San Jose Municipal Code Part 3 Landscape Installation Requirements

Landscape Areas shall be designed to achieve water efficiency as required by this Chapter.

(Ords. 29243, 29671, 30765.)

A. A Landscape Documentation Package conforming to this Chapter shall be submitted to the Director for the New Construction and Rehabilitated Landscape Projects described in Section 15.11.020. The Landscape Documentation Package shall be considered as part of the Development Permit application if a Development Permit is required or shall be included with a Building Permit application. Failure to submit the Landscape Documentation Package required by this Section shall result in a determination of incompleteness pursuant to the provisions of Section 20.100.150 of this Code if a Development Permit is required or shall be deemed an incomplete application pursuant to the provisions of Section 24.02.210A. of this Code if a Building Permit, but not a Development Permit, is required.

B. Except as provided in Section 15.11.920 B., each Landscape Documentation Package shall include the following elements, which are described in further detail in Sections 15.11.920 through 15.11.1020 of this Chapter:

1. Project information:

a. Date;

b. Applicant name and property owner, if different;

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

d. Total Landscape Area (square feet);

e. Project type (e.g., New Construction or Rehabilitated Landscape);

f. Water supply type (e.g., potable, recycled, well) and identify the Local Water Purveyor if the Applicant is not served by a private well;

g. Checklist of all documents in the Landscape Documentation Package;

h. Project contact information for the Applicant and property owner if the property owner is not the Applicant;

i. Applicant signature and date along with the following statement: "I agree to comply with, or cause anyone who works on the Landscape Project to comply with, the requirements of Chapter 15.11 of Title 15 of the San José Municipal Code and to submit a complete Landscape Documentation Package that complies with Chapter 15.11 of Title 15 of the San José Municipal Code."

2. Soil management report as specified in Section 15.11.930;

3. Landscape design plan as specified in Section 15.11.940;

4. Irrigation design plan as specified in Section 15.11.970; and

5. Grading design plan as specified in Section 15.11.1020.

(Ords. 29243, 30765.)

Editor's note— Ord. 30765, § 6, adopted May 17, 2022, repealed § 15.11.920, which pertained to water efficient landscape worksheet and derived from Ord. 29243.

In order to reduce runoff and encourage healthy plant growth, a soil management report shall be completed by the Applicant as follows, for any project that has a Landscape Area greater than two thousand five hundred (2,500) square feet:

A. Applicant shall submit soil samples to a plant soil laboratory for analysis and recommendations.

1. Soil sampling shall be conducted in accordance with laboratory protocol, including protocols regarding adequate sampling depth for the intended plants.

2. The soil analysis shall include:

a. Soil Texture;

b. Infiltration Rate determined by laboratory test or Soil Texture Infiltration Rate table;

c. pH;

d. Total soluble salts;

e. Sodium;

f. Percent organic matter; and

g. Recommendations.

B. In projects with multiple landscape installations (i.e. production home developments) a soil sampling rate of one (1) in seven (7) lots or approximately fifteen percent (15%) will satisfy this requirement. Large Landscape Projects shall sample at a rate equivalent to one (1) in seven (7) lots.

C. Applicant shall comply with one of the following:

1. If significant mass grading is not planned, the soil management report shall be performed after grading and the Landscape Areas are prepared for plant installation and submitted as part of the Landscape Documentation Package; or

2. If significant mass grading is planned, the soil analysis report shall be submitted as part of the Certificate of Completion.

D. Applicant shall certify that the soil management report will be provided to the professionals preparing the landscape design plans and irrigation design plans to make any necessary adjustments to the design plans.

E. Applicant shall submit documentation verifying implementation of the soil management report recommendations to the Director with the Certificate of Completion.

(Ords. 29243, 29671, 30765.)

A. Except as otherwise provided for in this Section, a landscape design plan arranged by Hydrozone shall be submitted as part of the Landscape Documentation Package. The form of the landscape design plan and the information and data required to be set forth therein shall be as prescribed by the Director and shall, at a minimum:

1. Delineate and label each Hydrozone by number, letter, or other method;

2. Identify each Hydrozone as low, moderate, high water, or mixed water use;

3. Identify Recreational Areas;

4. Identify areas permanently and solely dedicated to edible plants;

5. Identify areas irrigated with Recycled Water;

6. Identify type of Mulch and application depth;

7. Identify soil amendments, type, and quantity;

8. Identify type and surface area of Water Features;

9. Identify Hardscapes (Pervious and non-Pervious);

10. Identify location and installation details of any applicable stormwater best management practices that encourage on-site retention and infiltration of stormwater. Stormwater best management practices shall be included in the landscape design plan and examples include, but are not limited to:

a. Infiltration beds, swales, and basins that allow water to collect and soak into the ground;

b. Constructed wetlands and retention ponds that retain water, handle excess flow, and filter pollutants; and

c. Pervious or porous surfaces (e.g., permeable pavers or blocks, Pervious or porous concrete, etc.) that minimize runoff.

