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

Water-use rules in unincorporated Lake County come from three layers. (1) County Special Districts operate five small water systems and set conservation stages for their own customers: CSA 13 (Kono Tayee), CSA 2 (Spring Valley), CSA 20 (Soda Bay), CSA 21 (N Lakeport), and Kelseyville County Waterworks District No. 3. During drought, those customers have been asked to voluntarily cut usage by 20% under a Stage 1 response; conservation tips include watering only early morning or late afternoon, not during wind, and not hosing down pavement. (2) The County's water-conservation ordinance (Ordinance 2291, adopted July 11, 1995, expanded by Ord. 2705 in 2004 and Ord. 2721 in 2005) requires installing low-flush toilets (1.6 gallons) and low-flow showerheads (2.5 gpm) before close of escrow on properties served by County sewer systems, and on increases of 25% or more in floor space. (3) For new and rehabilitated landscapes that require a permit, the State Model Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance (MWELO, 23 CCR 490 et seq.) is administered through County Community Development, which requires a Landscape Documentation Package, a Maximum Applied Water Allowance budget, and a Certificate of Completion. There is no county-wide mandatory lawn-watering-day ban; statewide State Water Resources Control Board drought regulations apply when in effect.