Southern California Watering Ordinances
Ordinances for Professional Landscapers and Developers
Landscaping 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.
- Beverly Hills
- Burbank
- Corona
- Glendale
- Huntington Beach
- Irvine Ranch
- Lancaster
- Long Beach
- Los Angeles
- Orange County
- Oxnard
- Palmdale
- Pasadena
- Santa Ana
- Santa Barbara
- San Diego
- San Juan Capistrano
- Santa Monica
- Article on How To Comply, How to Read Your Water Bill by Grace Phillips of Gracescapes landscape design
- South Coast