Camarillo Municipal Code Ch. 14.12 Water Conservation Measures

Footnotes:

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Editor's note— Ord. No. 2042, § 2(Exh. A), adopted July 8, 2026, repealed the former Ch. 14.12, §§ 14.12.010—14.12.060, and enacted a new Ch. 14.12 as set out herein. The former Ch. 14.12 pertained to similar subject matter and derived from Ord. No. 1126, § 3(Exh. A), 7-27-2016.

The following words and phrases whenever used in this chapter have the meaning defined in this section:

"GSP" means the current Groundwater Sustainability Plan adopted by the Fox Canyon Groundwater Management Agency in accordance with the State's Sustainable Groundwater Management Act.

"Irrigation system" means an irrigation system with pipes, hoses, spray heads, or sprinkling devices that are operated by hand or through an automated system.

"Potable water" means water that is suitable for drinking.

"Recycled water" means the reclamation and reuse of non-potable water for beneficial use as defined in Title 22 of the California Code of Regulations.

"Significant new development project" means a project that proposes five or more new residential units or ten thousand or more square feet of new commercial or industrial space.

"Single pass cooling systems" means equipment where water is circulated only once to cool equipment before being disposed.

"Water conservation administrator" means the person designated by the city manager to administer the provisions of this chapter or the administrator's designee.

(Ord. No. 2042, § 2(Exh. A), 7-8-2026)

The purpose of this chapter is to establish ongoing, permanent water conservation measures, as well as a framework for implementing additional conservation measures based upon current or projected water supply levels, drought conditions, regional or statewide advisories, infrastructure constraints, wholesale supplier directives, or other circumstances affecting the city's water supply or continued provision of reliable water service.

The provisions of this chapter apply to any person's use of water provided by the city. Nothing in this chapter limits the city's authority under California Water Code Sections 350 through 353 or other applicable law to take emergency actions necessary to protect public health, safety, and welfare.

(Ord. No. 2042, § 2(Exh. A), 7-8-2026)

A. The Water Shortage Contingency Plan (WSCP) prepared pursuant to Water Code Section 10632, as adopted and amended by the city council from time to time, is incorporated in this chapter by reference. The WSCP is a detailed plan for predicting and responding to foreseeable and unforeseeable water shortages or other required demand reduction conditions. It includes water shortage levels, shortage response actions, and procedures for shortage response action implementation.

B. The WSCP may be invoked in the following ways:

i. The city council's approval of a declaration of a water shortage emergency at a public meeting per Water Code section 10632, as amended. The declaration of a water shortage emergency shall: (1) be based upon findings and a determination that the ordinary demands and requirements of water consumers cannot be satisfied without depleting the water supply to the extent that there would be insufficient water for human consumption, sanitation, and fire protection; and (2) establish the applicable water shortage level.

Based upon how conditions develop, the city manager or a designee may recommend that the city council declare a transition to a different water shortage level or stage as prescribed by the WSCP.

ii. The city council's findings and determination at a public meeting that an invocation of the WSCP is:

a. Prudent to enhance or preserve the water supply, based upon relevant factors such as current or projected water supply levels, drought conditions, regional or statewide advisories, infrastructure constraints, wholesale supplier directives, or other circumstances affecting water supply availability or continued provision of reliable water service; or

b. Necessary to comply with federal or state mandates, laws, or regulations.

C. Once the city council has invoked the WSCP pursuant to this section, the city manager or a designee is authorized to implement and enforce the WSCP in the form and manner prescribed by the WSCP and this chapter. Failure of any person in the city to comply with an implemented WSCP water use restriction constitutes a violation of this chapter.

(Ord. No. 2042, § 2(Exh. A), 7-8-2026)

The following water conservation measures are in effect at all times:

A. Watering Hours and Duration. Except for testing an irrigation system for a reasonable period of time, watering is prohibited between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m., and irrigation systems are limited to no more than fifteen minutes of watering per day per station. These restrictions do not apply to the use of a hand-held bucket or similar container, a hand-held hose equipped with a positive self-closing water shut-off nozzle or device, an irrigation system that uses stream rotor sprinklers that meet a seventy percent efficiency standard, to very low-flow drip type irrigation systems where no emitter produces more than two gallons of water per hour, or to commercial nurseries and growers. In addition, irrigation for the purpose of installing and germinating new lawns or landscaping is exempt from these restrictions for a period not to exceed three weeks, unless the water conservation administrator gives written permission to a water user for an extension beyond three weeks due to a longer installation and germination period

B. Excessive Water Flow or Runoff. Watering in a manner that results in overspray or excessive runoff onto paved or hardscaped areas is prohibited.

