Sonoma County, CA Water Use Rules: Recycled Water Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Requirement
- Recycled water when available on-site
- Applies to
- Water features in landscape projects
- Governing chapter
- Water Efficient Landscape Regulations (Ch. 7D3)
- Enforcing agency
- Permit and Resource Management Department
Summary
Sonoma County's water-efficient landscape ordinance requires recycled water for water features, ponds, fountains, artificial streams, and pools, whenever it's available on site, part of the county's water conservation standards for new and rehabilitated landscape projects.
C.Water Features.1.Recirculating water systems shall be used for all water features.2.Recycled water shall be used when available on site.3.Surface area of water features shall be included in the high water use hydrozone area of the water budget calculation.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 64 Update 2).
Full Breakdown
Under the Sonoma County Water Efficient Landscape Regulations (Chapter 7D3), any landscape project with a water feature must use recirculating systems, and recycled water must be used whenever it's available on site. The chapter covers new and rehabilitated landscapes for multi-family, commercial, industrial, agricultural-processing and public-agency projects requiring a building or grading permit or design review, plus homeowner-driven single-family projects involving additions over 400 square feet on landscape areas of 5,000 square feet or more. The Permit and Resource Management Department reviews landscape and irrigation design plans, which must identify any recycled water irrigation systems, before a building permit or certificate of completion issues.
Violations & Fines
A project can't be signed off until a final inspection confirms compliance with Chapter 7D3: the director will not deem a landscape project complete, and no certificate of completion issues, until the recycled water and other standards are verified.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Sonoma County require recycled water for all landscaping?
What triggers Sonoma County's water-efficient landscape rules?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Sonoma County
California rules heatmap·Compare Sonoma County to another location·View the California water use rules overview
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