§ 21.42.035. Special requirements for Water Efficient Landscaping.

The following water efficient landscaping standards are in place to promote the conservation and efficient use of water in response to ongoing drought conditions:

A.

Applicability.

1.

Pursuant to the State Water Conservation in Landscaping Act (AB1881), the following projects shall comply with the water efficient landscaping standards set forth by the State Model Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance (MWELO):

a.

All projects which require the issuance of a Site Plan Review. All projects requiring Site Plan Review shall file a conceptual MWELO Project Checklist, Water Efficient Landscape Worksheet, and Landscape Design Plan at the time of application submittal. Approval of a conceptual landscape proposal demonstrating compliance with all applicable MWELO provisions shall be required prior to the issuance of a Notice of Final Action. Approved conceptual landscape proposals must be developed into final landscape plans subject to the requirements of Section 21.42.030 after Notice of Final Action issuance but prior to building permit application filing;

b.

New residential, commercial, industrial, institutional and public agency landscape projects with an aggregate landscape area equal to or greater than five hundred (500) square feet requiring a landscape plumbing permit;

c.

Rehabilitated residential, commercial, industrial, institutional and public agency projects with an aggregate landscape area equal to or greater than two thousand five hundred (2,500) square feet requiring a landscape plumbing permit;

d.

Cemeteries. Recognizing the special landscape management needs of cemeteries, new and rehabilitated cemeteries are limited to Sections 492.4, 492.11 and 492.12; and existing cemeteries are limited to Sections 493, 493.1 and 493.2 of the California Code of Regulations Title 23, Chapter 2.7, Model Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance;

e.

Existing landscapes are limited to Sections 493, 493.1 and 493.2 of the California Code of Regulations Title 23, Chapter 2.7, Model Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance; and

f.

Public facilities and public right-of-way.

2.

The requirements of this Chapter shall not apply to the following projects:

a.

Registered local, State or federal historical sites;

b.

Landscape projects not connected to the public water system;

c.

Ecological restoration projects that do not require a permanent irrigation system; or

d.

Plant collections, as part of botanical gardens and arboretums open to the public.

3.

Special landscaped areas including sports fields, golf courses, and playgrounds where turf is the surface utilized for recreational use may require water exceeding the Maximum Applied Water Allowance (MAWA). As such, justification must be provided in the submittal documentation outlining specific hydrozones needed for additional water exceeding the MAWA. Turf shall be limited to areas utilized for high recreation areas while the perimeter areas shall utilize drought-tolerant and native plants in hydrozones (very low water and low water use).

4.

Orchards, community gardens and nurseries may require water exceeding the MAWA. As such, justification must be provided in the submittal documentation outlining specific hydrozones needed for additional water exceeding the MAWA.

5.

Edible plant gardens may comprise up to ten percent (10%) of total landscaped area. Edible plant gardens in excess of ten percent (10%) but not exceeding twenty percent (20%) of total landscaped area shall use an adequately sized rain barrel or other water retention system for garden irrigation.

( ORD-16-0028 § 11, 2016; ORD-10-0031 § 6, 2010)