A. 
Purpose. The purpose of this Chapter is to establish standards for landscape design and development that employ water-efficient design and management in a citywide effort to conserve water, because water is a limited resource which must be managed and used efficiently. Efficient water use can be increased through proper landscape design and management. The right to use water is limited to the amount reasonably required for the beneficial use to be served and the right does not and shall not extend to waste or unreasonable method of use The regulations of this Chapter are established in compliance with State law that requires all California jurisdictions to either adopt the State model water-efficient landscape ordinance or adopt a local ordinance that is at least as effective as the State ordinance. This Chapter conforms to the requirements of the State Water Conservation in Landscaping Act (Government Code Sections 65591 through 65599) and is at least as effective as the updated State model ordinance
B. 
Applicability. This Chapter applies to the following landscaping projects:
1. 
A water-efficient landscape plan approval is required for projects in all zoning districts that:
a. 
Propose the creation of 500 square feet or more of landscape area proposed in conjunction with a Zoning Permit, Building Permit, Grading Permit, Plan Check, or Architectural Review Permit.
b. 
Propose the rehabilitation of 2,500 square feet or more of landscaping proposed in conjunction with a Zoning Permit, Building Permit, Grading Permit, Plan Check, or Architectural Review Permit.
2. 
For projects using treated or untreated graywater or rainwater captured on site, any lot within the project that has less than 2,500 square feet of landscape and meets the lot's landscape water requirement (estimated total water use) entirely with treated or untreated graywater or through stored rainwater captured on site is subject only to Section E of the Prescriptive Compliance Option maintained by the Zoning Administrator.
3. 
Any project with an aggregate landscape area of 2,500 square feet or less, and proposed in conjunction with a Zoning Permit, Building Permit, Grading Permit, Plan Check, or Architectural Review Permit, may comply with either the requirements of this Chapter or with the Prescriptive Compliance Option maintained by the Zoning Administrator.
4. 
Section 18.105.090 (Provisions for Existing Landscaping) and Section 18.105.100 (Disclosures) apply to existing landscaping.
5. 
The standards of this Chapter do not apply to:
a. 
A landscaped area that is only temporarily irrigated for establishment purposes, or a landscaped area that is not irrigated with a permanent irrigation system.
b. 
Registered local, State, or Federal historical sites, as determined by the Planning Commission or City Council.
c. 
An existing community garden, botanical garden or arboretum open to the public.
C. 
Landscaped Area. For the purposes of this Chapter, decorative hardscape, mulch, and/or pervious pavement areas in all nonresidential zoning districts shall be treated as landscape areas (credited for up to 50% of required project landscaped area subject to Architectural Review Commission or Planning Commission approval) as part of a proposed project.
(Ord. 978, 11/17/2025)
A. 
Forms. The Zoning Administrator shall develop detailed application and certification requirements consistent with 43 Cal. Code of Regs. AA 490 et seq., including but not limited to:
1. 
Definitions (Appendix A to this Chapter);
2. 
Water efficient landscape worksheet (Appendix B to this Chapter);
3. 
Certificate of compliance: landscape design sheet (Appendix C to this Chapter);
4. 
Certificate of compliance: landscape installation sheet (Appendix D to this Chapter);
5. 
Certificate of compliance: landscape maintenance sheet (Appendix E to this Chapter);
6. 
Prescriptive compliance option (Appendix F to this Chapter).
B. 
Zoning Administrator Review. A Water-Efficient Landscape Plan, when applicable, shall be reviewed in conjunction with any applicable zoning approval, Building Permit, Architectural Review Permit, Development Plan, Planned Unit Development, Use Permit, or Subdivision. The Zoning Administrator shall review each water-efficient landscape plan submittal for compliance with the provisions of this Chapter and may withhold issuance of a Zoning Permit, Building Permit, or Grading Permit for which its related landscape plan indicates an estimated total water use that exceeds the maximum applied water allowance for a proposed landscape, or is otherwise not in compliance with this Chapter.
(Ord. 978, 11/17/2025)
A. 
General Requirements. An applicant requesting approval for any project that is subject to this Chapter shall submit a Water-Efficient Landscape application package, on forms provided by the Planning Division, before any grading or construction can begin on the proposed site. The landscape application package shall include all the following:
1. 
A project information sheet identifying the applicant's name and description of the project, including location, type of development, source of irrigation water, total landscape area, and area of landscape to be rehabilitated.
2. 
Certifications as required in Section 18.105.070 (Certifications).
3. 
Water efficient landscape worksheet with calculations of the maximum applied water allowance and estimated total water use of the proposed landscape plan.
4. 
Landscape and irrigation plan prepared in accordance with Section 18.105.040 (Water-Efficient Landscape Standards) and Section 18.105.050 (Landscape Plan Requirements).
