Water Use Rules in California (2026)
269 rules on the books across California, 145 cities and counties. Select a rule to read the full details.
Severity: Few Restrictions · Light Restrictions · Some Restrictions · Significant Restrictions · Heavy Restrictions
Turf Replacement Rebates
Rebate programs paying residents to replace turf with drought-tolerant landscaping, including per-square-foot incentives and approved plant lists.
Hayward
Significant RestrictionsHayward's landscape ordinance bans turf outright in several settings rather than merely limiting it. Sec…
Read full rule →Kern County
Significant RestrictionsNew or replaced front-yard landscaping on single-family lots inside the Indian Wells Valley Land Use Management Plan…
Read full rule →Oxnard
Significant RestrictionsOxnard caps turf at 40% of the landscaped area for new or altered single-family, multi-family and institutional…
Read full rule →Palmdale
Significant RestrictionsPalmdale bans living turf grass from front yards of new detached single-family homes: at least 60% of the front setback…
Read full rule →Riverside County
Significant RestrictionsRiverside County prohibits new natural turfgrass lawns in the front yards of new residential subdivisions and bars…
Read full rule →San Diego
Significant RestrictionsSan Diego prohibits commercial, industrial, and institutional properties from using potable water to irrigate…
Read full rule →Stockton
Significant RestrictionsStockton bans potable-water irrigation of purely ornamental turf at commercial, industrial, and institutional sites…
Read full rule →Union City
Significant RestrictionsUnion City's water-efficient landscape ordinance bars new turf in non-residential and multifamily projects except…
Read full rule →Vacaville
Significant RestrictionsVacaville is phasing out potable-water irrigation of purely decorative "nonfunctional" turf on commercial, industrial…
Read full rule →Vista
Significant RestrictionsVista's Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance goes beyond the state model: Section 18.56.130 requires drip irrigation in…
Read full rule →Yolo County
Significant RestrictionsOnce the Board of Supervisors declares a Level 3 Drought Response, Yolo County Code Sec. 6-8.1104(b) bars installing…
Read full rule →Alhambra
Some RestrictionsAlhambra's landscaping ordinance caps natural turf at 25% of the landscaped area on new development, qualifying…
Read full rule →Apple Valley
Some RestrictionsApple Valley caps turf at 25 percent of a new residential landscape and bans it outright on new non-residential sites…
Read full rule →Baldwin Park
Some RestrictionsUnder Baldwin Park's prescriptive water-efficient landscaping option, turf cannot exceed 20% of the landscape area on…
Read full rule →Buena Park
Some RestrictionsBuena Park lets homeowners swap natural grass for synthetic turf in front, side, and rear yards, but only after…
Read full rule →Chino
Some RestrictionsExisting single-family front yards in Chino may cover only up to 25% of the required landscape area with real turf and…
Read full rule →Chino Hills
Some RestrictionsUnder CHMC § 16.07.150, a residential landscape project of 2,500 square feet or less that uses the prescriptive…
Read full rule →Chula Vista
Some RestrictionsChula Vista does not run a turf-removal rebate program, but CVMC 20.12.180 restricts where and how much turf can be…
Read full rule →Clovis
Some RestrictionsClovis's Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance caps turf grass at 25% of the landscape area on residential lots and bars…
Read full rule →Cupertino
Some RestrictionsCupertino's Landscape Ordinance caps new turf at 25% of the landscape area or 1,250 square feet, whichever is smaller…
Read full rule →Downey
Some RestrictionsNew construction and property renovations in Downey must limit or eliminate turf areas under Municipal Code §…
Read full rule →Dublin
Some RestrictionsDublin, California caps turf at 25% of the landscape area in residential projects and bars it entirely in…
Read full rule →Eastvale
Some RestrictionsIn new residential subdivisions, Eastvale discourages but does not ban natural turf grass in front yards. Municipal…
Read full rule →El Cajon
Some RestrictionsNon-residential landscape projects in El Cajon can't put turf grass on more than 25 percent of the total landscaped…
Read full rule →Escondido
Some RestrictionsEscondido's water-efficient landscape ordinance restricts where and how turf can be installed on regulated projects…
Read full rule →Fontana
Some RestrictionsUnder Fontana's prescriptive compliance option, turf cannot exceed 25 percent of the landscape area on residential…
Read full rule →Fullerton
Some RestrictionsLandscapers who use Fullerton's prescriptive compliance path under Chapter 15.50, Appendix A must cap turf at 25% of…
Read full rule →Hemet
Some RestrictionsHemet's Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance regulates turf and landscape water use citywide: rehabilitation projects…
Read full rule →Hesperia
Some RestrictionsNew home and commercial landscaping in Hesperia caps turf at 20% of front and side yards, and bans it outright on…
Read full rule →Huntington Beach
Some RestrictionsHuntington Beach caps ordinary lawn area at 25% of any landscaped project under its Water Efficient Landscape…
Read full rule →Indio
Some RestrictionsIndio's Unified Development Code lets property owners swap natural grass for synthetic turf as a water-conservation…
Read full rule →Livermore
Some RestrictionsLivermore's prescriptive compliance option caps turf at 25 percent of the landscape area for residential projects and…
Read full rule →Los Banos
Some RestrictionsLos Banos bans turf grass on steep slopes and in street medians under its Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance. New and…
Read full rule →Madera County
Some RestrictionsUnincorporated Madera County's Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance protects turf replacement: covenants, conditions…
Read full rule →Monterey County
Some RestrictionsUnincorporated Monterey County caps grass turf at 20% of the landscape area, or 1,500 square feet, whichever is less…
Read full rule →Norwalk
