Water restrictions in Sutter County, CA — also called the watering schedule, outdoor irrigation rules, or drought ordinance — set which days and hours you can run sprinklers or irrigation.
Sutter County has adopted California's Model Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance (MWELO) into its Zoning Code at Section 1500-06-050(C) for residential and Table 1500-07-3(2)(k) for commercial/industrial. New or rehabilitated landscapes of 500+ sq ft must comply.
California AB 1881 (2006) required local jurisdictions to adopt water-efficient landscape regulations at least as stringent as the state Model Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance (MWELO). Sutter County adopted MWELO into the Zoning Code at Sections 1500-06-050(C) (residential) and Table 1500-07-3(2)(k) (commercial and industrial). WELO applies to any new or rehabilitated/remodeled construction with a new landscape of 500 square feet or more, or any remodeled/rehabilitated landscape larger than 2,500 square feet. The Prescriptive Compliance Option streamlines projects between 500 and 2,500 square feet, requiring a checklist that limits water use, requires mulch and compost, caps turf area, and mandates landscape plans, irrigation schedules, and certificates of installation and completion. Statewide State Water Resources Control Board emergency conservation rules can layer on additional restrictions in drought emergencies.
Building permits will not be finalized without WELO compliance documentation. Violations are processed administratively through Development Services; certificates of completion are required to close out the landscape permit.
Sutter County, CA
A dog in Sutter County is a nuisance animal if it barks or howls so continuously or incessantly as to unreasonably disturb the peace and tranquility of the n...
Sutter County, CA
Unincorporated Sutter County does not publish numeric quiet-hour decibel windows in its general code. Loud or disturbing noise is regulated as a public nuisa...
Sutter County, CA
Sutter County regulates RV, boat, and trailer storage on residential lots through the County Zoning Code (Title 1500 of the County Code, adopted 2021 and upd...
Sutter County, CA
Livestock keeping is broadly permitted in unincorporated Sutter County, especially in Agricultural and Rural Residential zones. Density, setbacks, and struct...
Sutter County, CA
Sutter County is largely agricultural and zoning is generally permissive of chickens and livestock outside city limits. Rules vary by zone — keeping is gover...
Sutter County, CA
All dogs four months and older in Sutter County must be currently vaccinated for rabies and licensed. Dogs at large off the owner's property must be under co...
See how Sutter County's water restrictions rules stack up against other locations.
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.