This chapter is intended to comply with and implement the provisions of the California Model Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance, hereinafter referred to as MWELO, as may be amended from time to time. The specific purposes of the MWELO and these regulations are to:

A.

Promote the values and benefits of landscaping practices that integrate and go beyond the conservation and efficient use of water;

B.

Establish a structure for planning, designing, installing, maintaining and managing water efficient landscapes in new construction and rehabilitated project s by encouraging the use of a watershed approach that requires cross-sector collaboration of industry, government and property owners to achieve the many benefits possible;

C.

Establish provisions for water management practices and water waste prevention for existing landscapes;

D.

Use water efficiently without waste by setting a maximum applied water allowance as an upper limit for water use and reduce water use to the lowest practical amount;

E.

Promote the benefits of consistent landscape ordinances with neighboring local and regional agencies;

F.

Encourage local agencies and water purveyors to use economic incentives that promote the efficient use of water, such as implementing a tiered-rate structure; and

G.

Encourage local agencies to designate the necessary authority that implements and enforces the provisions of the Model Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance or its local landscape ordinance.

(Ord. No. 813, § 1(Exh. A), 11-21-2017)

In addition to the requirements of this chapter, the following sections of the state MWELO (California Code of Regulations, Title 23, Division 2.7) are hereby adopted and incorporated by reference, a copy of which is on file and open for inspection in the city development services department.

(Ord. No. 813, § 1(Exh. A), 11-21-2017)

After December 1, 2015, and consistent with Executive Order No. B-29-15, this chapter shall apply to all of the following landscape projects:

A.

New construction projects with an aggregate landscape area equal to or greater than five hundred square feet requiring a building or landscape permit, plan check or design review;

B.

Rehabilitated landscape projects with an aggregate landscape area equal to or greater than two thousand five hundred square feet requiring a building or landscape permit, plan check, or design review;

C.

Existing landscapes limited to Section 17.63.060.B;

D.

Cemeteries. Recognizing the special landscape management needs of cemeteries, new and rehabilitated cemeteries are limited to Sections 492.4, and 492.11 of the MWELO and 17.63.060.A of this chapter; and existing cemeteries are limited to Sections 17.63.060.B and 17.63.070 of this chapter;

E.

Any project with an aggregate landscape area of two thousand five hundred square feet or less may comply with the performance requirements of this chapter and/or conform to the prescriptive measures contained in Appendix D of the MWELO;

F.

For projects using treated or untreated graywater or rainwater captured on site with the approval of the city, any lot or parcel within the project area that has less than two thousand five hundred square feet of landscape and meets the lot or parcel'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 Appendix D Section (5) of the MWELO;

G.

This chapter does not apply to:

1.

Registered local, state or federal historical sites;

2.

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

3.

Mined-land reclamation projects that do not require a permanent irrigation system; or

4.

Existing plant collections, as part of botanical gardens and arboretums which are open to the public, or to landscaping stock which is being held for sale by a licensed wholesale or retail nursery or similar business.

(Ord. No. 813, § 1(Exh. A), 11-21-2017)

A.

A landscape documentation package must be submitted and found to satisfy the requirements of this chapter and/or the requirements of the MWELO prior to issuance of a building permit for new construction or the authorization for water service and the installation of a new water meter. The application shall include an application fee as may be required by resolution of the city council.

The landscape documentation package shall include the following six elements:

1.

Project information;

a.

Date.

b.

Project applicant.

c.

Project address (if available, parcel and/or lot number(s).

d.

Total landscape area (square feet).

e.

Project type (e.g., new, rehabilitated, public, private, cemetery, homeowner-installed).

f.

Water supply type (e.g., potable, recycled, well) and identify the local retail water purveyor if the applicant is not served by a private well.

g.

Checklist of all documents in landscape documentation package.

h.

Project contacts to include contact information for the project applicant, licensed designer and/or installer and the property owner.

i.

Applicant signature and date with statement, "I agree to comply with the requirements of the water efficient landscape ordinance and submit a complete Landscape Documentation Package."

2.

Water efficient landscape worksheet;

a.

Hydrozone information table.

b.

Water budget calculations;

(1)

Maximum applied water allowance (MAWA).

(2)

Estimated total water use (ETWU).

3.

Soil management report when required;

4.

Landscape design plan;

5.

Irrigation design plan; and

6.

Grading design plan when required.

B.

Upon approval of the landscape documentation package, the project applicant shall:

1.

Receive a building permit and record the date of the permit on the certificate of completion.

2.

Provide a copy of the approved landscape documentation package to the property owner or site manager.

3.

Submit a copy of the water efficient landscape worksheet to the city.

C.

In the event that a water-supply emergency is declared by the city, these landscape requirements shall be deferred for those projects served within the impacted area until such time as the water-supply emergency has been lifted.

(Ord. No. 813, § 1(Exh. A), 11-21-2017)

A.