Some RestrictionsNorwalk allows artificial turf as a substitute for natural grass in required landscaped yards, but only with Director…
Read full rule →Oceanside
Some RestrictionsNew landscaping projects in Oceanside can't put turf just anywhere. Section 37.131 of the Water Efficient Landscape…
Read full rule →Palm Springs
Some RestrictionsPalm Springs caps ornamental turf at 15 percent of the landscaped area on single-family front and side street yards and…
Read full rule →Pasadena
Some RestrictionsNew multifamily landscaping in Pasadena can't be mostly lawn. Municipal Code Section 17.44.070.C.3, the 'City of…
Read full rule →Perris
Some RestrictionsPerris's water-efficient landscape ordinance requires any CC&Rs tied to a permit to affirmatively allow low water use…
Read full rule →Petaluma
Some RestrictionsNew and remodeled landscapes in Petaluma cannot rely on lawn as their main planting. Section 15.17.050 caps turf at…
Read full rule →Placer County
Some RestrictionsUnder Placer County's small-project landscaping standard, new turf cannot exceed 25% of the landscape area on…
Read full rule →Pleasanton
Some RestrictionsPleasanton's water code treats irrigating non-functional turf with potable water as a prohibited 'waste' of city water…
Read full rule →Pomona
Some RestrictionsPomona's Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance caps how much of a landscaped area can be covered in living turf grass…
Read full rule →Rancho Cucamonga
Some RestrictionsHomeowners may swap natural lawn for synthetic turf to conserve water under Development Code Section 17.56.050(L), but…
Read full rule →Redlands
Some RestrictionsRedlands caps turf at 25% of the landscape area for qualifying residential projects and bans turf entirely in…
Read full rule →Redondo Beach
Some RestrictionsRedondo Beach caps how much grass a commercial project can plant: turf cannot cover more than 20% of the total…
Read full rule →Riverside
Some RestrictionsIf a Riverside landscape project uses the code's prescriptive compliance option instead of the full water-budget…
Read full rule →Roseville
Some RestrictionsRoseville caps turf at 25 percent of the front yard planting area for developer-installed single-family landscaping and…
Read full rule →San Bernardino
Some RestrictionsSan Bernardino lets single-family owners retire water-hungry turf for drought-tolerant landscaping under the Water Wise…
Read full rule →San Bernardino County
Some RestrictionsThe county's Development Code does not run a lawn-removal rebate program, but Chapter 83.10 requires new landscaping in…
Read full rule →San Diego County
Some RestrictionsIn unincorporated San Diego County, new and remodeled landscaping capped at 25% irrigated turf for single-family and…
Read full rule →San Marcos
Some RestrictionsSan Marcos bans turf on steep slopes under its Water Efficient Landscape Standards: Municipal Code Section…
Read full rule →San Ramon
Some RestrictionsSan Ramon caps turf and ornamental water features at 25% of irrigated landscape area on new and rehabilitated projects…
Read full rule →Santa Clarita
Some RestrictionsSanta Clarita lets property owners swap water-hungry lawn for artificial or synthetic turf as a 'Class I' application…
Read full rule →Santa Cruz County
Some RestrictionsNew or rehabilitated landscaping covered by Santa Cruz County's Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance can put no more…
Read full rule →Santa Rosa
Some RestrictionsSanta Rosa's Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance bars new turf in three site conditions on any project needing a…
Read full rule →Sonoma County
Some RestrictionsUnincorporated Sonoma County bans replanting turf on slopes over 10%, strips 8 feet wide or less, and any median or…
Read full rule →Sunnyvale
Some RestrictionsSunnyvale requires new or rehabilitated landscape areas of 500 square feet or more to hit water-efficient design…
Read full rule →Tehama County
Some RestrictionsTehama County has no mandate to remove existing lawns, but new and rehabilitated landscaping in the unincorporated…
Read full rule →Temecula
Some RestrictionsTemecula caps new residential turf at 25% of the landscape area and bars it entirely from non-residential projects…
Read full rule →Thousand Oaks
Some RestrictionsThousand Oaks bans irrigating purely ornamental turf on commercial, industrial and institutional properties under TOMC…
Read full rule →Turlock
Some RestrictionsTurlock's landscaping ordinance limits turf to 25% of landscaped area in commercial and industrial developments and 50%…
Read full rule →Upland
Some RestrictionsUpland caps turf in new and rehabilitated landscape projects rather than banning it outright. Municipal Code Section…
Read full rule →Victorville
Some RestrictionsNew and rehabilitated Victorville homes must cap water-intensive landscape and turf at 10 percent of the first 9,000…
Read full rule →West Covina
Some RestrictionsWest Covina's Development Code lets property owners swap natural lawns for synthetic turf as a water-conservation…
Read full rule →Westminster
Some RestrictionsHomeowners in Westminster who remove more than 200 square feet of turf, plants or shrubs to redo a yard must follow §…
Read full rule →Yuba County
Some RestrictionsUnincorporated Yuba County caps ordinary turf at 25 percent of the required landscape area on residential projects, and…
Read full rule →Colusa County
Light RestrictionsIn unincorporated Colusa County, Zoning Code Section 44-3.10.020(B) discourages water-thirsty lawns on new landscape…
Read full rule →Corona
Light RestrictionsCorona lets residents rip out parkway turf for water-efficient landscaping without an encroachment permit, under Corona…
Read full rule →Moreno Valley
Light RestrictionsMoreno Valley's landscape code caps living turf at under 25% of a project's landscaped area and restricts it to…
Read full rule →Chico
Few RestrictionsChico waives its right-of-way encroachment permit for homeowners removing parkway turf to install water-efficient…
Read full rule →Recycled Water Rules
Where purple-pipe recycled water is required for irrigation, dual-plumbing requirements for new construction, and cross-connection-control rules.
