state rules and the county's landscape ordinance, not a single county-run sprinkler schedule. Much of the rural county relies on private wells, mutual water companies, or small community water systems, each of which may set its own conservation measures. Statewide, the California State Water Resources Control Board has adopted permanent prohibitions on wasteful water use that apply regardless of drought, including: using potable water to wash sidewalks, driveways, patios, and other hard surfaces; allowing irrigation runoff onto streets, sidewalks, or neighboring property; and irrigating ornamental turf during or within 48 hours after at least one-quarter inch of measurable rainfall. California is also phasing out irrigation of non-functional (decorative) turf at commercial, industrial, and institutional properties under Assembly Bill 1572, with government and CII properties subject to that ban on a staged schedule beginning in 2027. For new and rehabilitated landscapes that require a building or special use permit, Plumas County's own Water Efficient Landscape ordinance (Title 9, Chapter 2, Article 42) imposes a calculated maximum applied water allowance and an irrigation watering window of 8:00 p.m. to 10:00 a.m. During declared droughts, the State Water Board can also impose temporary emergency restrictions. Residents on a community water system should check that system's specific rules.