Bishop Municipal Code Ch. 13.07 Water-Efficient Landscapes

The purpose of this chapter is to promote the values and benefits of landscapes while recognizing the need to use water and landscape resources as efficiently as possible. The city has found:

A. That landscapes provide recreation areas, clean the air and water, prevent erosion, provide fire protection, and replace ecosystems displaced by development;

B. That the area's economic prosperity depends on our adequate supply of water;

C. That because the city promotes conservation and efficient use of water, landscape design, installation and maintenance should be water efficient.

(Code 1985, § 13.07.010; Ord. No. 468, §1(part), 1993)

A. Applicability. This chapter shall apply to all new and rehabilitated landscaping for public agency projects, commercial projects, residential projects and all development projects.

B. Landscape goals. The policy of the city and the purpose of this chapter is to:

1. Promote the wise use of water and landscaping;

2. Encourage low water use landscapes;

3. Recognize that low, medium and high-water use landscapes may be appropriate depending on soil and groundwater conditions;

4. Encourage landscapes that are less damaging on streets, sidewalks and utilities;

5. Promote turf maintenance programs for public agencies;

6. Encourage landscape maintenance that will enhance landscapes, reduce water consumption and reduce the volume of landscape waste to the local landfill.

C. Irrigation goals. The policy of the city and the purpose of this chapter is to:

1. Encourage the use of multizone automatic sprinkler systems;

2. Promote the design of landscape areas that can be irrigated without overspray onto impervious surfaces;

3. Prohibit irrigation water to flow to or run on any street or alley;

4. Enforce the correct use of cross-connections control devices required by the uniform plumbing code and the city's cross-connection control ordinance (chapter 13.06 of this title);

5. Encourage people to irrigate landscapes in early morning hours to avoid irrigation during the heat of the day.

D. Education goals. The policy of the city is to promote education in the wise use of water and landscaping by:

1. Providing information on the design, installation and maintenance of water-efficient landscapes;

2. Promoting public education on the design, construction and maintenance of landscapes;

3. Encouraging local nurseries, landscape designers and landscape contractors to participate in the education program;

4. Requiring new development to demonstrate the principles of water-efficient landscapes.

(Code 1985, § 13.07.020; Ord. No. 468, § 1(part), 1993)