Rialto Municipal Code Ch. 12.50 Water Efficient Landscape Requirements

Water is an increasingly limited and costly resource. It is the intent of this chapter to enhance the city's water conservation plan to reduce consumption in the landscape environment by using water efficient landscape principles.

(Ord. 1133 § 1 (part), 1991)

"Hardscape" as applied in this chapter means that portion of outdoor area which is covered by either permeable, semipermeable or nonpermeable surfaces which are not made of living plant material requiring water.

"Landscaping" as applied in this chapter means an outdoor area in which living plant materials are deliberately placed in order to achieve an aesthetic appearance.

"Water efficient landscape" means a condition of landscape features and techniques that in the aggregate reduce the demand for and consumption of water including appropriate low water using plants, nonliving groundcover, a prescribed ratio of turf coverage to landscaped area, permeable paving and water conserving irrigation techniques and systems. The intention is to reduce landscape water requirements without a decline in landscape quality or quantity through appropriate landscape design.

(Ord. 1133 § 1 (part), 1991)

All required landscaping plans shall comply with the provisions of this chapter. This chapter shall apply to new and rehabilitated city and other public development projects, industrial and commercial development projects, multifamily/multiunit residential development, and developer-installed landscaping in single-family residential subdivisions as stated herein.

(Ord. 1234 (part), 1995: Ord. 1133 § 1 (part), 1991)

The following shall be exempt from the provisions of this chapter:

A. Yards for existing single-family homes;

B. Demolitions;

C. Schools, parks, golf courses or similar public open spaces which enhance the quality of life in Rialto by providing areas for active and passive recreation and enhance the environment by cleaning air and water, preventing erosion, offering fire protection and replacing ecosystems lost to development;

D. Changes of use;

E. Projects which do not require a conditional use permit, development/design review or residential subdivision;

F. Structural additions, remodels, tenant improvements or detached structures which do not result in an increased value of more than ten thousand dollars;

G. Registered historical sites;

H. Cemeteries.

(Ord. 1133 § 1 (part), 1991)

The city engineering division shall establish a format for the review of landscaping plans and any other procedural guidelines for submittal as deemed necessary.

(Ord. 1133 § 1 (part), 1991)

A. Water conserving landscapes shall provide for the appropriate use nad grouping of plants that are adapted to particular sites and particular climatic, geological or topographical conditions. This does not prohibit or require specific plant species but may include conditions for the use of plant species.

B. All water conserving landscape designs and plans shall provide for the use of automatic irrigation systems and seasonal irrigation schedules and shall incorporate water conservation design and utilize methods appropriate for specific terrains, soil types, wind conditions, temperatures, and other environmental factors, in order to ensure a high degree of water efficiency.

C. Grading and drainage to promote healthy plant growth and to prevent exceesive erosion and runoff, and the use of mulches in shrub areas, garden beds and landscaped areas will be incorporated in landscape planning and design whenever appropriate.

D. Landscape practices which foster long-term landscape water conservation shall be used in water efficient landscaped areas. Landscape practices may include, but are not limited to, performing routine irrigation system repair and adjustments, scheduling irrigation based on the California Irrigation Management Information System (CIMIS), conducting water audits, and prescribing the amount of water applied per landscaped area.

(Ord. 1133 § 1 (part), 1991)

Property owners or their building or landscape designers, including anyone requiring a building or planning permit, plan check, or landscape design review from the city, who are constructing a new project with a landscape area greater than five hundred square feet, or rehabilitating an existing landscape with a total landscape area greater than two thousand five hundred square feet, shall comply with Sections 492.6(a)(3)(B) (C), (D), and (G) of the State Model Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance, as amended September 15, 2015, and as it may be amended in the future.

(Ord. No. 1664, § 4, 3-8-22)

To promote water conservation through education, all single-family residential developments with more than two models planned, shall landscape at least one-half of the tract home front yards using water conserving landscaping, reduction of turf area and irrigation in accordance with the following requirements:

A. Plant Materials. Each "water saving" home shall contain plants of a water conserving nature. Flowering ornamentals that are not low water using plants shall be planted in a microclimate that minimizes water requirements. Turf areas shall not exceed forty percent of the total landscaped area, including hardscape but excluding driveways.

B. Irrigation System.

1. Each "water saving" home shall contain low volume irrigation systems with automatic controllers. Such an irrigation system includes, but is not limited to, low volume sprinkler heads, drip emitters, and bubbler emitters. It is recommended that the precipitation rate for all nozzles be matched. Plants with different water requirements shall have separate control valves. Drip or trickle irrigation may not be used in turf areas.

2. Sprinklers shall not throw water onto nonplanted areas or off the property.

3. Automatic sprinklers shall be programmed so as to conform with applicable sections of Chapter 12.20 of this code.

C. Signs. Each developer within a tract shall provide the following information to potential buyers:

1. Front Yard Sign. A four square foot sign shall be located in the front yard of each water saving model such that it is clearly visible to buyers. The sign shall indicate that the model features a water saving landscape and irrigation design.

2. Interior Display. A drawing, or combination of drawings, shall be displayed inside each "water saving" model, or in the sales office, which provides a schematic of the landscape. These drawings shall include a key identifying the common name of the the plants used in the "water saving" yards. A brochure with the same information may be distributed with sales information to potential buyers to satisfy this requirement.

D. Literature. Additional literative describing water conserving landscaping and irrigation is concouraged to also be made available to the potential buyer or referenced on the interior display or brochure.

(Ord. 1133 § 1 (part), 1991)

Nothing in this chapter shall be deemed to affect, annul or abrogate any other laws or ordinances pertaining or applicable to the properties and areas affected by this chapter.

(Ord. 1133 § 1 (part), 1991)