Davis, CA Water Use Rules: Recycled Water Rules (2026)

42, the Water Efficient Landscaping ordinance, applies to new construction and rehabilitated landscapes of 2,500 square feet or more for non-residential and developer-installed residential projects (5,000 square feet for homeowner-provided landscaping) that need a building or landscape permit, plan check, or design review. 170 is the operative recycled water rule: irrigation systems must be installed to allow current and future use of recycled water, and irrigation systems and decorative water features must actually use recycled water unless the local water purveyor grants a written exemption stating recycled water meeting public health standards is not available and will not become available for the foreseeable future.

Recycled water systems must still be designed and operated consistent with all applicable state and local law, including cross-connection control requirements. 7 ETAF applied to standard landscapes elsewhere in the ordinance, a deliberate allowance for the lower-quality but reusable water source. 060 must identify the water supply type, including whether it is potable, recycled, or well water, and name the local retail water purveyor. , the state landscaping act, but Davis administers its own permit review through the Department of Community Development and Sustainability rather than deferring wholesale to the state model ordinance.