11. Identify any applicable rain harvesting or catchment technologies (e.g., rain gardens, cisterns, etc.);

12. Identify on-center spacing for tree(s) measuring from the center of the tree(s) trunk(s) to adjacent Hardscape and structures;

13. Contain the following statement: "I agree to comply with, or cause anyone who works on the landscape design plan to comply with, the requirements of Chapter 15.11 of Title 15 of the San José Municipal Code and to submit a complete landscape design plan that complies with Chapter 15.11 of Title 15 of the San José Municipal Code;" and

14. Bear the signature of the Landscape Architect authorized by the property owner or Applicant to design the landscape.

(Ords. 29243, 30765.)

A. The landscape design plan shall include Water Conserving Plant Species.

B. Plant varieties that require large amounts of irrigation water to survive the hot dry summer season shall not be used.

C. Each Hydrozone shall have plant materials with similar water use, with the exception of Hydrozones with plants of mixed water use, as specified in Section 15.11.980.

D. Plant material shall comply with the following:

1. Plants shall be selected and planted appropriately based upon their adaptability to the climatic, geologic, and topographical conditions of the Landscape Project site.

2. Moderate water use, low water use, very low water use or no water use plants (average WUCOLS Plant Factor of 0.3) shall be installed in one hundred percent (100%) of the portion of the Landscape Area, excluding areas planted in edibles;

3. Fire prone plant materials and highly flammable Mulches are prohibited;

4. The use of Invasive Plant Species and/or noxious plant species is prohibited. Invasive Plant Species listed in the Bay Area invasive species list by the California Invasive Plant Council, or its successor, are prohibited;

5. To the extent possible, native or a plant identified as native to California by the WUCOLS database, and non-Invasive Plant Species to the San Francisco Bay Area identified by the California Invasive Plant Council shall be installed in Landscape Areas; and

6. High water use plants, characterized by a Plant Factor of 0.7 to 1.0, are prohibited, excluding areas planted in edibles.

E. Turf is prohibited unless located in a Recreational Area or a Rear Yard of a single family dwelling. Where Turf is permitted, the following restrictions apply:

1. Turf is not allowed on slopes greater than twenty-five percent (25%) where the toe of the slope is adjacent to an impermeable Hardscape and where twenty-five percent (25%) means one (1) foot of vertical elevation change for every four (4) feet of horizontal length (rise divided by run × 100 = slope percent); and

2. Turf areas that are less than ten (10) feet wide shall be irrigated in accordance with Section 15.11.980.

3. Turf shall not exceed twenty-five percent (25%) of the Recreational Area, unless otherwise approved by the Director if the lawn area exclusively provides functional recreational space.

F. No more than fifty percent (50%) of a lot available for Landscape Area may be Hardscape, and must be planted with native or non-Invasive Plant Species or other non-Hardscape features shall be installed. Invasive Plant Species are prohibited.

1. For the purpose of this Section, available for Landscape Area shall mean the entire lot, less the footprint of buildings or structures, driveways, parking lots, setbacks, areas required to preserve state and federal tax credits for affordable housing, and any other areas required by state or federal law.

2. This subsection shall not apply to residential Rear Yard only projects.

G. Soil preparation, amendments and Mulching shall comply with the following:

1. Prior to the planting of any materials, compacted soils shall be transformed to a Friable condition. On engineered slopes, only amended planting holes need meet this requirement.

2. For landscape installations, Compost at a rate of a minimum of four (4) cubic yards per one thousand (1,000) square feet of permeable area shall be added and tilled into the soil to a depth of six (6) inches. Soils with greater than six percent (6%) organic matter indicated by soil test in the top six (6) inches of soil are exempt from adding Compost and tilling.

3. A minimum three inch (3") layer of Mulch shall be applied on all exposed soil surfaces of planting areas except in Turf areas, creeping or rooting groundcovers, or direct seeding applications where Mulch is contraindicated. To provide habitat for beneficial insects and other wildlife, up to five percent (5%) of the Landscape Area may be left without Mulch. Designated insect areas must be included in the landscape plan as such.

