Maricopa, AZ Water Use Rules: Recycled Water Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Program status
- Voluntary, § 18.125.020
- Feature #9
- Purple piping for reclaimed water
- Feature #10
- Rainwater harvesting, 20% of landscape
- 9 of 17 features
- Earns expedited zoning clearance
- 7 of 17 features
- Earns up to +15 ft height
- 5 of 17 features
- Earns setback reduction up to 5 ft
- 3 of 17 features
- Earns up to 20% parking reduction
Summary
Maricopa has no mandatory recycled-water rule; instead, Maricopa City Code § 18.125.040 offers a voluntary sustainable-development incentive for it. Feature #9 in the Water Efficiency category credits a project that 'incorporates purple piping (for reclaimed water) for irrigation of landscape areas or other nonpotable reclaimed water use,' and stacking that with other qualifying features under § 18.125.030 can earn expedited review, extra building height, a smaller setback or reduced parking.
Water Efficiency | 9 | Development incorporates purple piping (for reclaimed water) for irrigation of landscape areas or other nonpotable reclaimed water use. ... 10 | Site development incorporates functional rainwater harvesting that irrigates at least 20 percent of the total landscape area.
Official source re-checked September 8, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: current through Ordinance 26-10, passed April 21, 2026).
Full Breakdown
Recycled water use in Maricopa isn't required by the zoning code; it's rewarded. 020). 040. Achieving nine of the 17 (feature #14, solar parking lot lighting, is required for this tier) qualifies a project for expedited zoning clearance with planning and zoning commission review waived. Seven of 17 features earns up to a 15-foot increase in allowable building height. Five of 17, with feature #11 (vegetation screen walls) required, earns up to a five-foot setback reduction. Three of 17 earns up to a 20 percent parking reduction and project recognition by development services.
The zoning administrator reviews and verifies the qualifying features before granting a permit: 'The zoning administrator shall review opportunities for a sustainable development incentive and determine whether the project includes the required number of qualifying features to justify granting the requested incentive... 050).
Violations & Fines
Because the sustainable development program is voluntary, skipping recycled-water piping carries no penalty. What can be enforced is misuse of the incentive itself: if a project receives expedited review, extra height, a setback reduction or a parking reduction based on features that inspection later shows weren't actually installed, that's a zoning code violation under Maricopa City Code § 1.10.010, civilly punishable at $100 per day for a first offense escalating to $400 per day for repeat offenses, or as a Class 1 misdemeanor up to $2,500.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is recycled or reclaimed water piping required in new Maricopa developments?
What do I get for installing purple piping for reclaimed water?
Who verifies that a project actually built the qualifying water features?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Maricopa
Compare Maricopa to another location·View the Arizona water use rules overview
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