Butte County
Significant RestrictionsButte County requires a construction permit, a Use Permit, CEQA review, and an approved management plan before anyone…
Read full rule →Clovis
Significant RestrictionsClovis regulates recycled water delivery under its Recycled Water Use Ordinance: users must sign a City user agreement…
Read full rule →Garden Grove
Significant RestrictionsOnce recycled water becomes available to a property, Garden Grove requires new irrigation systems to be built as dual…
Read full rule →Los Angeles
Significant RestrictionsLos Angeles requires new buildings within 200 feet of an available city-recycled water line to run 100 percent of their…
Read full rule →Mountain View
Significant RestrictionsWithin the Shoreline Regional Park Community, Mountain View requires identified retail, commercial and industrial…
Read full rule →Oceanside
Significant RestrictionsOceanside requires new commercial, industrial, institutional, and residential projects of four or more units to install…
Read full rule →Pleasanton
Significant RestrictionsNew development inside Pleasanton's recycled water use area must irrigate landscaping with recycled water, not potable…
Read full rule →Redlands
Significant RestrictionsRedlands City Code Chapter 13.58 makes recycled water the required primary supply for commercial and industrial…
Read full rule →San Diego County
Significant RestrictionsUnincorporated San Diego County requires new discretionary development to use recycled water for irrigation, toilet…
Read full rule →Santa Monica
Significant RestrictionsNew developments in Santa Monica's recycled water service area with at least 7,500 sq ft of floor area must use 100%…
Read full rule →Santa Rosa
Significant RestrictionsSanta Rosa can require any customer who connected to the City water system on or after October 19, 2007 to run recycled…
Read full rule →Tracy
Significant RestrictionsTracy requires premises within 200 feet of a completed recycled water main, and every new subdivision in the citywide…
Read full rule →Alameda
Some RestrictionsNew subdivisions inside a City-Designated Water Reuse Area must use EBMUD recycled water for common-area irrigation and…
Read full rule →Anaheim
Some RestrictionsAnaheim's Public Utilities Department treats Recycled Water as the default supply for nonpotable needs whenever it is…
Read full rule →Baldwin Park
Some RestrictionsBaldwin Park requires new recycled water irrigation systems to be built for both current and future recycled water use…
Read full rule →Bellflower
Some RestrictionsCommercial landscaping in Bellflower's General Commercial zone must tie into the public reclaimed-water distribution…
Read full rule →Brentwood
Some RestrictionsBrentwood Municipal Code Chapter 13.06 makes recycled water the mandatory first choice for landscape, commercial and…
Read full rule →Calaveras County
Some RestrictionsOwners of ponds holding recycled water in Calaveras County may not let them discharge except when a twenty-five-year…
Read full rule →Camarillo
Some RestrictionsOnce Camarillo declares a Stage 2, 3 or 4 water supply condition, Municipal Code Section 14.12.040 requires or favors…
Read full rule →Carlsbad
Some RestrictionsCarlsbad Municipal Water District Code Chapter 3.08 requires new subdivisions, land use permits and qualifying remodels…
Read full rule →Chino
Some RestrictionsChino requires a city permit for recycled water service and makes recycled water the required primary supply for…
Read full rule →Chino Hills
Some RestrictionsChino Hills runs a reclaimed water system under Chapter 13.32 of its Municipal Code, delivering tertiary-treated…
Read full rule →Chula Vista
Some RestrictionsChula Vista's Landscape Water Conservation ordinance requires new and rehabilitated landscapes of 2,500 square feet or…
Read full rule →Contra Costa County
Some RestrictionsLarge Contra Costa County developments, those over fifteen acres or 120,000 square feet of floor space, must be…
Read full rule →Corona
Some RestrictionsCorona runs a dedicated reclaimed water program under Municipal Code Chapter 13.28, requiring a citywide Reclaimed…
Read full rule →Cupertino
Some RestrictionsCupertino's Landscape Ordinance requires new irrigation systems to allow for current and future recycled water use…
Read full rule →Davis
Some RestrictionsDavis requires new and rehabilitated landscape projects to plumb for recycled water and to actually irrigate with it…
Read full rule →Downey
Some RestrictionsRecycled water in Downey gets a lighter touch than potable supply under Municipal Code § 7350(a): irrigation is allowed…
Read full rule →Dublin
Some RestrictionsDublin, California requires new irrigation systems to be built for recycled water use, and requires decorative water…
Read full rule →Eastvale
Some RestrictionsEastvale requires any new or rehabilitated landscape designed for recycled water to consult the local water purveyor…
Read full rule →El Cajon
Some RestrictionsIf recycled water runs in the street in front of a covered property, El Cajon requires the project to use it for…
Read full rule →El Monte
Some RestrictionsEl Monte requires new and rehabilitated landscapes to be built ready for recycled water irrigation under Municipal Code…