4. Stabilizing Mulching products shall be used on slopes.

5. The Mulching portion of the seed/Mulch slurry in hydro-seeded applications shall meet the Mulching requirement referenced in Subsection 4 of this Section.

6. Soil amendments shall be incorporated according to recommendations of the soil report and what is appropriate for the plants selected.

(Ords. 29243, 29671, 30765.)

A. Recirculating Systems or Recycled Water, where available, shall be used for decorative Water Features, such as ponds, lakes, waterfalls, and fountains.

B. If Water Features are installed, the surface area of the Water Features shall not exceed twenty percent (20%) of the Landscape Area.

(Ords. 29243, 30765.)

A. Irrigation systems for projects with a Landscape Area of two thousand five hundred (2,500) square feet or less shall comply with the following, in lieu of the requirements of Sections 15.11.970, 15.11.980 and 15.11.990:

1. Spray Sprinkler Heads and Overhead Sprinkler Irrigation Systems are prohibited, except where Turf is permitted.

2. Drip or Bubbler irrigation systems shall be installed.

3. Automatic Irrigation Controllers are required and must use evapotranspiration or Soil Moisture Sensor data.

4. Irrigation controllers shall be of a type which does not lose programming data in the event the primary power source is interrupted.

5. Pressure regulators shall be installed on the irrigation system to ensure the dynamic pressure of the system is within the manufacturer's recommended pressure range.

6. Manual shut-off Valves (such as a gate Valve, ball Valve, or butterfly Valve) shall be installed as close as possible to the point of connection of the water supply.

B. All irrigation emission devices must meet the requirements set in the ANSI standard, ASABE/ICC 802-2014, "Landscape Irrigation Sprinkler and Emitter Standard." All Sprinkler Heads installed in the Landscape Area must document a Distribution Uniformity low quarter of 0.65 or higher using the protocol defined in ASABE/ICC 802-2014.

C. Irrigation systems for projects with a Landscape Area of greater than two thousand five hundred (2,500) square feet shall comply with the requirements of Sections 15.11.970, 15.11.980 and 15.11.990.

D. For projects with a Landscape Area two thousand five hundred (2,500) square feet or less, the Applicant, if different than the property owner, must at the time of final inspection, provide the owner of the property with a Certificate of Completion, certificate of installation, irrigation schedule and a schedule of landscape and irrigation maintenance.

(Ord. 30765.)

An irrigation design plan shall be submitted as part of the landscape Documentation Package for any project that has a Landscape Area greater than two thousand five hundred (2,500) square feet. The irrigation design plan shall be consistent with the Hydrozones for the Landscape Areas. The irrigation design plan shall be set forth in a form prescribed by the Director and at a minimum shall contain all of the following:

A. Location and size of separate water meters for Landscape Areas;

B. Location, type and size of all components of the irrigation system, including controllers, Main and Lateral Lines, Valves, Sprinkler Heads, moisture sensing devices, rain switches, quick couplers, pressure regulators, and Backflow Prevention Devices;

C. Static Water Pressure at the point of connection to the public water supply;

D. Flow Rate (gallons per minute), Application Rate (inches per hour), and design Operating Pressure (pressure per square inch) for each Station;

E. Recycled Water irrigation systems if applicable as specified in Section 15.11.1000;

F. The statement: "I agree to comply with, or cause anyone who works on the irrigation design plan to comply with, the requirements of Chapter 15.11 of Title 15 of the San José Municipal Code and to submit a complete irrigation design plan that complies with Chapter 15.11 of Title 15 of the San José Municipal Code;" and

G. The signature of a Landscape Architect or Certified Irrigation Designer authorized by the property owner or the Applicant to design the irrigation system.

(Ords. 29243, 29671, 30765.)

For the efficient use of water, an irrigation design plan meeting the following design criteria for irrigation systems shall be included in the irrigation design plan and submitted as part of the Landscape Documentation Package for any project that has a Landscape Area greater than two thousand five hundred (2,500) square feet:

A. Relevant information from the soil management plan, such as soil type and Infiltration Rate, shall be utilized when designing irrigation systems.

B. Spray Sprinkler Heads and Overhead Sprinkler Irrigation Systems are prohibited, except where Turf is permitted. Drip or Bubbler irrigation systems shall be installed.

C. All irrigation systems shall be designed to avoid Runoff, low head drainage, Overspray and other similar conditions where water flows onto adjacent property, non-irrigated areas, walks, roadways or structures.

