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

Unincorporated Stanislaus County has its own water-conserving landscape ordinance in the Zoning Ordinance, Chapter 21.102 (Landscape and Irrigation Standards), adopted by Ord. CS 509 in 1992 to reduce landscape water consumption. It applies whenever landscaping or a landscape plan is required by the code or as a condition of approval; it does not require landscaping of existing single-family homes. Key conservation rules include: at least ninety percent of plants in non-turf areas must be well-suited to the regional climate and need minimal water once established, with up to ten percent non-drought-tolerant if grouped and separately irrigated (Section 21.102.040(B)); a minimum of three inches of mulch in non-turf areas (21.102.050); turf is prohibited in narrow planter strips under ten feet wide, in median and parking strips, between curbs and sidewalks, and on slopes steeper than 3:1 (21.102.050(F)); and irrigation controllers shall not be set to operate between 10:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m., with water application under 0.25 inch per cycle on slopes over three percent (21.102.060(J)). For new construction the County requires applicants to submit a Statement of Landscaping/MWELO form so staff can determine whether the state Model Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance (Title 23 CCR) prescriptive path applies. These County standards operate alongside California's statewide State Water Resources Control Board drought regulations, which can impose temporary watering-day and runoff prohibitions during declared shortages. Day-to-day household watering schedules for existing lawns are otherwise set by your local water purveyor, not the County.