Read full rule →Escondido
Some RestrictionsEscondido requires new landscaped projects to irrigate with tertiary treated recycled water whenever it is available…
Read full rule →Fairfield
Some RestrictionsFairfield requires covered landscape projects to design irrigation systems that allow for recycled water use under City…
Read full rule →Folsom
Some RestrictionsDuring a declared stage four water crisis, Folsom bars washing cars or equipment with a hose except on the lawn or at a…
Read full rule →Fontana
Some RestrictionsFontana's landscape water conservation ordinance requires irrigation systems be built to accommodate recycled water use…
Read full rule →Fresno
Some RestrictionsFresno's Recycled Water Ordinance requires a signed user agreement before anyone can receive or use recycled water…
Read full rule →Fullerton
Some RestrictionsFullerton's Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance requires new decorative water features to run on recycled water…
Read full rule →Glendale
Some RestrictionsGlendale Water & Power requires customers to use recycled water instead of potable water for irrigation, fountains…
Read full rule →Hanford
Some RestrictionsHanford requires irrigation systems and decorative water features to use recycled water unless the city grants a…
Read full rule →Hawthorne
Some RestrictionsHawthorne's water-efficient landscaping code defines recycled water as treated, nonpotable wastewater suitable for…
Read full rule →Hayward
Some RestrictionsCovered landscape projects in Hayward must be designed to accept recycled water even before it is available on site…
Read full rule →Hemet
Some RestrictionsHemet requires backflow protection on any property with a dual-plumbed or dual-sourced recycled water, non-potable…
Read full rule →Hesperia
Some RestrictionsNew irrigation systems and decorative water features in Hesperia must use recycled water instead of potable supply…
Read full rule →Huntington Beach
Some RestrictionsHuntington Beach requires new and rehabilitated landscapes of 2,500 square feet or more to install dual-plumbed…
Read full rule →Inglewood
Some RestrictionsInglewood requires new and rehabilitated landscape projects to install dual-distribution recycled water irrigation…
Read full rule →Lakewood
Some RestrictionsLakewood only extends reclaimed water service inside its designated reclaimed water service area, and only after the…
Read full rule →Lancaster
Some RestrictionsLancaster's water recycling ordinance, Municipal Code Chapter 13.24, makes recycled water the required source for…
Read full rule →Livermore
Some RestrictionsLivermore requires new irrigation systems to be built ready for recycled water and requires decorative water features…
Read full rule →Lodi
Some RestrictionsLodi's water-efficient landscape ordinance requires any recycled water irrigation system to be designed for both…
Read full rule →Long Beach
Some RestrictionsLong Beach's citywide landscaping code requires decorative water features like fountains and ponds to run on…
Read full rule →Los Angeles County
Some RestrictionsIn the unincorporated Santa Monica Mountains Coastal Zone, Los Angeles County's Local Coastal Program requires recycled…
Read full rule →Los Banos
Some RestrictionsLos Banos requires new and rehabilitated landscape irrigation systems to be built so they can use recycled water now or…
Read full rule →Madera County
Some RestrictionsUnincorporated Madera County doesn't set a general recycled-water use ordinance, but its cross-connection rules require…
Read full rule →Manteca
Some RestrictionsManteca's landscape irrigation standards direct new and qualifying-renovation irrigation systems to be designed to use…
Read full rule →Marin County
Some RestrictionsMarin County Code of Ordinances § 23.18.073(D) lets property owners irrigate with recycled water, but any holding pond…
Read full rule →Monterey County
Some RestrictionsMajor landscape projects (2,500+ square feet) in unincorporated Monterey County must use recycled water for irrigation…
Read full rule →Murrieta
Some RestrictionsMurrieta's Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance requires covered projects to design for both current and future…
Read full rule →Newport Beach
Some RestrictionsNewport Beach bills recycled water users a monthly fixed service charge, a per-unit commodity charge, and a pump…
Read full rule →Norwalk
Some RestrictionsNorwalk's Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance requires covered landscape projects to build irrigation systems that can…
Read full rule →Oakland
Some RestrictionsOakland's Advisory Agency must deny a tentative subdivision map in an EBMUD-designated water reuse area unless the…
Read full rule →Ontario
Some RestrictionsOntario requires a signed use agreement and City approval before any property can receive recycled water, restricting…
Read full rule →Oxnard
Some RestrictionsOxnard can force property owners onto recycled water once their area is designated a mandatory recycled water use zone…
Read full rule →Palmdale
Some RestrictionsPalmdale requires new landscape irrigation to allow for recycled water use and mandates it outright unless the local…