D. The design of the irrigation system shall conform to the Hydrozones of the landscape design plan.

E. Irrigation systems shall be designed, installed, and maintained to meet, at a minimum, an Irrigation Efficiency of 0.75 for overhead spray devices, where allowed, and 0.81 for drip system devices.

F. All Landscape Areas in excess of ten thousand (10,000) square feet shall be designed to allow for the current and future use of Recycled Water except as follows:

1. Landscape Areas in excess of ten thousand (10,000) square feet do not have to be designed to allow for the current and future use of Recycled Water where the Director grants an exemption to the requirement set forth in Subsection E. of this Section on the basis that Recycled Water is not available, and will not be available in the foreseeable future to serve the Landscape Project.

G. In Mulched planting areas, the use of Low Volume irrigation is required to maximize water infiltration into the root zone.

H. Sprinkler Heads and other emission devices shall have matched Precipitation Rates, unless otherwise directed by the manufacturer's recommendations.

I. Head to head coverage is required at a minimum, with consideration for average wind conditions. However, sprinkler spacing shall be designed to achieve the highest possible distribution using the manufacturer's recommendations.

J. Areas less than ten (10) feet in width in any direction shall be irrigated with subsurface irrigation or other means that produces no runoff or Overspray.

K. Overhead Sprinkler Irrigation Systems shall not be permitted within twenty-four (24) inches of any non-permeable surface. Allowable irrigation within the setback from non-permeable surfaces may include Drip Irrigation, or other Low Volume Irrigation technology. The setback area may be planted or unplanted. The surfacing of the setback may be Mulch, gravel, or other porous material. These restrictions may be modified if:

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

2. The Landscape Area is adjacent to permeable surfacing and no runoff occurs; or

3. The Certified Irrigation Designer specifies an alternative design or technology, as part of the Landscape Documentation Package and clearly demonstrates strict adherence to irrigation system design criteria in this Section. Prevention of Overspray and runoff must be confirmed during the Irrigation Audit required by Section 15.11.1040.

L. Slopes greater than twenty-five percent (25%) shall not be irrigated with an irrigation system with an Application Rate exceeding 0.75 inches per hour. This restriction may be modified if the Certified Landscape Designer specifies an alternative design or technology, as part of the Landscape Documentation Package, and clearly demonstrates no runoff or erosion will occur. Prevention of runoff and erosion must be confirmed during the Irrigation Audit required by Section 15.11.1040.

M. Each Valve shall irrigate a Hydrozone with similar site, slope, sun exposure, soil conditions, and plant materials with similar water use.

N. Sprinkler Heads and other emission devices shall be selected based on what is appropriate for the plant type within that Hydrozone.

O. Trees shall be placed on separate Valves from shrubs, groundcovers, and Turf, where feasible.

P. Individual Hydrozones that mix plants of moderate and low water use may be allowed if:

1. The Plant Factor calculation is based on the proportions of the respective plant water uses and their Plant Factor; or

2. The Plant Factor of the higher water using plant is used for calculations.

Q. Individual Hydrozones that mix high and low water use plants shall not be permitted.

R. On the landscape design plan and irrigation design plan, Hydrozone areas shall be designated by number, letter, or other designation. On the irrigation design plan, the areas irrigated by each Valve shall be designated and a number assigned to each Valve.

S. If the water pressure is below or exceeds the recommended pressure for the specified irrigation devices, the installation of a pressure regulating device is required to ensure that the dynamic pressure at each emission device is within the manufacturer's recommended pressure range for optimal performance.

1. If the Static Water Pressure is above or below the required dynamic pressure of the irrigation system, pressure-regulating devices such as inline pressure regulators, booster pumps, or other devices shall be installed to meet the required dynamic pressure of the irrigation system.

2. Static Water Pressure, dynamic or Operating Pressure, and flow reading of the water supply shall be measured at the point of connection. These pressure and flow measurements shall be conducted at the design stage. If the measurements are not available at the design stage, the measurements shall be conducted at installation.

(Ords. 29243, 29671, 30765.)

For the efficient use of water, an irrigation design plan meeting the following design criteria for irrigation equipment shall be included in the irrigation design plan and submitted as part of the Landscape Documentation Package for any project that has a Landscape Area greater than two thousand five hundred (2,500) square feet:

A. Landscape Water Meters, defined as either a customer service meter provided by a Local Water Purveyor or privately owned meter submeter, shall be installed for all irrigated Non-Residential Landscapes of one thousand (1,000) to five thousand (5,000) square feet and all irrigated Residential Landscapes of five thousand (5,000) square feet or greater. Irrigated Non-Residential Landscapes of more than five thousand (5,000) square feet shall provide a separate meter as required by Water Code Section 535, as may be amended or renumbered.