C. Washing Hard or Paved Surfaces. Washing of hard or paved surfaces, including sidewalks, walkways, driveways, parking areas, tennis courts, patios or alleys, is prohibited except when necessary to alleviate safety or sanitary hazards or as surface preparation for the application of any architectural coating or painting. All such permitted washing must be done by use of a hand-held bucket or similar container, a hand-held hose equipped with a positive self-closing water shut-off device, a low-volume, high-pressure cleaning machine, or a low-volume high-pressure water broom.

D. Obligation to Fix Leaks. Leaks in distribution, irrigation, or plumbing systems must be promptly corrected after discovery, and in no event more than seventy-two hours after receiving notice from the city.

E. Water Fountains and Decorative Water Features. Water fountains and decorative water features must have a water recirculation system.

F. Limits on Washing Vehicles. Washing any automobile, truck, van, bus, motorcycle, boat or any other vehicle is restricted to the use of a hand-held bucket or similar container or a hand-held hose equipped with a positive self-closing water shut-off nozzle or device. This provision does not apply to a commercial car washing facility.

G. Drinking Water Served Upon Request. Eating or drinking establishments, including restaurants, hotels, cafés, cafeterias, bars, or other public places where food or drinks are sold are prohibited from providing drinking water to any customer unless expressly requested.

H. Commercial Lodging Establishment Daily Linen Services. Hotels, motels, and other commercial lodging establishments must provide customers the option of not having towels and linen laundered daily. Commercial lodging establishments must prominently display notice of this option in each guest room.

I. Single Pass Cooling Systems. The installation of single pass cooling systems is prohibited in buildings requesting new water service.

J. Restaurants Required to Use Water Conserving Spray Valves. Food service establishments, such as restaurants and cafés, must utilize water conserving nozzles on pre-rinse spray valves.

K. Commercial Car Wash Facilities. Commercial car wash facilities may not use or permit the use of any water to wash any car, truck, boat, trailer, bus, recreation vehicle, camper, or any other vehicle, or any portion thereof, except by the following methods:

1. Use of mechanical automatic car wash facilities utilizing water recycling equipment; or

2. Use of a bucket and hand washing; or

3. Use of a hose equipped with an automatic positive self-closing valve that requires the person using the hose to apply and maintain pressure at the outlet end of the hose to activate and maintain the flow of water.

L. Watering During or Immediately After Measurable Rainfall. The application of potable water to outdoor landscapes is prohibited during and within forty-eight hours after measurable rainfall. As used in this section, "measurable rainfall" means at least one-quarter inch of rain in the city within a twenty-four-hour period as measured by the California Irrigation Management Information System (CIMIS) Weather Station #152 located in Camarillo (http://ipm.ucanr.edu/calludt.cgi/WXDESCRIPTION? STN=CAMARILLO.A) or such other weather station as may subsequently be identified by the city and the information posted on the city's website.

M. Watering of Turf on Public Street Medians. The irrigation with potable water of ornamental turf on public and private street medians is prohibited.

N. Compliance with Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance. The irrigation with potable water of landscapes outside of homes and buildings must be done in a manner consistent with the applicable regulations or other requirements established under the city's water efficient landscape ordinance as set forth in Chapter 14.14 of this code.

O. New Potable Water Service Impact Study. Applicants for new potable water service for a significant new development project must cause to be prepared a water impact study to the satisfaction of the public works director demonstrating the project's total water demand at build out.

P. Water Demand Offset Requirement. In order for an application for new potable water service to be approved and a will-serve letter issued for a significant new development project, the applicant must demonstrate that the proposed project will not create additional demand on the city's water system. To satisfy this requirement an applicant for a significant new development project must provide, to the satisfaction of the city and in accordance with the city's water demand offset program or water demand credit program, as applicable, substantial evidence of an enforceable commitment that the water demand for the project will be offset prior to the provision of a potable water will-serve letter. The applicant may satisfy this requirement through any one or a combination of the following methods: (i) modifications to the project to provide non-required water savings features, (ii) agreements with existing city water users to retrofit existing improvements and facilities with water savings features in accordance with the city's water demand offset program, (iii) by transferring groundwater pumping rights or allocations that comply with GSP strategies adopted by the Fox Canyon Groundwater Management Agency and are immediately available for use by the city; or (iv) by credit for historic water use by a municipal or industrial customer served water prior January 1, 2014.

