Yucaipa, CA Water Use Rules: Recycled Water Rules (2026)

Recycled water is addressed in Chapter 4, Water Conservation, of Division DC10 of the Yucaipa Development Code, adopted by the Yucaipa City Council. Section 810.0475 has three parts. Subsection (a) requires that the installation of recycled water irrigation systems allow for the current and future use of recycled water. Subsection (b) requires every recycled water irrigation system to be designed and operated in accordance with all applicable local and State laws. Subsection (c) classifies landscapes using recycled water as Special Landscape Areas and caps the ET Adjustment Factor for new and existing (non-rehabilitated) Special Landscape Areas at 1.0.

The chapter's definitions in Section 810.0410 describe recycled water, reclaimed water and treated sewage effluent water as treated or recycled waste water of a quality suitable for nonpotable uses such as landscape irrigation and water features, and state that it is not intended for human consumption. A Special Landscape Area is defined as an area dedicated solely to edible plants, recreational areas, areas irrigated with recycled water, or water features using recycled water.

Other sections tie recycled water into the plan paperwork. The landscape design plan must identify areas irrigated with recycled water (§ 810.0435(b)(5)). The irrigation design plan must show recycled water irrigation systems as specified in Section 810.0475 (§ 810.0440(b)(5)). For decorative water features, § 810.0435(a)(2)(B) provides that where available, recycled water shall be used as the source, and (a)(2)(A) requires recirculating water systems for water features.

The chapter reaches new construction with an aggregate landscape area of 500 square feet or more and rehabilitated landscapes of 2,500 square feet or more that need a building or landscape permit, plan check or design review (§ 810.0405(a)). Section 810.0475 sets design and operating standards for recycled systems; it does not itself print a connection mandate.