B. Automatic Irrigation Controllers utilizing either evapotranspiration or Soil Moisture Sensor data utilizing non-volatile memory shall be required for irrigation scheduling in all irrigation systems.

C. Sensors (rain, freeze, wind, etc.), either integral or auxiliary, that suspend or alter irrigation operation during unfavorable weather conditions shall be required on all irrigation systems, as appropriate for local climatic conditions. Irrigation shall be avoided during windy or freezing weather or during rain.

D. Manual shut-off Valves (such as a gate Valve, ball Valve, or butterfly Valve) shall be required, as close as possible to the point of connection of the water supply, to minimize water loss in case of an emergency (such as a Main Line break) or routine repair.

E. Backflow Prevention Devices and Automatic Irrigation Controllers shall be installed in all irrigation systems and must be able to accommodate all aspects of the design.

F. Flow Sensors that detect high flow conditions created by system damage or malfunction are required for all Non-Residential Landscapes and for Residential Landscapes of five thousand (5,000) square feet or larger.

G. Where permitted, Sprinkler Heads and other emission devices shall have matched Precipitation Rates.

H. Where permitted, Sprinkler Head spacing shall be head to head.

I. Swing Joints or other riser-protection components are required on all risers subject to damage that are adjacent to Hardscapes or in high traffic areas of turfgrass.

J. Check Valves or Anti-Drain Valves are required on all irrigation systems where low point drainage could occur.

K. Master shut-off Valves are required except for irrigation systems that make use of technologies that allow for the individual control of sprinklers that are individually pressurized in a system equipped with low pressure shut down features.

L. All irrigation emission devices must meet the requirements set in the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) standard, American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers'/International Code Council's (ASABE/ICC) 802-2014 "Landscape Irrigation Sprinkler and Emitter Standard." All Sprinkler Heads installed in the Landscape Area must document a Distribution Uniformity low quarter of 0.65 or higher using the protocol defined in ASABE/ICC 802-2014.

(Ords. 29243, 29671, 30765.)

A. Plants and trees that will be irrigated with Recycled Water as described in the landscape design plan shall be plants adapted for the San José climate and tolerant of salinity buildup in the soil. Plants must adhere to the requirements in Section 15.11.950 of this Chapter.

B. All Recycled Water irrigation systems shall:

1. Be metered separately from the Potable Water supply system;

2. Have no on-site cross-connections to the Potable Water supply system; and

3. Be designed and operated in accordance with applicable laws.

(Ords. 29243, 30765.)

For the efficient use of water, all irrigation schedules shall be developed, managed, and evaluated to utilize the minimum amount of water required to maintain plant health. Irrigation schedules shall meet the following criteria:

A. Irrigation scheduling shall be regulated by Automatic Irrigation Controllers.

B. Overhead irrigation shall be restricted between the hours specified in Chapter 15.10 of this Code.

C. The irrigation schedule shall include run times, emission device, Flow Rate, and current Reference Evapotranspiration. Actual irrigation schedules shall be regulated by Automatic Irrigation Controllers using current Reference Evapotranspiration data for San José or on-site moisture data.

D. Parameters used to set the Automatic Irrigation Controller shall be developed and submitted for each of the following:

1. The Establishment Period;

2. The Established Landscape; and

3. Temporarily irrigated areas.

E. Each irrigation schedule shall consider for each Station all of the following that apply:

1. Irrigation interval (days between irrigation);

2. Irrigation run times (hours or minutes per irrigation event to avoid runoff);

3. Number of cycle starts required for each irrigation event to avoid runoff;

4. Amount of Applied Water scheduled to be applied on a monthly basis;

5. Application Rate Setting;

6. Root depth setting;

7. Plant type setting;

8. Soil type;

9. Slope factor setting;

10. Shade factor setting; and

11. Irrigation uniformity or efficiency setting.

F. The landscape irrigation schedule shall be consistent with the requirements of Chapter 15.10 of this Code.

(Ords. 29243, 30765.)

A. For the efficient use of water, grading of the Landscape Project site shall be designed to minimize soil erosion, runoff, and water waste. A grading plan shall be submitted as part of the Landscape Documentation Package for any project that has a Landscape Area greater than two thousand five hundred (2,500) square feet. A comprehensive grading plan prepared by a civil engineer in relation to another City permit application satisfies this requirement.