5. 
Maintenance schedule prepared consistent with the provisions of Section 18.105.080 (Landscape and Irrigation Maintenance Schedule).
6. 
Soil management report.
B. 
Waiver for Low Water Use Landscapes. The Zoning Administrator may waive the requirement for submittal of the water efficient landscape worksheet required by this Section; provided, that the landscape plan meets all the following requirements:
1. 
Does not include any water features with more than 100 square feet of total surface area.
2. 
Does not include any turf or other plants identified as medium or high water use in Water Use Classification of Landscape Species (WUCOLS), unless they qualify as special landscape area.
(Ord. 978, 11/17/2025)
The proposed landscape shall be creative and incorporate a variety of plantings to avoid uniformity and similar landscape designs. The landscape plan shall meet the following:
A. 
Required Elements. The landscape plan shall address all the following topics:
1. 
Plant materials;
2. 
Irrigation system design;
3. 
Water features; and
4. 
Grading and soil preparation.
B. 
The landscape plan shall be subject to the requirements of the Landscape Design Certificate of Compliance form maintained by the Zoning Administrator.
(Ord. 978, 11/17/2025)
The water-efficient landscape plan shall demonstrate that all the water-efficient landscape standards of Section 18.105.040 (Water-Efficient Landscape Standards) have been met. The plan shall include details and specifications reflecting best management practices for water-efficient landscape design.
A. 
Planting Plan. The planting plan shall include information identified in the Landscape Design Certificate of Compliance form.
B. 
Irrigation Plan. The irrigation plan shall include information identified in the Landscape Design Certificate of Compliance form.
C. 
NPDES. The proposed landscape plan shall comply with the requirements of the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) intended to implement stormwater best management practices into the planting, irrigation, and grading plans to minimize runoff and to increase on-site retention and infiltration.
(Ord. 978, 11/17/2025)
A landscape water audit shall be completed as specified in this Section to ensure that the installed landscape meets the requirements of this Chapter.
A. 
General Requirement. The City Landscape Irrigation Auditor or an independent third-party certified irrigation system auditor shall have an audit completed within 30 calendar days after completion of the landscape installation. Landscape audits shall not be conducted by the person who designed the landscape or installed the landscape. Large projects or projects with multiple landscape installations shall complete at least one audit for every seven lots or approximately 15% of the project.
B. 
Repair or Correction. The City or independent third-party certified irrigation system auditor shall inform the applicant or owner of all the areas where the landscape project does not conform to this Chapter. This shall include, but is not limited to, all items listed on the Certificates of Compliance required for the project. The applicant or property owner shall repair or correct the noncompliance issues and the lot shall be re-audited for compliance within 30 calendar days of receipt of report from certified irrigation system auditor.
(Ord. 978, 11/17/2025)
A. 
Applicability. Before final permit inspection or issuance of a Certificate of Occupancy for the project, the applicant shall submit completed Certificates of Compliance, on forms provided by the Planning Division, that the landscape has been designed and installed in compliance with the approved water-efficient landscape plan submittal and the requirements of this Chapter.
B. 
Required Certificates of Compliance. The applicant shall submit completed Certificates of Compliance for all the following:
1. 
Landscape Design. The licensed landscape architect, licensed landscape contractor, or any other person(s) authorized by law to design a landscape, who prepared the landscape design, shall complete the Landscape Design Certificate of Compliance form, certifying the landscape has been designed to comply with the criteria of this Section.
2. 
Landscape Installation. The applicant shall complete the Landscape Installation Certificate of Compliance form, certifying the landscape has been installed, as specified in the landscape plans, and complies with this Section.
3. 
Irrigation Installation. The certified irrigation system auditor shall complete the Landscape Installation Certificate of Compliance form certifying the landscape and irrigation system have been installed, including configuring irrigation controllers with application rate, soil types, plant factors, slope, exposure, and any other factors necessary for accurate programming, as specified in the landscape plans, and comply with the criteria of this Section.
4. 
Maintenance. The maintenance contractor/person for a landscape project(s) involving more than one single-family residence, or the property owner/resident for a landscape project for an individual single-family residence, shall complete the Landscape Maintenance Certificate of Compliance, certifying the landscape maintenance contractor, or person responsible for maintenance, agrees to manage the property using less water than the maximum applied water allowance.
(Ord. 978, 11/17/2025)
The applicant shall develop a landscape maintenance specification and schedule for the landscape project that is consistent with the most recent acceptable best management practices for landscape maintenance. Schedules shall be submitted with the Landscape Maintenance Certificate of Compliance in accordance with Section 18.105.070 (Certifications) and shall specify, at a minimum:
A. 
An annual landscape maintenance schedule including at least the following:
1. 
Routine inspection;
2. 
