Chapter 17.165 — WATER EFFICIENT LANDSCAPES

The purpose of this chapter is to establish water efficient landscape regulations that are "at least as effective in conserving water as" the State Model Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance in the context of conditions in the City in order to ensure that landscapes are planned, designed, installed, maintained, and managed in a manner that uses water efficiently, encourages water conservation, and prevents water waste. The intent of this chapter is to encourage the cooperation between the City and local water purveyors to achieve irrigation efficiency and water conservation goals. (Ord. 247, 1/15/2025)

This chapter shall apply to the following landscape projects:

• A. New landscape installations or landscape rehabilitation projects by public agencies or private nonresidential developers, except for cemeteries, with a landscaped area, including water features but excluding hardscape, equal to or greater than 2,500 square feet, and which are subject to a discretionary approval of a landscape plan, or which otherwise require a ministerial permit for a landscape or water feature.

• B. New landscape installations or landscape rehabilitation projects by developers or property managers of single-family and multifamily residential projects or complexes with a landscaped area, including water features but excluding hardscape, equal to or greater than 2,500 square feet, and which are subject to a discretionary approval of a landscape plan, or which otherwise require a ministerial permit for a landscape or water feature.

• C. New landscape installations that are homeowner-installed, including homeowner-hired, in single-family or multifamily residential lots with a total project landscaped area equal to or greater than 5,000 square feet and which are otherwise subject to a discretionary approval of a landscape plan, or which otherwise require a ministerial permit for landscaping or water feature.

• D. New cemeteries are only required to submit information on water calculations and irrigation scheduling and maintenance activities.

• (Ord. 247, 1/15/2025)

This chapter shall not apply to:

• A. Registered local, state, or federal historical 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;

• D. Plant collections, as part of botanical gardens and arboretums open to the public;

• E. Existing cemeteries, except that the water waster prevention provisions of Section 17.165.070 are still applicable to the existing facilities;

• F. The requirements of this chapter may be partially or wholly waived at the discretion of the City Manager or his/her designee, for landscape rehabilitation projects that are limited to the replacement of plantings with equal or lower water needs and where any modifications to the irrigation system do not require ministerial permits and the irrigation system is found to be designed, operable, and programmed consistent with minimizing water waste in accordance with local water purveyors regulations.

• (Ord. 247, 1/15/2025)

As applicable, all persons and/or entities subject to the State Model Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance ( 23 CCR, Division 2, Chapter 2.7) 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. 247, 1/15/2025)

• A. For applicable new landscape or landscape rehabilitation projects subject to Section 17.165.020 , the estimated applied water use allowed for the landscaped area may not exceed the maximum applied water allowance calculated using an evapotranspiration adjustment factor of 0.7, except for the portion of the maximum applied water allowance applicable to any special landscaped areas within the landscape project, which may be calculated using an evapotranspiration adjustment factor of 1.0.

• B. Where the design of the landscaped area can be otherwise shown to be equivalently water efficient, the applicant may submit alternative or abbreviated information supporting the demonstration that the annual estimated applied water use is less than the maximum applied water allowance, at the discretion of and review and approval of the Community Development Director and City Landscape Architect.

• C. The irrigation of all landscaped areas installed pursuant to this chapter shall be conducted in a manner conforming to the rules and requirements of the program and the approved landscape documentation package. Violations are subject to penalties and/or incentives for water conservation and water waste prevention as determined and implemented by the City and/or local water purveyor.

• (Ord. 247, 1/15/2025)

• A. A landscape documentation package shall be submitted to the City for review and approval prior to the issuance of any permits to install or construct any landscape-related improvements.

• B. A landscape documentation package submitted to the City shall comply with the provisions of this chapter and any adopted guidelines. The landscape documentation package shall include, at a minimum, a certification of preparation by the project landscape architect stating that the landscape design plan, soil management report, irrigation design plan, and water use calculations have been prepared by or under the supervision of the landscape professional and are in compliance with the provisions of this chapter and any applicable guidelines.

• C. Prior to the final inspection of a new landscape installation, the applicant shall submit a certification of completion to the Community Development Director. The certification of completion shall, at a minimum, include information on the scheduling and timing of irrigation, system maintenance requirements, and identify City of Wildomar Planning Department approved changes to the approved plans that may have occurred during the construction/installation process.

• D. The City may adopt guidelines to further refine, describe, and implement the requirements of this chapter.

• (Ord. 247, 1/15/2025)

• A. The irrigation of landscaping installed prior to the effective date of the ordinance codified in this chapter, or exempt from the provisions of this chapter, shall be operated and maintained to avoid wasteful practices such as the watering of adjacent hardscape areas, runof to the street, and watering during windy conditions.

• B. Irrigation of all landscaped areas must be conducted in a manner conforming to the rules and requirements and be subject to penalties and incentives for water conservation and water waste prevention established by Elsinore Valley Municipal Water District Ordinance 185, as may be subsequently amended.

• C. The City will work with the local water purveyor(s) to provide recommendations on how to increase water efficiency for existing landscapes.

• (Ord. 247, 1/15/2025)

The City may delegate to, or enter into an agreement with, one or more local agencies to implement, administer, and/or enforce any of the provisions of this chapter on behalf of the City. (Ord. 247, 1/15/2025)