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

Some Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified September 2026

Key Facts

ETAF cap for recycled water
up to 1.0
Residential ETAF cap
0.55 (non-recycled)
Non-residential ETAF cap
0.45 (non-recycled)
Classification
Special Landscape Area
Design requirement
must allow future recycled-water use

Summary

Covered landscape projects in Hayward must be designed to accept recycled water even before it is available on site. Sec. 10-12.13 requires recycled water irrigation systems to allow for current and future use, mandates compliance with all state and local recycled-water laws, and classifies any landscape actually using it as a Special Landscape Area with its water-use adjustment factor capped at 1.0.

SEC. 10-12.13 - RECYCLED WATER. (a)The installation of recycled water irrigation systems shall allow for the current and future use of recycled water.(b)All recycled water irrigation systems shall be designed and operated in accordance with all applicable local and State laws.(c)Landscapes using recycled water are considered Special Landscape Areas. The ET Adjustment Factor for new and existing (non-rehabilitated) Special Landscape Areas shall not exceed 1.0.

View official code

Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Municipal Code: Supplement 28 Update 1 | Charter: Supplement 1).

Full Breakdown

Recycled water sits inside Hayward's Bay-Friendly Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance, Article 12 of Chapter 10. Sec. " Sec. 13 requires that any recycled water irrigation system be designed to allow for its current and future use and that the system be designed and operated in accordance with all applicable local and State laws. Landscapes actually irrigated with recycled water are automatically classified as a "Special Landscape Area" under Sec. 04(xxx), the same category used for edible-plant gardens and dedicated recreation areas. 45 under Sec. 0, nearly double the residential standard, letting the project apply more total water because the source is not potable supply.

Project applicants calculate the Maximum Applied Water Allowance using the formula in Sec. 19, entering the higher ETAF for any square footage irrigated with recycled water. The designation and its ETAF must be documented in the Water Efficient Landscape Worksheet under Sec. 05 and verified again at Certificate of Completion under Sec. 09 before the project can close out.

Violations & Fines

A recycled water irrigation system that is not designed for current and future recycled-water use, or that is not built and operated per applicable state and local law, fails plan check under Sec. 10-12.13 and blocks issuance of the landscape permit. Misclassifying an ordinary irrigated area as a recycled-water Special Landscape Area to claim the higher 1.0 ETAF is caught at the Sec. 10-12.09 Certificate of Completion field inspection, which generates a correction list before the City signs off and Certificate of Occupancy can issue.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much water can a Hayward landscape use if it runs on recycled water?
Up to 1.0, compared with 0.55 for an ordinary residential landscape and 0.45 for a non-residential one, under the Special Landscape Area rules cross-referenced in Sec. 10-12.13(c) and defined in Sec. 10-12.04(v) and (xxx). Recycled water gets that higher allowance because it is not drawn from the potable municipal supply.
What counts as recycled water under Hayward's ordinance?
Water that has been treated for nonpotable reuse, defined in Sec. 10-12.04(ppp) as "treated or recycled waste water of a quality suitable for nonpotable uses such as landscape irrigation and water features" that is "not intended for human consumption." It is distinct from graywater, which is untreated household wastewater covered separately under Sec. 10-12.14.
Do I have to plumb for recycled water even if it isn't available at my site yet?
Yes. Sec. 10-12.13(a) requires that recycled water irrigation systems "allow for the current and future use of recycled water," meaning the plumbing and valves must be built ready for a recycled supply even before one reaches the site, so the property will not need a costly irrigation retrofit once recycled water becomes available.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Hayward

Animal Ordinances: Chickens & LivestockSome RestrictionsTurf Replacement RebatesSignificant RestrictionsParking Rules: Driveway RulesSome RestrictionsParking Rules: Loading ZonesSome RestrictionsFence Regulations: Fence Permit RequirementsSome RestrictionsAnimal Ordinances: BeekeepingSome RestrictionsAnimal Ordinances: Veterinary Clinic ZoningSome Restrictions

All Hayward rules

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