CC SR 20181204 02 - Muni Code Water Efficiency Landscaping Ordinance
PUBLIC HEARING
Date: 12/04/2018
Subject: Consideration and possible action to introduce an ordinance repealing and amending
Chapter 15.34 (Water Efficient Landscaping) of Title 15 (Building and Construction Code) of the
Rancho Palos Verdes Municipal Code to implement the State’s new Water Efficient Landscape
requirements.
Subject Property/Location: N/A.
1. Report of Notice Given: City Clerk
2. Declare Public Hearing Open: Mayor
3. Request for Staff Report: Mayor
4. Staff Report & Recommendation: Octavio Silva, Senior Planner
5. Council Questions of Staff (factual and without bias):
6. Testimony from members of the public:
The normal time limit for each speaker is three (3) minutes. The Presiding Officer may grant additional time to a representative speaking
for an entire group. The Mayor also may adjust the time limit for individual speakers depending upon the number of speakers who
intend to speak.
7. Declare Hearing Closed/or Continue the Public Hearing to a later date: Mayor
8. Council Deliberation:
The Council may ask staff to address questions raised by the testimony, or to clarify matters. Staff and/or Council may also answer
questions posed by speakers during their testimony. The Council will then debate and/or make motions on the matter.
9. Council Action:
The Council may: vote on the item; offer amendments or substitute motions to decide the matter; reopen the hearing for additional
testimony; continue the matter to a later date for a decision.
01203.0005/522204.1
RANCHO PALOS VERDES CITY COUNCIL MEETING DATE: 12/04/2018
AGENDA REPORT AGENDA HEADING: Regular Business
AGENDA DESCRIPTION:
Consideration and possible action to introduce an ordinance repealing and amending
Chapter 15.34 (Water Efficient Landscaping) of Title 15 (Building and Construction
Code) of the Rancho Palos Verdes Municipal Code to implement the State’s new Water
Efficient Landscape requirements.
RECOMMENDED COUNCIL ACTION:
(1) Introduce Ordinance No. ___, AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF RANCHO
PALOS VERDES TO REPEAL AND REPLACE MUNICIPAL CODE CHAPTER
15.34 TO IMPLEMENT THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA’S REQUIREMENTS FOR
WATER EFFICIENT LANDSCAPING
FISCAL IMPACT: Staff costs associated with the processing of Water Efficient
Landscape Permits will be borne by project applicants based on an application filing fee
established by resolution of the City Council. At this this time, the application filing fee is
$277 plus a Trust Deposit for a Landscape Plan Review. As part of the City’s cost fee
recovery study currently underway, a new filing fee will be assessed based on Staff
costs associated with the new requirements in the proposed ordinance.
Amount Budgeted: N/A
Additional Appropriation: N/A
Account Number(s): N/A
ORIGINATED BY: Octavio Silva, Senior Planner
REVIEWED BY: Ara Mihranian, AICP, Director of Community Development
APPROVED BY: Doug Willmore, City Manager
ATTACHED SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS:
A. Ordinance No. ___ (page A-1)
B. Proposed Landscape Regulations for the City of Rancho Palos Verdes
(page B-1)
BACKGROUND AND DISCUSSION:
On April 1, 2015, Governor Brown signed the Drought Executive Order (EO) B-29-15,
which directed the California Department of Water Resources (DWR) to update the
Model Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance (the State Model). The goal of the EO-
mandated revisions was to reduce statewide water use by 25% from 2013 levels by
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2016. The directive specifically listed the following five items that were to be addressed
as part of the revised State Model:
1) More efficient irrigation systems
2) Graywater (i.e., non-potable) usage
3) On-site storm-water capture
4) Limit the percentage of turf planting in landscape areas
5) Require reporting on the implementation and enforcement of the Ordinance by
local agencies
In response to EO B-29-15, DWR prepared a revised draft of the State Model to be
applicable statewide. Due to the varying climatic conditions found throughout the State,
an option was offered to jurisdictions to tailor the State’s Model to better fit their
characteristics while still meeting the requirements of the mandate. Local jurisdictions
that failed to adopt a local code by February 1, 2016, were subject to the requirements
of the State Model until such time as a local Ordinance was adopted.
Since the City has not adopted a local Ordinance, the City has been required to
implement the State Model for applicable development projects since February 2016.
The current proposal to update the City’s Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance, as cited
in Chapter 15.34 of the Rancho Palos Verdes Municipal Code (RPVMC), is to ensure
that the requirements outlined within the Municipal Code are consistent with all State-
regulations, while still maintaining an ordinance that is unique to the applicable
conditions of the City including review and permitting requirements.
