Santa Rosa, CA Water Use Rules: Recycled Water Rules (2026)

Chapter 14-25 of the Santa Rosa City Code starts from a policy finding in Section 14-25.020: the State of California has declared that using potable water for a non-potable purpose is itself a waste of water whenever recycled water is available for that purpose. Building on that finding, Section 14-25.040 lets the City require any customer who connects to the City water system on or after October 19, 2007, to use recycled water instead of potable water for every approved use, approved uses being whatever the City's Recycled Water User's Guide, or State law, designates as safe for tertiary-treated recycled water.

Eligibility runs citywide: Section 14-25.030 makes every area within the Santa Rosa Urban Growth Boundary eligible for a recycled water connection once service reaches it, though the Director of Utilities can decline a connection that isn't economically or operationally feasible, and reviews single-family irrigation requests case by case. Before anyone can actually run recycled water on their property, Section 14-25.060 requires the City to issue a site-specific Recycled Water Use Permit, and Section 14-25.070 requires the customer to name a Site Supervisor who can manage the on-site system and liaise with the City. Section 14-25.090 adds a safety backstop: if the City finds a backflow hazard, the customer must install a backflow prevention device, keep it maintained, have it inspected quarterly, and test it at least annually, submitting the results under the City's backflow program. Section 14-25.100 lets City staff enter the property during normal working hours, or anytime in an emergency, to check compliance.