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

Water-use rules in unincorporated Mariposa County combine a county landscaping standard with state law. Mariposa County Development Code Chapter 17.36 (Landscaping) provides that the design, installation, and maintenance of all landscaped area within the County shall comply with state requirements for water-efficient landscaping as contained in Title 23, Section 2.7, the Model Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance (MWELO) of the California Code of Regulations. This effectively adopts the state's MWELO water-budget and irrigation-efficiency requirements for qualifying new and rehabilitated landscapes. On top of that, the General Plan Conservation and Open Space Element, Policy 11-2a and Implementation Measure 11-2a(1), directs the County to implement water-conservation standards consistent with state guidelines, including low-flow plumbing fixtures in new construction and use of drip irrigation and drought-tolerant or low-water landscaping (including retention of existing native plant material) in multi-family, commercial, resort, industrial, and public developments. Most county residents rely on private wells and small water systems rather than a large municipal utility, so day-to-day outdoor watering limits are not set by a single county ordinance; instead, statewide emergency conservation regulations adopted by the State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) during droughts apply, as do any rules of individual community water systems. Confirm specific requirements with the Planning and Building Departments.