Proposed Code Amendment
In reviewing the State Model, Staff believes that its detailed language is difficult to
interpret and implement. Furthermore, Staff believes that many of the steps outlined in
the State Model do not need to be codified, but could simply be packaged into a
separate set of Landscape Regulations (Attachment B) that could easily be updated,
edited or augmented over the years by the Director of Community Development. Based
on the requirements set forth in the State Model, Staff, in collaboration with the City
Attorney’s Office and the City’s Landscape Architect, has prepared a streamlined and
succinct draft ordinance for the City Council’s consideration, which is consistent with the
approach undertaken by other jurisdictions including the cities of Palos Verdes Estates
and Malibu. In order to enact the proposed code amendment, RPVMC Chapter 15.34
would be repealed and replaced in favor of the attached draft ordinance (Attachment A).
The most notable changes are summarized below:
1) Water Efficient Landscape Permit: Establishes a new Water Efficient
Landscape Permit which sets the criteria for landscape projects specifically
designed to limit water consumption for landscape purposes.
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2) Definitions: Expanded to include new terms and concepts, and clarifies existing
definitions.
3) Applicability: Establishes the following new thresholds for triggering a Water
Efficiency Landscape Permit for Landscape Projects:
• Any project which proposes a new or altered Landscape Area as part of
an industrial, commercial, institutional, cemetery, or multifamily use or a
subdivision of any lot.
• Any project which proposes a new or altered Landscape Area of five
hundred (500) square feet or more as a part of a new single-family
residential use.
• Any project which proposed a new or altered Landscape Area of two
thousand five hundred (2,500) square feet or more as a part of an existing
single-family residential use.
4) Graywater Usage: Includes provisions that encourage the use of graywater
systems, which conform to applicable landscape regulations and State
requirements.
5) Annual Reporting: The City is required to provide annual reporting on the
implementation and enforcement of the Ordinance to the DWR.
Landscape Regulations
The City’s proposed Landscape Regulations (Attachment B) provide procedural and
design guidance to Applicants proposing landscape projects. This document will assist
in the implementation of the new water efficiency restrictions and contains information
related to, but not limited to, submittal requirements, water efficient landscape
worksheets and sample calculations. The document will be provided to residents and
developers as an over-the-counter handout as well as made available on the City’s
website.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA)
The project is exempt pursuant to State CEQA Guidelines, 14 Cal. Code Regs. Sec.
15307 as an action taken to assure the maintenance, restoration, or enhancement of a
natural resource, specifically water, where the regulatory process involves procedures
for protection of the environment. The proposed Code Amendment does not
contemplate any construction activities, and there is no evidence to suggest that the
proposed language will result in a significant impact on the environment, including
impacts due to unusual circumstances. The approval of the Code Amendment and
adoption of the associated Ordinance will result in the enhancement and protection of
water resources in the City, and there is no evidence to suggest that the Code
Amendment will result in cumulative adverse environmental impacts.
ALTERNATIVES:
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In addition to the Staff recommendations, the following alternatives are available for the
City Council’s consideration:
1. Direct Staff to continue the matter, and return with modified Code
language for consideration at a future meeting.
2. Direct Staff to take no action at this time.
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ORDINANCE NO. _____
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF RANCHO PALOS VERDES TO
REPEAL AND REPLACE MUNICIPAL CODE CHAPTER 15.34 TO
IMPLEMENT THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA’S REQUIREMENTS
FOR WATER EFFICIENT LANDSCAPING.
WHEREAS, the waters of the State of California are of limited supply and are
subject to increasing demands; and
WHEREAS, it is the policy of the State of California and of the City of Rancho Palos
Verdes to promote the conservation and efficient use of water and to prevent the waste
of this valuable resource; and
WHEREAS, the City of Rancho Palos Verdes is a unique, well-established
residential community where development consists predominantly of single-family
residential homes; and
WHEREAS, the Governor’s Drought Executive Order of April 1, 2015 directed the
California Department of Water Resources to update the State’s Model Water Efficient
Landscape Ordinance; and
WHEREAS, the Department of Water Resources approved the revised Model
Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance in 2015; and
WHEREAS, California law requires each city to revise their existing water efficient
landscaping ordinance to meet updated statutory requirements, or the city will be deemed
to have adopted the revised model ordinance drafted by the California Department of
Water Resources; and
WHEREAS, the City of Rancho Palos Verdes’ water efficient landscaping
ordinance, codified in Chapter 15.34 of the Rancho Palos Verdes Municipal Code, must
be updated to conform to the revised model ordinance requirements set forth in Title 23
of the California Code of Regulations Section 490, et seq.; and
WHEREAS, the City Council has directed that Chapter 15.34 be amended to
reflect the current statutory requirements; and
WHEREAS, the water efficient landscaping standards adopted herein serve to
advance the foregoing goals, advance the goal of conserving water and further public
health, safety and welfare; and
WHEREAS, the City Council finds and determines that the water efficient
landscape ordinance herein adopted is at least as effective in conserving water as the
California Department of Water Resources’ updated Model Water Efficient Landscape
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Ordinance, and is reasonably necessary based on the climate, geology, topography
and/or environmental conditions in the City.
NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF RANCHO PALOS
VERDES DOES ORDAIN AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. Chapter 15.34 of Title 15 of the Rancho Palos Verdes Municipal
Code is being repealed and replaced to read as follows:
“CHAPTER 15.34”
WATER EFFICIENT LANDSCAPING
SECTION:
15.34.010 Purpose
15.34.020 Definitions
15.34.030 Applicability
15.34.040 Administration, Enforcement and Landscape Regulations
15.34.050 Compliance Requirements
15.34.060 Water Budget Calculations
15.34.070 Exceptions
15.30.080 Submittals
15.34.090 Landscape Water Conservation Design Standards
15.34.100 Administration and Appeal Process
15.34.110 Penalties
15.34.120 Annual Reporting
15.34.010 Purpose.
It is the policy of the City of Rancho Palos Verdes (City) to promote water
conservation. The landscape water conservation standards detailed in this chapter are
intended to promote water conservation, while allowing the maximum possible flexibility
in designing healthy, attractive, and cost-effective water efficient landscapes.
15.34.020 Definitions.
“Applicant" means the person or entity submitting a Landscape Documentation
Package. An Applicant may include the property owner and/or an agent of the owner.
“Applied Water” means the portion of water supplied by an irrigation system to a
landscape.
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“Certificate of Completion” means the final document submitted to the City which
contains irrigation scheduling parameters, a landscape and irrigation maintenance
schedule, an irrigation audit report, and a soil analysis report, which has been certified by
either 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 per the
approved Landscape Documentation Package.
“Director” means the Director of Community Development.
“Estimated Total Water Use” means the estimated total water use in gallons per
year for a Landscape Area, calculated by summing the estimated water use for each
Hydrozone as described in the Water Budget Calculations.
“Evapotranspiration” means the approximate summation of water loss through
evaporation from soil and transpiration from the plants during a specified period of time.
“Evapotranspiration Adjustment Factor” means a factor of 0.55 for residential areas
and 0.45 for non-residential areas, that, when applied to reference evapotranspiration,
adjusts for plant factors and irrigation efficiency, two major influences upon the amount
of water that needs to be applied to the landscape. The Evapotranspiration Adjustment
Factor for new and existing (non-rehabilitated) Special Landscape Areas shall not exceed
1.0. The Evapotranspiration Adjustment Factor for existing non-rehabilitated landscapes
is 0.8.
“Hardscapes” means any durable material or feature (pervious and nonpervious)
installed in or around a Landscape Area, such as pavements or walls.
“Hydrozone” means a portion of a Landscape Area having plants with similar water
needs. A Hydrozone may be irrigated or nonirrigated, and if irrigated the Hydrozone may
be served by an irrigation valve or set of valves with the same schedule.
“Irrigation Efficiency” means the measurement of the amount of water beneficially
used divided by the amount of water applied. Irrigation Efficiency is derived from
measurements and estimates of irrigation system characteristics and management
practices. Irrigation Efficiency for purposes of this Chapter is 0.75 for overhead spray
devices and 0.81 for drip systems.
“Landscape Area” means all new or altered landscaping areas proposed as part
of a development project. Landscape Area shall include the planting areas, turf areas,
water features, and design features as allowed in Section 15.34.090(A)(11). The
Landscape Area does not include footprints of buildings or structures, sidewalks,
driveways, parking lots, decks, patios, gravel or stone walks, hardscapes, and other non-
irrigated areas designated for non-development (e.g., open spaces and existing native
vegetation).
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“Landscape Documentation Package” means the documents required under
Section 15.34.080 required to be submitted to the Director for review and approval.
“Landscape Regulations” refers to the Landscape Regulations for the
Implementation of the City of Rancho Palos Verdes Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance
prepared by the Director of Community Development describing the procedures,
calculations, forms and other requirements for landscape projects subject to this Chapter.
“Maximum Applied Water Allowance” means the maximum annual gallons per year
of water allowed for a Landscape Area, calculated as described in the Water Budget
Calculations.