Read full rule →Pasadena
Some RestrictionsPasadena runs a separate purple-pipe system for recycled and other non-potable water, and Chapter 13.11 makes using it…
Read full rule →Perris
Some RestrictionsPerris requires landscape plans to use recycled water for irrigation and decorative water features wherever it is…
Read full rule →Placer County
Some RestrictionsPlacer County's water-efficient landscape ordinance requires any recycled-water irrigation system to be designed for…
Read full rule →Pomona
Some RestrictionsPomona's water code splits reclaimed water into two grades, Class II water bought from the LA County Sanitation…
Read full rule →Rialto
Some RestrictionsRialto Utility Authority delivers recycled water under RMC 12.32.070 to customers inside its retail service boundaries…
Read full rule →Ridgecrest
Some RestrictionsRidgecrest's water-efficient landscape ordinance requires that recycled water irrigation systems in qualifying city…
Read full rule →Riverside
Some RestrictionsCovered landscape projects in Riverside must design irrigation systems to allow current or future use of recycled water…
Read full rule →Riverside County
Some RestrictionsRiverside County landscape rules push recycled water: permitted new and rehabbed landscapes may use up to 70% of…
Read full rule →Rohnert Park
Some RestrictionsRohnert Park runs a separate recycled water system under Chapter 13.03 for approved uses like irrigation, operated…
Read full rule →Roseville
Some RestrictionsRoseville runs a dedicated recycled water utility under Municipal Code Chapter 14.17. Any customer must sign binding…
Read full rule →Sacramento
Some RestrictionsUnder City Code § 15.92.180, covered Sacramento landscape projects must design recycled water irrigation systems for…
Read full rule →Sacramento County
Some RestrictionsSacramento County requires backflow protection on recycled water distribution systems: an air-gap separation where…
Read full rule →San Clemente
Some RestrictionsSan Clemente requires many properties within its Service Area to switch from potable to recycled water under Municipal…
Read full rule →San Francisco
Some RestrictionsSan Francisco's Park Code orders the Recreation and Park Department to convert park irrigation to recycled water in…
Read full rule →San Jose
Some RestrictionsSan Jose requires any landscape irrigation system supplied with recycled water to run on its own meter, separate from…
Read full rule →San Leandro
Some RestrictionsSan Leandro's landscape design standards require recycled water for all irrigation on covered projects when it is…
Read full rule →San Marcos
Some RestrictionsSan Marcos requires landscape irrigation systems on qualifying projects to be built and operated to allow current and…
Read full rule →San Mateo County
Some RestrictionsSan Mateo County Ordinance Code Section 4.72.140 requires every recycled water or graywater system to be designed and…
Read full rule →San Ramon
Some RestrictionsNew landscaping in San Ramon must use recycled water for irrigation whenever it is available under Municipal Code…
Read full rule →Santa Ana
Some RestrictionsSanta Ana resells Orange County Water District recycled water to users inside city limits under Municipal Code § 39-32…
Read full rule →Santa Barbara County
Some RestrictionsWithin the Laguna County Sanitation District's service area, County Code makes it district policy that recycled water…
Read full rule →Santa Clara
Some RestrictionsSanta Clara Municipal Code Chapter 13.15 bars potable water for landscape irrigation once recycled water reaches a site…
Read full rule →Santa Clarita
Some RestrictionsRecycled water from Santa Clarita's Water Factory can't be bought, sold, distributed, or used, directly or through a…
Read full rule →Santa Cruz County
Some RestrictionsSanta Cruz County allows tertiary-treated recycled water facilities on land zoned CA (Commercial Agriculture) or A…
Read full rule →Sonoma
Some RestrictionsThe City of Sonoma requires recycled water for landscape water features whenever it is available on site, under its…
Read full rule →Sonoma County
Some RestrictionsSonoma County's water-efficient landscape ordinance requires recycled water for water features, ponds, fountains…
Read full rule →Tehama County
Some RestrictionsNew and rehabilitated landscape projects in unincorporated Tehama County must install dual-distribution recycled-water…
Read full rule →Temecula
Some RestrictionsTemecula's Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance, Chapter 17.32 of the Municipal Code, requires recirculating systems for…
Read full rule →Truckee
Some RestrictionsAnyone maintaining a pond of recycled water on Truckee property must manage it so that no discharge occurs in violation…
Read full rule →Turlock
Some RestrictionsOnce Turlock declares Stage 3 of its water shortage plan, hydrant meters for construction water are banned, but…
Read full rule →Union City
Some RestrictionsUnion City requires covered landscape irrigation systems to accommodate current or future recycled-water use and to…
Read full rule →Upland
Some RestrictionsUpland Municipal Code § 13.22.030 makes recycled water the primary required supply for commercial and industrial uses…