(Ord. No. 2042, § 2(Exh. A), 7-8-2026)

Any drought rates implemented pursuant to the WSCP must go through rate-setting procedures compliant with the city's water rate setting procedures, as amended, and in compliance with all applicable federal, state, and local laws and regulations.

(Ord. No. 2042, § 2(Exh. A), 7-8-2026)

A. Penalties. In addition to any other penalties or remedies provided by this code, the following civil fines and penalties may be assessed for any violation of this chapter and made payable as part of the applicable customer's water bill.

1. First Violation. The city will issue a written warning for a first violation and provide a copy of this chapter by mail.

2. Second Violation. A second violation within the twelve calendar months following the first violation is punishable by a fine not to exceed one hundred dollars.

3. Third Violation. A third violation within the twelve calendar months following the first violation is punishable by a fine not to exceed five hundred dollars.

4. Fourth and Subsequent Violations. A fourth and any subsequent violation need not be within the twelve calendar months following the first violation is punishable by a fine not to exceed one thousand dollars.

5. Water Flow Restrictor. In addition to the fines for the fourth and subsequent violations, the city will install a flow restriction device of one GPM capacity for services, for a period of at least forty-eight hours, up to one and one-half inch size, and comparatively sized restrictions for larger services, on the service of the customer at the premises at which the violation occurred. A charge for installing and removing such flow restricting device will be assessed based on the actual cost.

6. Termination of Service.

(a) The city may disconnect a customer's water service for willful violations of this chapter.

(b) When water service is disconnected, it will only be reconnected upon:

1. Proof of correction of the condition or activity; and

2. Payment of the estimated reconnection charge, including the cost of any inspection fees or staff time.

B. Notice. The city will provide notice of each violation to both the customer's billing address and the service address by regular mail. For purposes of this section, notice will be deemed served seventy-two hours after deposit in the United States mail. All notices will contain, in addition to the facts of the violation, a statement of the possible penalties for each violation, a statement of the right to appeal the penalty, a brief summary of the appeal process, and if the penalty is termination of service, the date and time termination will occur.

(Ord. No. 2042, § 2(Exh. A), 7-8-2026)

A. Administrative Review Procedure.

1. Persons may request an administrative review of any penalty imposed under this chapter within ten days of the issuance of the notice of violation. This request must be made in writing to the city clerk and set forth with particularity the reasons the person believes a violation did not occur or that the person was not responsible for the violation and contain the address to which the conclusions of the city's review should be mailed. A request for an administrative review is a mandatory prerequisite to a request for an administrative hearing. Penalties, including termination of water service, will be stayed until such review is conducted and a written decision is made by the water conservation administrator.

2. Upon receiving a request for an administrative review, the water conservation administrator will review the request and within ten business days provide the person with a written determination as to whether the penalty was properly assessed.

3. The administrator must mail a copy of the notification to the person at the address on the request for administrative review along with notice establishing the penalty date and the procedure for requesting an appeal hearing.

B. Appeal Hearing Procedure.

1. Any person dissatisfied with the conclusion of the initial administrative review may contest the penalty by requesting an administrative appeal hearing. A person must file a request for an administrative appeal hearing with the city clerk within ten days after the date the city served the person with notice of the administrative review decision. The request must be accompanied by the appeal hearing fee, if any, established by city council resolution. Pending receipt of a written appeal or pending a hearing pursuant to an appeal, the city may take appropriate steps to prevent any further unauthorized use of water as appropriate to the nature and extent of the alleged violations and the current declared water supply condition.

2. The appeal hearing will be scheduled to occur within a reasonable period of time following the receipt of the request for a hearing not to exceed fifteen business days unless consented to by the appellant.

3. The appellant may present any evidence that would tend to show that the alleged violation did not occur. Formal rules of evidence will not apply and all relevant evidence will be admissible, unless a sound objection warrants its exclusion by the city hearing officer designated by the city manager. The decision of the hearing officer will be final and conveyed in writing to the appellant within five business days of the hearing.

(Ord. No. 2042, § 2(Exh. A), 7-8-2026)