Inglewood, CA Water Use Rules: Recycled Water Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- IMC § 5-113.3(f)
- MWELO trigger
- New landscape over 500 sq ft
- Exemption
- Written finding by water agency
- Reclaimed water watering days
- Any day, no schedule limit
- Penalty
- Misdemeanor, up to $500 fine, 6 months jail
Summary
Inglewood requires new and rehabilitated landscape projects to install dual-distribution recycled water irrigation systems under Municipal Code Section 5-113.3(f), and the city's potable-water conservation article exempts recycled water entirely from its usage restrictions, letting recycled water flow on any day and at any hour.
Recycled Water. The installation of recycled water irrigation systems (dual distribution systems) shall be required to allow for the current and future use of recycled water, unless an exemption has been granted as described in the following section: (1) Irrigation systems shall make use of recycled water unless a written exemption has been granted by the local water agency, stating that recycled water meeting all health standards is not available and will not be available in the foreseeable future. (2) The recycled water irrigation systems shall be designed and operated in accordance with all local and State codes.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4954608; v8 updated 2026-05-19).
Full Breakdown
1 must include dual-distribution recycled water piping so the site is ready to use recycled water now or once it becomes available. 2 before a building permit issues. A project can skip the recycled-water piping only if the local water agency issues a written finding that recycled water meeting health standards is not available and will not become available in the foreseeable future. Section 5-114 separately requires decorative water features such as pools, ponds and waterfalls in landscaped areas to recirculate water rather than draw continuously from fresh supply.
The city's broader water-shortage program in Article 19 of Chapter 10 confirms recycled water sits outside its restrictions: Section 10-262(3) states the potable-water conservation article does not apply to the use of recycled water, and even during a declared Level 3 water-shortage emergency, Section 10-266(3)(i) allows continued irrigation with recycled water when the City determines it is available, while potable-water irrigation is banned outright. Reclaimed water use is also expressly permitted any day of the week under Section 5-110(a)(2), unlike potable irrigation, which is limited to City-posted schedules.
Violations & Fines
Section 5-113.3(f) sits inside the Landscape Plan chapter, so a project missing the required dual-distribution recycled water piping can be held up at plan review by the Planning and Building Department Director before a building permit issues. Violating Article 7's water conservation provisions generally is a misdemeanor under Section 1-18, punishable by up to a $500 fine or six months in jail, since these landscape sections are not on the City's tiered-infraction list in Section 1-18.1.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Inglewood require recycled water piping in new landscaping?
Can I water with recycled water during Inglewood's watering-hour restrictions?
What happens if a landscape project skips the recycled water piping requirement?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Inglewood
California rules heatmap·Compare Inglewood to another location·View the California water use rules overview
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