Huntington Park, CA Water Use Rules: Recycled Water Rules (2026)

The recycled water mandate is one line inside the landscape standards of the Huntington Park Zoning Code, adopted by Ordinance 666-NS effective September 15, 2001. Section 9-3.407 requires a landscape documentation package, reviewed and approved by the Review Authority, for every project in the City of Huntington Park whose total landscaped area, including parking lot landscaping, is greater than 2,500 square feet. Projects below that line follow Sections 9-3.408 and 9-3.409 and any guidelines from the Department instead.

Inside the package, the Irrigation Design Plan carries the dual distribution rule. All sites except single-family, with more than 2,500 square feet of landscaping, must install recycled water irrigation systems. The only stated way out is an exemption granted by the local water agency stating that recycled water is not available and will not be available in the foreseeable future. The section does not name the agency.

The same package sets other hard requirements. Irrigation systems must be designed, maintained and managed to meet or exceed 0.625 efficiency. Any project with a landscaped area greater than 5,000 square feet, except single-family homes, needs a separate landscape water meter. Automatic control systems and rain sensing override devices are required on all irrigation systems. A schedule of landscape irrigation audits by certified landscape irrigation auditors, at least once every five years, is required for all but single-family residences, and an audit must be done before the final field observation. The Certificate of Substantial Completion is delivered to the Department, the retail water supplier and the owner of record.

Ornamental water is restricted too. Only recirculating water is allowed for decorative water features, and pool and spa covers are required. Under § 9-3.408, ornamental uses of water in the common areas of a project, such as ponds, lakes and fountains, must be supplied, operated and maintained with alternative sources of water if they are available. In a Level 2 Drought Response, § 6-5.404 requires people to stop operating ornamental fountains or similar decorative water features unless recycled water is used.