Water restrictions in Monterey, CA — also called the watering schedule, outdoor irrigation rules, or drought ordinance — set which days and hours you can run sprinklers or irrigation.
Unincorporated Monterey County requires new construction landscapes to use drought-tolerant or native plants and efficient irrigation (drip/bubblers for shrubs, low-precipitation heads, automatic timers) under Chapter 18.44.
Monterey County Code Chapter 18.44 (Residential and Commercial Water Conservation Measures, originally Ord. 3190, amended by Ord. 3539) requires that new construction in the unincorporated county install low water use or native plant material together with low-precipitation sprinkler heads, bubblers, drip irrigation systems, and automatic timing devices. Drip irrigation or bubblers must be used for trees, shrubs, and ground covers with central root systems; spray systems are limited to turf and spreading ground covers. Plants must be grouped by water need and irrigated on separate hydrozones. Landscape and irrigation plans must be submitted to the Housing and Community Development Department for review before installation. On the Monterey Peninsula (Cal-Am service area) the Monterey Peninsula Water Management District's Rule 142.1 applies an even stricter Water Efficient Landscape standard to any new landscape over 500 square feet or rehabilitated landscape over 2,500 square feet associated with a building or grading permit.
Landscape and irrigation plans that do not meet Chapter 18.44 standards will not be approved; building permits and final inspections can be held until compliant plans and installation are confirmed. In the MPWMD area, Rule 142.1 compliance must be certified before a Water Permit is finalized.
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Monterey County, CA
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Monterey County, CA
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Monterey County, CA
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Monterey County, CA
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Monterey County, CA
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Monterey County, CA
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