Placer County, CA Water Use Rules: Recycled Water Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- County Code § 15.75.080
- Applies to
- landscapes ≥500 sq ft new, ≥2,500 sq ft rehab
- ET Adjustment Factor cap
- 1.0 for recycled-water landscapes
- Graywater standard
- Calif. Plumbing Code, Title 24, Part 5, Ch. 16
- Tahoe Basin
- exempt; TRPA governs instead
- Enforcement
- Code Compliance, Article 17.62 (§ 15.75.150)
Summary
Placer County's water-efficient landscape ordinance requires any recycled-water irrigation system to be designed for current and future recycled-water use and treats recycled-water landscapes as Special Landscape Areas capped at an ET Adjustment Factor of 1.0. Graywater irrigation is encouraged but must follow the California Plumbing Code. The whole chapter exempts the Tahoe Basin.
1. The installation of recycled systems shall allow for the current and future use of recycled water. 2. All recycled water irrigation systems shall be designed and operated in accordance with all applicable local and state laws. 3. Landscapes using recycled water are considered Special Landscape Areas. The ET Adjustment Factor for new and existing (non-rehabilitated) Special Landscape Areas shall not exceed 1.0. 4. Graywater systems promote the efficient use of water and are encouraged to assist in on-site landscape irrigation. All graywater systems shall conform to the California Plumbing Code (Title 24, Part 5, Chapter 16) and any applicable local ordinance standards.
Full Breakdown
010(1)). 080 governs recycled water and graywater. Subsection 1 requires that recycled-water systems be installed so they allow both current and future use of recycled water, and subsection 2 requires those systems to be designed and operated in accordance with all applicable local and state laws. 45 factors used for ordinary residential and non-residential hydrozones. 010(1)(f). 010(2)(e) exempts all real property inside the Placer County Tahoe Basin Area Plan boundary from this entire chapter, so recycled-water and graywater standards for Tahoe Basin parcels come from the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency, not this county code article.
Violations & Fines
Compliance is checked at plan review and at final inspection: § 15.75.150 requires the Planning Services Division to inspect landscape projects against the approved plans, and a project is not deemed compliant until that final inspection is complete, which can hold up occupancy sign-off. Enforcement of the water efficient landscaping requirements, including recycled-water and graywater system compliance, falls under Placer County Code Chapter 17, Article 17.62, Code Compliance and Enforcement, per § 15.75.150.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does unincorporated Placer County require recycled water for new landscaping?
Can I use graywater to irrigate my landscape in the unincorporated county?
Does this recycled water rule apply near Lake Tahoe?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Placer County
California rules heatmap·Compare Placer County to another location·View the California water use rules overview
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