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 applies California's Model Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance (MWELO) by reference. New landscapes of 500 sq ft or more, and rehabilitated landscapes over 2,500 sq ft, must meet MWELO water-budget rules. Day-to-day drought watering limits come from the State Water Board, not the County.
For the unincorporated area, water-efficient landscaping is required through the Zoning Code rather than a stand-alone county water ordinance. Section 1500-06-050(C) (Residential) and the Commercial and Employment Design Checklist Table 1500-07-3, item k, both state that applicable development must comply with the current Model Water Efficient Landscaping Ordinance prepared by the California Department of Water Resources (DWR), as required by the California Water Conservation in Landscaping Act (Government Code section 65591 et seq.); where the MWELO and the Zoning Code conflict, the more restrictive standard applies. Per the County's Development Services WELO program, MWELO thresholds apply to new or rehabilitated/remodeled projects with new landscape of 500 square feet or more, or remodeled/rehabilitated landscape greater than 2,500 square feet, measuring turf, planting and water-feature areas. MWELO limits turf, requires a landscape water budget and efficient irrigation, and encourages graywater and recycled water. The Zoning Code also caps non-living hardscape (gravel, rock, artificial turf, decorative concrete) at no more than 25 percent of any planter or landscaped area in R-2/R-3/R-4 and commercial districts. Distinct from these design rules, statewide emergency drought watering restrictions (for example, bans on runoff, hosing pavement, or fixed watering-day limits) are set by the State Water Resources Control Board and any local water purveyor, not by Sutter County land-use code.
A project subject to MWELO that lacks a compliant landscape and irrigation plan, water-budget calculation, or certificate of completion can be denied a permit or final certificate of occupancy by Development Services. Statewide drought-rule violations (waste/runoff, prohibited watering) are enforced by the State Water Board or the local water provider, with their own fines.
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