B. The Applicant shall submit a landscape grading plan that indicates finished configurations and elevations of the Landscape Area including:

1. Height of graded slopes;

2. Drainage patterns;

3. Pad elevations;

4. Finish grade; and

5. Stormwater retention improvements, if applicable.

C. To prevent excessive erosion and runoff, Applicants shall:

1. Grade so that all irrigation and normal rainfall remains within property lines and does not:

a. Drain on to non-permeable Hardscapes; or

b. Allow for ponding water in violation of applicable law;

2. Avoid disruption of natural drainage patterns and undisturbed soil; and

3. Avoid soil compaction in Landscape Areas.

D. The grading design plan shall contain the following statement: "I agree to comply with, or cause anyone who works on the grading design plan to comply with, the requirements of Chapter 15.11 of Title 15 of the San José Municipal Code and to submit a complete grading design plan that complies with Chapter 15.11 of Title 15 of the San José Municipal Code" and shall bear the signature of a licensed professional as authorized by law.

(Ords. 29243, 29671, 30765.)

A. Landscapes shall be maintained to ensure water use efficiency. A regular maintenance schedule shall be submitted to the Director by the Applicant with the Certificate of Completion.

B. A regular maintenance schedule shall include, but not be limited to, routine inspection; adjustment and repair of the irrigation system and its components; aerating and dethatching Turf areas, where permitted; topdressing with Compost; replenishing Mulch; fertilizing; pruning; weeding in all Landscape Areas, and removing any obstructions to emission devices. Operation of the irrigation system outside the Watering Window is allowed for auditing, system maintenance and during plant Establishment Periods.

C. Irrigation systems shall be tested, adjusted and repaired following the manufacturers' specifications and the recommendations of the landscape professional who signed the Landscape Design Plan.

D. Failed plants shall be replaced with the same or functionally equivalent plants that may be size-adjusted as appropriate for the stage of growth of the overall installation. Replacement plants must adhere to the requirements in Section 15.11.950 of this Chapter.

E. Repair of all irrigation equipment shall be done with the originally installed components or their equivalents or with components with greater efficiency.

F. A diagram of the irrigation plan showing Hydrozones shall be kept with the irrigation controller for subsequent management purposes.

(Ords. 29243, 29671, 30765.)

A. The Applicant shall submit an Irrigation Audit report with the Certificate of Completion for any New Construction or Rehabilitated Landscape Project that has a Landscape Area greater than two thousand five hundred (2,500) square feet. The Irrigation Audit may include, but is not limited to: inspection, system tune-up, system test with Distribution Uniformity, reporting Overspray or Runoff 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 reprogramming.

B. All Landscape Irrigation Audits shall be conducted by a third party Certified Landscape Irrigation Auditor. Irrigation Audits shall not be conducted by the person who designed or installed the landscaping.

C. In large projects or projects with multiple landscape installations (e.g. production home developments) an auditing rate of one (1) in seven (7) lots or approximately fifteen percent (15%) will satisfy the Irrigation Audit requirement.

(Ords. 29243, 29671, 30765.)

A. A Certificate of Completion shall be submitted to the Director prior to the date that a Certificate of Occupancy is issued pursuant to the provisions of Part 6 of Chapter 24.02 of Title 24 of this Code. The form of the Certificate of Completion shall be as prescribed by the Director and shall include the following:

1. A project information sheet that contains:

a. Date;

b. Project name;

c. Applicant name, telephone, and mailing address;

d. Project address and location; and

e. Property owner name, telephone, and mailing address.

2. A certification by 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 in accordance with the submitted 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.

3. Irrigation scheduling parameters used to set the Automatic Irrigation Controller;

4. Landscape and irrigation maintenance schedule;

5. Irrigation Audit report;

6. Soil management report if not submitted with Landscape Documentation Package; and

7. Documentation verifying implementation of the recommendations contained in the soil management report.

B. The Applicant shall:

1. Submit the signed Certificate of Completion to the Director pursuant to Section 15.11.1050.A. above; and

2. Ensure that copies of the Certificate of Completion are submitted to the Local Water Purveyor and property owner or his or her designee.

C. An Applicant shall be fully responsible for and subject to enforcement action for any inaccurate, incomplete or false information provided on its Certificate of Completion. It shall be a violation of this Section for any Applicant to provide any such inaccurate, incomplete or false information on its Certificate of Completion.

(Ords. 29243, 30765.)

Determinations of the Director under this Chapter are final.

(Ord. 30765.)