Read full rule →Vacaville
Some RestrictionsVacaville requires new and rehabilitated landscape irrigation systems to be built ready for recycled water use, treats…
Read full rule →Vallejo
Some RestrictionsVallejo's Water-Efficient Landscape Ordinance requires every new or rehabilitated irrigation system to be built ready…
Read full rule →Ventura County
Some RestrictionsUnincorporated Ventura County landscaping must use reclaimed water for irrigation whenever the resource is feasibly…
Read full rule →West Sacramento
Some RestrictionsNew and rehabilitated landscape irrigation systems in West Sacramento must be built to allow current or future…
Read full rule →Whittier
Some RestrictionsWhittier's water-efficient landscaping ordinance requires recycled-water irrigation systems to be built for current and…
Read full rule →Yuba County
Some RestrictionsUnincorporated Yuba County's water-efficient landscape ordinance carves out recycled water as an exemption path…
Read full rule →Alameda County
Light RestrictionsAlameda County's water-efficient landscape ordinance gives areas irrigated with recycled water a looser water budget…
Read full rule →Apple Valley
Light RestrictionsApple Valley doesn't mandate recycled water use townwide, but its water conservation plan exempts projects that draw…
Read full rule →Carson
Light RestrictionsCarson's water conservation ordinance requires builders to use recycled or other approved nonpotable water for…
Read full rule →Colusa County
Light RestrictionsUnincorporated Colusa County's Zoning Code steers decorative water features toward recirculating and recycled water…
Read full rule →Elk Grove
Light RestrictionsElk Grove requires new recycled water irrigation systems to be built and run to current State and local standards under…
Read full rule →Irvine
Light RestrictionsWhere a hillside development project in the San Joaquin Hills or Lomas de Santiago Hills review area requires permanent…
Read full rule →Menifee
Light RestrictionsMenifee's landscape water-efficiency ordinance actively pushes recycled water: any new or rehabilitated landscape…
Read full rule →Palm Springs
Light RestrictionsPalm Springs' water conservation chapter defines recycled water as the capture, reclamation and reuse of non-potable…
Read full rule →Petaluma
Light RestrictionsPetaluma runs its recycled water program on standardized paperwork rather than a council ordinance for every hookup…
Read full rule →Redwood City
Light RestrictionsResidents who join Redwood City's Recycled Water Fill Station Program pay a one-time fee for an Access Card plus a…
Read full rule →San Luis Obispo County
Light RestrictionsSan Luis Obispo County's landscape ordinance requires new dual-distribution recycled water, or greywater, irrigation…
Read full rule →Santa Maria
Light RestrictionsSanta Maria's landscape water-efficiency chapter lets property owners use recycled water systems and graywater systems…
Read full rule →Victorville
Light RestrictionsVictorville Water District requires reclaimed water pipelines in new residential tract developments to connect to the…
Read full rule →Vista
Light RestrictionsVista does not mandate recycled water for landscaping, but Chapter 18.56 encourages it and rewards it: Section…
Read full rule →West Covina
Light RestrictionsWest Covina's water code treats recycled water as a category apart from regulated "water": Sec. 23-321 defines "Water"…
Read full rule →Westminster
Light RestrictionsWestminster's water conservation chapter defines recycled water as reclaimed non-potable water reused under Title 22 of…
Read full rule →Yolo County
Light RestrictionsYolo County's Water Efficient Landscaping Ordinance requires new or rehabilitated decorative water features on covered…
Read full rule →Buena Park
Few RestrictionsBuena Park exempts recycled (reclaimed) water from its potable-water conservation and drought-shortage rules, so…
Read full rule →Compton
Few RestrictionsCompton's mandatory water conservation ordinance singles out reclaimed water for special treatment: car washing…
Read full rule →Indio
Few RestrictionsIndio's water-shortage ordinance regulates only potable water; it expressly exempts reclaimed and recycled water from…
Read full rule →San Joaquin County
Few RestrictionsRecycled water is carved out of San Joaquin County's water use rules. Section 5-3400(e) defines it, § 5-3402(g) exempts…
Read full rule →Santa Clara County
Few RestrictionsUnincorporated Santa Clara County's water-conservation limits on outdoor irrigation, hose-washing, and decorative…
Read full rule →Simi Valley
Few RestrictionsSimi Valley's drought conservation rules exempt recycled water from almost every restriction they impose on potable…
Read full rule →South Gate
Few RestrictionsSouth Gate's water conservation ordinance exempts recycled water use from nearly all mandatory conservation rules…
Read full rule →Stockton
Few RestrictionsStockton's Water Conservation Ordinance defines recycled and reclaimed water and builds both into the rules that govern…
Read full rule →Leak Reporting Duty
Property owner's duty to report and repair water leaks within a set window once notified, plus how utilities issue leak-adjustment credits and impose penalties.
