Sonora Municipal Code § 12.22 Water Efficient Landscapes

The purpose of this chapter is to designate the necessary authority that implements and enforces the provisions of water efficient landscapes as provided for by state and local law.

(Ord. 788, § 1, 2-1-2010)

A. After December 1, 2015 this chapter shall apply to all of the following landscape projects:

1. 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.

2. 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.

3. Existing landscapes are limited to Section 18, Provisions for Existing Landscapes, Section 19, Irrigation Audit, Irrigation Survey and Irrigation Water Use Analysis, and Section 20, Water Waste Prevention, of the 2015 City of Sonora Water Efficient Landscape Manual.

4. Cemeteries. Recognizing the special landscape management needs of cemeteries, new and rehabilitated cemeteries are limited to Section 3, Water Efficient Landscape Worksheet, Section 10, Landscape and Irrigation Maintenance Schedule, and Section 11, Irrigation Audit, Irrigation Survey and Irrigation Water Use Analysis of the 2015 City of Sonora Water Efficient Landscape Manual. Existing cemeteries are limited to Section 18, Provisions for Existing Landscapes, Section 19, Irrigation Audit, Irrigation Survey and Irrigation Water Use Analysis, and Section 20, Water Waste Prevention, of the 2015 City of Sonora Water Efficient Landscape Manual.

5. 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 or conform to the prescriptive measures contained in Appendix D of the 2015 City of Sonora Water Efficient Landscape Manual.

6. For project using treated or untreated graywater or rainwater captured onsite, any lot or parcel within the project 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 onsite is subject only to Appendix D section (5) of the 2015 City of Sonora Water Efficient Landscape Manual.

7. This chapter does not apply to:

a. Registered local, state or federal historic sites;

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

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

d. Existing plant collections, as part of botanical gardens and arboretums open to the public.

(Ord. 788, § 1, 2-1-2010; Amended by Ord. 833 on 12/21/2015)

The city may designate by mutual agreement, another agency, such as a water purveyor, to implement some or all of the requirements contained in this chapter. Local agencies may collaborate with water purveyors to define each entity's specific responsibilities relating to this chapter.

(Ord. 788, § 1, 2-1-2010; Amended by Ord. 833 on 12/21/2015)

To implement the regulations as set forth in state and local law, the city council shall adopt by resolution the 2015 City of Sonora Water Efficient Landscape Manual.

(Ord. 788, § 1, 2-1-2010; Amended by Ord. 833 on 12/21/2015)

A. Prior to construction, the city shall:

1. Provide the project applicant with the ordinance, the manual, and procedures for permits, plan checks, or design reviews;

2. Review the landscape documentation package submitted by the project applicant;

3. Approve or deny the landscape documentation package;

4. Issue a permit or approve the plan check or design review for the project applicant; and

5. Upon approval of the landscape documentation package, submit a copy of the water efficient landscape worksheet to the local water purveyor.

B. Prior to construction, the project applicant shall:

1. Submit a landscape package to the city.

C. Upon approval of the landscape package by the city, the project applicant shall:

1. Receive a permit or approval of the plan check or design review and record the date of the permit in the certificate of completion;

2. Submit a copy of the approved landscape package along with the record drawings, and any other information to the property owner and his/her designee; and

3. Submit a copy of the water efficient landscape worksheet to the local water purveyor.

(Ord. 788, § 1, 2-1-2010)

Noncompliance with this chapter shall constitute an infraction of this municipal code, punishable by a fine as established by ordinance. Each day during which a violation of any of the provisions of this chapter occurs shall constitute a separate offense.

(Ord. 788, § 1, 2-1-2010)