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

Unincorporated Mendocino County does not impose its own day-of-week or time-of-day outdoor watering schedule by ordinance. The County Code's water-conservation chapter, Chapter 16.24 (Ordinance 3721, effective March 1, 1990), is about water-saving plumbing fixtures in new construction and bathroom remodels (for example, ultra-low-flush toilets at 1.6 gallons per flush and hot-water pipe insulation), not landscape irrigation limits. For outdoor use, the controlling rules are statewide: the State Water Resources Control Board adopted permanent water-waste prohibitions (final regulation July 3, 2024, effective January 1, 2025) that apply across California regardless of drought. These prohibit using potable water to hose down sidewalks, driveways 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 rainfall. Individual community water systems serving parts of the unincorporated county (and during declared droughts) may adopt stricter local watering schedules, so residents should also check with their water provider.