Imperial County
Heavy RestrictionsImperial County makes it unlawful to knowingly allow a septic or onsite wastewater system to leak. Failing systems are…
Read full rule →Pomona
Significant RestrictionsPomona treats an unrepaired water leak as unlawful waste. Once a customer knows, or should reasonably know, about a…
Read full rule →Yolo County
Significant RestrictionsUnder Yolo County Code Sec. 6-8.1104(d), customers in a Level 3 Drought Response must repair any leak within 48 hours…
Read full rule →Alhambra
Some RestrictionsOnce the City Council activates Water Shortage Plan II, Alhambra customers must promptly fix any leak from indoor or…
Read full rule →Calaveras County
Some RestrictionsProperty owners and operators whose site generates more than incidental stormwater runoff must find and fix leaks, such…
Read full rule →Chino Hills
Some RestrictionsOnce Chino Hills has declared a water conservation alert under CHMC Chapter 13.08, letting water leak on your property…
Read full rule →Corona
Some RestrictionsCorona law makes failing to repair a water leak an unlawful "unreasonable use of water" at all times, alongside letting…
Read full rule →Davis
Some RestrictionsDavis property owners must repair any leak, break or malfunction in a water fixture or water-using device connected to…
Read full rule →Downey
Some RestrictionsDowney Municipal Code § 7350(d)(3) gives every water customer a hard deadline: fix a leak as soon as it's discovered…
Read full rule →El Cajon
Some RestrictionsEl Cajon treats water that escapes, flows or seeps from a property connected to the public water system as proof of…
Read full rule →El Monte
Some RestrictionsOnce El Monte declares Stage 2 drought watch conditions, every water customer must fix a plumbing break or leak within…
Read full rule →Fairfield
Some RestrictionsFairfield bans failing to promptly repair a "controllable water leak" under City Code Section 22.55.020(A), covering…
Read full rule →Folsom
Some RestrictionsOnce Folsom declares a stage four water crisis, Section 13.26.080(D)(8) gives customers just twenty-four hours from the…
Read full rule →Fresno
Some RestrictionsFresno doesn't run a leak hotline mandate, but the code makes leaks a legal problem for the owner regardless: FMC §…
Read full rule →Garden Grove
Some RestrictionsOnce Garden Grove's City Council declares Stage 3 (Water Warning) or Stage 4 (Water Emergency) conservation under…
Read full rule →Hemet
Some RestrictionsHemet requires property owners to fix leaking water lines promptly: seven business days for minor exterior leaks, and…
Read full rule →Hesperia
Some RestrictionsOnce Hesperia Water District declares Stage 3 or higher of its water shortage plan, customers must fix leaking pipes or…
Read full rule →Huntington Beach
Some RestrictionsHuntington Beach water customers must fix any leak, break, or malfunction in their plumbing or distribution system…
Read full rule →Indio
Some RestrictionsIndio requires water customers to fix a broken sprinkler within five business days of city notification and to repair…
Read full rule →Lakewood
Some RestrictionsLakewood water customers cannot knowingly let a fixture leak or waste water, and once the City gives written notice of…
Read full rule →Los Angeles County
Some RestrictionsIn unincorporated Los Angeles County, County Code § 11.38.640 makes leak repair a legal duty, not a suggestion: anyone…
Read full rule →Los Banos
Some RestrictionsLos Banos Municipal Code makes water leaks on the customer's side of the meter the customer's job, not the city's…
Read full rule →Madera
Some RestrictionsMadera property owners must keep all pipes, faucets, and fixtures leak-free and repair any unidentified water discharge…
Read full rule →Marin County
Some RestrictionsMarin County Code of Ordinances § 23.18.073 requires every property owner in an urbanized unincorporated area to detect…
Read full rule →Menifee
Some RestrictionsMenifee treats an unfixed water leak as a code violation, not just wasted water. Once a leak, break or malfunction in…
Read full rule →Merced
Some RestrictionsMerced bans letting broken or defective plumbing, sprinklers, or irrigation systems leak water at any time, under…
Read full rule →Moreno Valley
Some RestrictionsMoreno Valley's landscape water efficiency ordinance requires property owners and occupants to repair faucets, toilets…
Read full rule →Newport Beach
Some RestrictionsNewport Beach property owners must fix any leak, break or malfunction in their own plumbing or distribution system…
Read full rule →Oceanside
Some RestrictionsOceanside's drought-response ordinance requires anyone who receives a leak notice from the city to fix it within a set…
Read full rule →Oxnard
Some RestrictionsOxnard requires anyone with a leaking, broken or malfunctioning plumbing or water distribution system to fix it within…
Read full rule →Palm Springs
Some RestrictionsPalm Springs makes it unlawful to let water leak from any exterior or interior pipe, hose or fixture, and requires…
Read full rule →Pasadena
Some RestrictionsPasadena treats an unfixed leak as illegal water waste. Under Municipal Code Section 13.10.032.G, once you knew or…
Read full rule →Petaluma
Some RestrictionsA leaking pipe on your side of the meter is water waste under Petaluma law the moment it runs longer than it should…
Read full rule →Pleasanton
Some RestrictionsPleasanton requires customers to repair a potable water leak in their own plumbing within eight hours of being notified…
Read full rule →Redlands
Some RestrictionsRedlands prohibits customers from failing to repair controllable leaks once the city has declared a Stage II water…
Read full rule →Rohnert Park