Auditing, adjustment, and repair of the irrigation system and its components;
3. 
Aerating turf areas;
4. 
Topdressing with compost, replenishing mulch;
5. 
Seasonal pruning;
6. 
Weeding in all landscape areas; and
7. 
Removing obstructions to emission devices. Operation of the irrigation system outside the normal watering window is allowed for auditing and system maintenance.
B. 
Repair of all irrigation equipment shall be done with the originally installed components or their equivalents or with components of greater efficiency.
C. 
Project shall be irrigated so that total annual water applied is less than or equal to the maximum applied water allowance (MAWA), if applicable.
(Ord. 978, 11/17/2025)
This Section applies to all landscaped areas that were installed before December 1, 2015.
A. 
Each property owner in the city shall ensure the efficient use of landscape water and may utilize resources and services, such as irrigation surveys and landscape water use analysis, that are offered by the local retail or wholesale water utility.
B. 
Each property owner in the city is encouraged to prevent water waste resulting from inefficient landscape irrigation by limiting landscape irrigation to the hours between 8:00 p.m. and 10:00 a.m.; and by prohibiting runoff from the target landscape areas due to excessive irrigation run times, low head drainage, overspray, or other similar conditions where water flows onto an adjacent property, sidewalk, roadway, parking lot, or structure. Irrigation water runoff from the owner's property is prohibited.
C. 
The additional standards shall apply to existing landscapes installed prior to December 1, 2015, and over one acre in size:
1. 
For landscapes that have a water meter, the property owner shall submit to the City (or with agreement with the local water district) irrigation water use analysis/audits to evaluate water use and include recommendations to reduce landscape water use to a level that does not exceed the maximum applied water allowance currently in effect.
2. 
For landscapes that do not have a water meter, the property owner shall submit to the City (or with agreement with the local water district) irrigation water use analysis/audits to evaluate water use and include recommendations to prevent water waste.
(Ord. 978, 11/17/2025)
A. 
Model Homes. All new model homes for a single-family residential subdivision or phase of a subdivision shall have front and corner (street) side setbacks that are landscaped in accordance with the provisions of this Chapter. At least one of the model homes shall include interpretive or informational signage highlighting for visitors the water-efficient landscape principles incorporated into the site landscaping. Signs shall include information about the site water use as designed per this Chapter; specify who designed and installed the water-efficient landscape; and demonstrate low water use approaches to landscaping such as using native plants, graywater systems, and rainwater catchment system. The developer shall make available brochures or other written or graphic media that informs visitors and potential buyers about the principles of water-efficient landscapes, including but not limited to those principles that are described in this Chapter.
B. 
Architectural Guidelines. This Chapter and the State Water Conservation in Landscaping Act shall preempt any architectural guidelines or covenants, conditions, and restrictions (CC&Rs) of a common interest development which have the effect of prohibiting the use of low water use plants as a group. "Common interest development" includes a homeowner association, community apartment project, condominium, planned development, and stock cooperative.
C. 
Providing Information. For a landscape project subject to this, the property owner/resident is required to provide the following information to a subsequent site landscape maintenance company, new tenant, or owner at transfer of ownership or maintenance responsibility:
1. 
Irrigation controller map;
2. 
Programming table; and
3. 
Annual maintenance schedules based on a water budget.
(Ord. 978, 11/17/2025)
An applicant subject to this Chapter shall pay submittal fees in the amount established by resolution of the City Council.
(Ord. 978, 11/17/2025)
For the purpose of determining estimated total water use, average irrigation efficiency is assumed to be 0.75 for overhead spray devices and 0.81 for drip system devices.
(Ord. 978, 11/17/2025)
The City shall report by January 31st of each calendar year to the Department of Water Resources and shall address the following:
A. 
Note whether a single agency ordinance or a regional agency alliance ordinance was adopted, and the date of adoption or anticipated date of adoption.
B. 
Define the reporting period (calendar year).
C. 
Note if a locally modified water-efficient landscape ordinance (WELO) or the MWELO is being used. If using a locally modified WELO, how is it different than MWELO, is it at least as efficient as MWELO, and note any exemptions specified.
D. 
Note the entity responsible for implementing the ordinance.
E. 
Note the number and types of projects subject to the ordinance during the specified reporting period.
F. 
Note the total area (in square feet or acres) subject to the ordinance over the reporting period, if available.
G. 
Note the number of new housing starts, new commercial projects, and landscape retrofits during the reporting period.
H. 
Describe the procedure for review of projects subject to the ordinance.
I. 
Identify actions taken to verify compliance.
J. 
Identify enforcement measures.
K. 
Explain challenges to implementing and enforcing the ordinance.
L. 
Note educational and other needs to properly apply the ordinance.
(Ord. 978, 11/17/2025)