Rancho Cordova, CA Landscaping Rules: Water Restrictions (2026)
Water restrictions in Rancho Cordova, CA, also called the watering schedule, outdoor irrigation rules, or drought ordinance, set which days and hours you can run sprinklers or irrigation.
Key Facts
- Utilities
- Golden State Water and Cal Am Water
- State Rule
- No runoff, hose nozzle required
- AB 1572
- No potable for nonfunctional turf
- MWELO
- Over 500 sq ft landscaping
- HOA Shield
- Civil Code 4735
Summary
Rancho Cordova is served by Golden State Water Company and California American Water. Permanent State Water Resources Control Board prohibitions apply year-round, and utility drought stages can further limit outdoor watering to assigned days. AB 1572 phases out watering non-functional turf at commercial and institutional sites.
DWR is providing technical assistance to local land use agencies and applicants in the form of a Model Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance (MWELO) Guidebook. The MWELO Guidebook will provide background information, explain provisions of the regulation, and give guidance for enforcement to local agencies and applicants. The draft documents posted here are available for public comment and suggestions. A public meeting was held on January 11, 2021 to introduce the draft MWELO Guidebook to interested parties. See the MWELO Guidebook Presentation for more information. To make comments on the draft MWELO Guidebook, use the MWELO Guidebook Comment Form . Draft MWELO Guidebook:
1. Model Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance Guidebook
C. Landscape, Irrigation, Water Budget Overview
D. Compliance Path
Official source re-checked September 8, 2026: the cited page had not changed since it was quoted.
Full Breakdown
The State Water Resources Control Board has adopted permanent statewide waste and unreasonable use prohibitions including no watering during or within 48 hours after measurable rainfall, no runoff onto sidewalks or streets, no hosing hard surfaces, and nozzles required on hoses. Rancho Cordova water customers are served primarily by Golden State Water (Cordova district) and California American Water (Suburban Rancho Cordova), each with their own drought response stages that assign outdoor watering to two or three days per week, often with morning and evening windows. AB 1572 prohibits using potable water to irrigate non-functional turf at commercial, industrial, and institutional properties, phasing in from 2027. Model Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance (MWELO) applies to new developer-installed landscaping over 500 square feet. California Civil Code Section 4735 bars HOAs from penalizing homeowners for reducing watering during declared drought.
Violations & Fines
Water wasting violations can draw warnings, escalating utility fines from 50 to 500 dollars, and flow restrictors for chronic offenders.
Frequently Asked Questions
What days can I water my lawn in Rancho Cordova?
Can my HOA fine me for letting my lawn go brown?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Rancho Cordova
How Rancho Cordova compares: Cities with the Strictest Water Restrictions·California rules heatmap·Compare Rancho Cordova to another location·View the California landscaping rules overview
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Water Restrictions in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Sacramento County handle water restrictions.