Southern California Watering Ordinances

Ordinances for Professional Landscapers and Developers

DSC03032Landscaping ordinances for sweeping garden makeovers and new construction have undergone an overhaul as Assembly Bill 1881 was signed into law on September 10, 2009.

For a bullet point breakdown and links to the legislation click here. According to the California Department of Water Resources, the most significant change is a drop in the evapotranspiration rate, or water loss factor, which should serve to limit turf use.

However, AB 1881 is only a ceiling. County and city governments may call for stricter standards. When undertaking a job, always check if the local city has a stricter ordinance.

City and County Watering Ordinances and/or Guidelines for Homeowners

Some Southern California cities and water agencies are asking the public to conserve by cheerleading and linking to the Metropolitan Water District’s BeWaterWise ad campaigns. Other cities are mandating conservation. Below are links to the water policies (as of 12 May 2009) of a selection of cities making up Greater Los Angeles area and the Metropolitan Water District service area from Ventura to San Diego.

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    Emily Green by e-mail at emily.green [at] mac.com
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