Water restrictions in Tustin, CA — also called the watering schedule, outdoor irrigation rules, or drought ordinance — set which days and hours you can run sprinklers or irrigation.
Tustin runs its own water utility and imposes permanent restrictions under City Code Sec. 4953: irrigation 4 days/week (Apr-Oct) or 3 days/week (Nov-Mar), no watering 8 a.m.-4 p.m., no runoff onto pavement, no washing paved areas, and no irrigating within 48 hours of measurable rain. Fines start at $100.
Because the City of Tustin supplies water at retail, it adopted a Water Management Plan in Chapter 10 of Article 4 (Sections 4950-4958), with permanent year-round restrictions in Section 4953 plus six escalating drought-response levels. Section 4953 applies 'at all times except when reclaimed or recycled water is used' and opens with the rule that 'AT NO TIME SHALL WATER BE WASTED OR USED UNREASONABLY.' Key permanent restrictions: (A) Apr 1-Oct 31 watering limited to four days a week (Sun, Tue, Thu, Sat); Nov 1-Mar 31 limited to three days (Tue, Thu, Sat). (B) No watering with potable water between 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. except by hand-held bucket or a hose with a positive self-closing shut-off nozzle; high-efficiency/drip systems capped at 15 minutes per station, all other irrigation at 5 minutes per station. (C) No irrigation during and for 48 hours after measurable precipitation (a quarter inch or more in 24 hours). (D) No runoff onto sidewalks, driveways, streets, gutters or ditches. (E) No washing down paved areas except to alleviate fire or sanitation hazards. (F) Vehicle washing limited to quick rinses with a shut-off nozzle or bucket. (H) Ornamental fountains must recycle water; (I) restaurants serve water only on request; (K) all leaks repaired immediately. These mirror but are stricter and more detailed than the State Water Resources Control Board's emergency rules. Enforcement is by administrative citation (Sec. 4956).
Each day of violation is a separate offense (Sec. 4956). Fines escalate: $100 first violation, $200 second within a year, and $500 for a third and each subsequent violation within a year. Customers can also be billed back for regulatory fines the City incurs (Sec. 4957).
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