Some RestrictionsA leak in a Rohnert Park customer's own plumbing or private distribution system becomes a code violation once it runs…
Read full rule →Roseville
Some RestrictionsRoseville property owners whose irrigation runoff exceeds normal overspray must detect leaks, such as from broken…
Read full rule →Sacramento
Some RestrictionsSacramento City Code makes it unlawful to keep leaky or faulty water fixtures connected to the city water system, and…
Read full rule →San Benito County
Some RestrictionsIn County Service Area 31, unincorporated San Benito County requires water customers to fix leaks, breaks, or plumbing…
Read full rule →San Diego
Some RestrictionsSan Diego's water waste ordinance requires customers to repair or stop any water leak as soon as it's discovered, or…
Read full rule →San Diego County
Some RestrictionsLetting delivered water leak or seep off your unincorporated San Diego County property is itself evidence of a code…
Read full rule →San Francisco
Some RestrictionsSan Francisco requires owners of commercial buildings to locate and repair all water leaks under the Commercial Water…
Read full rule →San Joaquin County
Some RestrictionsSan Joaquin County Code § 5-3402(b) makes it unlawful to leave a leak, break, or malfunction in your own plumbing or…
Read full rule →San Jose
Some RestrictionsSan Jose owners and managers must start repairing leaking or broken water pipes, faucets, fixtures, sprinklers or…
Read full rule →Santa Ana
Some RestrictionsOnce city water crosses the meter, Santa Ana Municipal Code § 39-21 puts every pipe, fixture, and leak on the…
Read full rule →Santa Clara County
Some RestrictionsProperty owners in unincorporated Santa Clara County must fix outdoor water leaks from broken pipes, sprinklers, or…
Read full rule →Santa Cruz County
Some RestrictionsSanta Cruz County bans letting a plumbing leak or break run unfixed past a reasonable time, and county code fixes that…
Read full rule →Santa Maria
Some RestrictionsEvery water customer must keep pipes, faucets, valves and plumbing fixtures in good repair to stop water waste under…
Read full rule →Santa Rosa
Some RestrictionsSanta Rosa doesn't make you call in every drip, but it does make you fix one. City Code Section 14-21.020(B) counts an…
Read full rule →Sonoma
Some RestrictionsIn the City of Sonoma, a customer notified in writing of leakage on their side of the water meter must take reasonable…
Read full rule →South Gate
Some RestrictionsSouth Gate requires plumbing or distribution-system leaks to be fixed within three days of city notice; letting water…
Read full rule →Stockton
Some RestrictionsStockton gives water users a 24-hour clock to fix a leak once they know about it. Municipal Code § 13.28.030.B.3 treats…
Read full rule →Sunnyvale
Some RestrictionsSunnyvale outlaws letting broken or defective plumbing, sprinklers or irrigation systems leak potable water under…
Read full rule →Thousand Oaks
Some RestrictionsOnce the City notifies a Thousand Oaks water customer of a leak, break, or plumbing malfunction wasting water, the…
Read full rule →Tracy
Some RestrictionsTracy property owners must start repairing any leaking, broken or defective pipe, faucet, fixture, sprinkler or…
Read full rule →Truckee
Some RestrictionsAnyone responsible for property in Truckee must detect and correct water leaks within 72 hours of learning about them…
Read full rule →Tulare County
Some RestrictionsCustomers on Tulare County-run Water Service Areas must fix plumbing breaks, leaks or malfunctions within 72 hours of…
Read full rule →Turlock
Some RestrictionsTurlock bans letting any pipe, faucet, or fixture on the City water system stay in disrepair if it wastes water, and…
Read full rule →Upland
Some RestrictionsUpland Municipal Code § 13.16.030(A)(3) prohibits letting water escape through a break or leak in a customer's plumbing…
Read full rule →Vacaville
Some RestrictionsVacaville water customers must fix plumbing or irrigation leaks promptly once discovered; the city treats up to 24…
Read full rule →Ventura
Some RestrictionsSan Buenaventura Municipal Code Section 22.170.010 bans wasting water through an uncorrected leak, break or plumbing…
Read full rule →Victorville
Some RestrictionsOnce Victorville Water District notifies a customer of a break, leak or malfunction in their plumbing, the customer…
Read full rule →West Covina
Some RestrictionsWest Covina Municipal Code Sec. 23-323(b)(5) requires every water user to promptly repair leaks in indoor and outdoor…
Read full rule →West Sacramento
Some RestrictionsWest Sacramento treats a water fixture or irrigation leak left unfixed more than 72 hours after discovery as prohibited…
Read full rule →Westminster
Some RestrictionsWestminster Code § 13.14.050(F) bars letting a plumbing leak, break, or malfunction waste water past the point it…
Read full rule →Yuba City
Some RestrictionsYuba City bars wasting water through an uncorrected leak and lets the City shut off service if a customer does not fix…
Read full rule →Hanford
Light RestrictionsHanford's water division helps customers locate a plumbing leak and re-bills the excess usage at the standard rate if…
Read full rule →Mountain View
Light RestrictionsMountain View lets commercial and industrial customers get a sewer bill credit under City Code Sec. 35.35.2 when an…
Read full rule →Norwalk
Light RestrictionsNorwalk property owners must inspect their hoses, faucets, sprinklers and indoor plumbing for leaks and fix any leak as…
Read full rule →San Luis Obispo County
Light RestrictionsSection 8.69.040 of the County Code requires every hose, faucet, pipe and other indoor plumbing fixture in San Luis…
Read full rule →