Upon completion of the installation of landscape and irrigation systems in compliance with the approved landscape design plan, a certificate of completion in a format approved by the city shall be submitted to the city and to the owner of record for review. The city shall review the certificate of completion and shall approve or deny the certificate. If the certificate of completion is denied, the city shall provide information to the project applicant regarding reapplication, appeal, or other assistance. All appeals shall be heard by the planning commission. The certificate of completion shall include the following six elements:

1.

Project information sheet that contains:

a.

Date;

b.

Project name;

c.

Project applicant name, telephone, and mailing address;

d.

Project address and location; and

e.

Property owner name, telephone, and mailing address.

2.

Certification by either the signer of the landscape design plan, the signer of the irrigation design plan, or the licensed landscape contractor that the landscape project has been installed per the approved landscape documentation package;

a.

Where there have been significant changes made in the field during construction, these "as-built" or record drawings shall be included with the certification;

b.

A diagram of the irrigation plan showing hydrozones shall be kept with the irrigation controller for subsequent management purposes by the owner.

3.

Irrigation scheduling parameters used to set the controller (see Section 492.10 of the MWELO);

4.

Landscape and irrigation maintenance schedule (see Section 492.11 of the MWELO);

5.

Irrigation audit report (see Section 492.12 of the MWELO); and

6.

Soil analysis report, if not submitted with landscape documentation package, and documentation verifying implementation of soil report recommendations (see Section 492.5 of the MWELO).

B.

The project applicant shall:

1.

Submit the signed certificate of completion to the city for review;

2.

Ensure that copies of the approved certificate of completion are submitted to the property owner or property owner designee.

C.

The city will approve or deny the certificate of completion. If the certificate of completion is denied, the city will provide information to the project applicant regarding reapplication, appeal, or other available assistance.

(Ord. No. 813, § 1(Exh. A), 11-21-2017)

All landscape irrigation audits required by the MWELO shall be conducted by a third party certified landscape irrigation auditor and shall not be conducted by the person who designed or installed the landscape. In large projects or projects with multiple landscape installations (i.e., production home developments) an auditing rate of one in seven lots or approximately fifteen percent will satisfy the auditing requirement.

A.

For new construction and rehabilitated landscape projects installed after December 1, 2015, not involving use of the prescriptive compliance option as set forth in the state law, the project applicant shall submit an irrigation audit report with the certificate of completion to the city that may include, but is not limited to: inspection, system tune-up, system test with distribution uniformity, reporting overspray or run off that causes overland flow, and preparation of an irrigation schedule, including configuring irrigation controllers with application rate, soil types, plant factors, slope, exposure and any other factors necessary for accurate programming.

The city will administer programs that may include, but not be limited to, irrigation water use analysis, irrigation audits, and irrigation surveys for compliance with the maximum applied water allowance.

B.

The following shall apply to all existing landscapes that were installed before December 1, 2015, and are over one acre in size.

1.

For landscapes that have a water meter, the city may administer programs that may include, but not be limited to, irrigation water use analyses, irrigation surveys, and irrigation audits to evaluate water use and provide recommendations as necessary to reduce landscape water use to a level that does not exceed the maximum applied water allowance for existing landscapes. The maximum applied water allowance for existing landscapes shall be calculated as: MAWA = (0.8) (ETo) (LA) (0.62).

2.

For landscapes that do not have a meter, the city may administer programs that may include, but not be limited to, irrigation surveys and irrigation audits to evaluate water use and provide recommendations as necessary in order to prevent water waste.

(Ord. No. 813, § 1(Exh. A), 11-21-2017)

A.

The city will prevent water waste resulting from inefficient landscape irrigation by prohibiting runoff from leaving landscape areas due to low head drainage, overspray, or other similar conditions where water flows onto adjacent property, non-irrigated areas, walks, roadways, parking lots, or structures. The city may establish and administer penalties to the project applicant for non-compliance with the chapter to the extent permitted by law.

B.

Restrictions regarding overspray and runoff may be modified if:

1.

The landscape area is adjacent to permeable surfacing and no runoff occurs; or

2.

The adjacent non-permeable surfaces are designed and constructed to drain entirely to landscaping.

(Ord. No. 813, § 1(Exh. A), 11-21-2017)

The city will provide information to owners of permitted renovations and new, single-family residential homes regarding the design, installation, management, and maintenance of water efficient landscapes based on a water budget.

A.

Model Homes. All model homes that are landscaped shall use signs and written information to demonstrate the principles of water efficient landscapes described in this chapter. The signs shall be used to identify the model as an example of a water efficient landscape featuring elements such as hydrozones, irrigation equipment, and others that contribute to the overall water efficient theme. Signage shall include information about the site water use as designed per the local ordinance; 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 systems. Information shall also be provided about designing, installing, managing, and maintaining water efficient landscapes.

(Ord. No. 813, § 1(Exh. A), 11-21-2017)