“Water Efficient Landscape Permit” means an authorizing document issued to an
Applicant by the Director upon approval of the Applicant’s Landscape Documentation
Package.
“Plant Factor” means a factor that when multiplied by the Reference
Evapotranspiration, estimates the amount of water used by a given plant species. For
purposes of this Chapter, the Plant Factor range for Very Low Water Use Plants is 0 to
0.1, the Plant Factor range for Low W ater Use Plants is 0.1 to 0.3, the Plant Factor range
for Moderate Water Use Plants is 0.4 to 0.6, and the Plant Factor range for High W ater
Use Plants is 0.7 to 1.0. Plant Factors used in this Chapter are derived from Water Use
Classification of Landscape Species.
“Reference Evapotranspiration” means a standard measurement of environmental
parameters which affect the water use of plants. Reference Evapotranspiration is
expressed in inches for purposes of this Chapter and is an estimate of the
Evapotranspiration per year from a large field of four to seven-inch tall cool season grass
that is not water stressed. Reference Evapotranspiration is used as the basis for
determining the Maximum Applied W ater Allowance so that regional differences in climate
can be accommodated. For the City of Rancho Palos Verdes, the Reference
Evapotranspiration is 39.7 inches.
“Special Landscape Area” means park and recreational areas, areas permanently
and solely dedicated to edible plants (such as orchards and vegetable gardens), and
areas irrigated with nonpotable water.
“Turf” means a groundcover surface of mowed grass with an irrigation water need
of greater than thirty (30) percent of the Reference Evapotranspiration, except for low
water use alternative Turf blends.
“Water Budget Calculation” mean the Maximum Applied Water Allowance and
Estimated Total Water Use calculations as outlined within the Landscape Regulations.
“Water Feature” means a design element where open water performs an aesthetic
or recreational function. Water Features include ponds, lakes, waterfalls, fountains,
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artificial streams, spas, and swimming pools (where water is artificially supplied). The
surface area of Water Features is included in the high water use Hydrozone of the
Landscape Area. Constructed wetlands used for on-site wastewater treatment, habitat
protection, or storm water best management practices that are not irrigated with potable
water and are used solely for water treatment or storm water retention are not Water
Features and are not subject to the Water Budget Calculation.
“Water Use Classifications of Landscape Species” means the document prepared
by the University of California Cooperative Extension and available from the State
Department of Water Resources at: Department of Water Resources, Bulletins and
Reports, P.O. Box 942836, Sacramento, California 94236-0001.
15.34.030 Applicability.
A. This Chapter shall apply to all of the following public or private landscape
projects:
1. Any project which proposes a new or altered Landscape Area as part of an
industrial, commercial, institutional, cemetery, or multifamily use or a subdivision of any
lot.
2. Any project which proposes a new or altered Landscape Area of 500 square
feet or more as a part of a new single-family residential use and requiring a building,
grading, or landscape permit, plan check or design review.
3. Any project which proposes a new or altered Landscape Area of 2,500
square feet or more as a part of an existing single-family residential use and requiring a
building, grading, or landscape permit, plan check or design review.
B. The following shall be exempt from the requirements of this Chapter:
1. Any project which proposes a new or altered Landscape Area on property
listed on any applicable local, state or national register of historic places;
2. Any ecological restoration project that does not require a permanent
irrigation system;
3. Any mined land reclamation project that does not require a permanent
irrigation system;
4. Any botanical garden or arboretum that is open to the public;
5. Any cemetery, except that the Landscape Area of a new or existing
cemetery shall meet the irrigation requirements of Section 15.34.090(B).
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15.34.040 Administration, Enforcement and Landscape Regulations.
A. The Director shall administer and enforce this chapter.
B. The Director shall promulgate Landscape Regulations for the
implementation of the City of Rancho Palos Verdes Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance
(Landscape Regulations).
C. The Landscape Regulations shall assist Applicants in compliance with the
requirements of this chapter, and shall also provide information on increasing water use
efficiency and avoiding water waste in existing landscapes.
D. The Landscape Regulations shall comply with all applicable provisions of
Title 23 of the California Code of Regulations Sections 490 through 495 and shall be in
full force and effect.
15.34.050 Compliance Requirements.
Applicants for projects covered by Section 15.34.030(A) shall comply with the
following, unless an exception is granted pursuant to Section 15.34.070.
A. Prior to issuance of any grading or building permit, an Applicant shall obtain
a Water Efficient Landscape Permit from the Director, which shall be issued upon
approval of the Applicant’s Landscape Documentation Package prepared in accordance
with Section 15.34.080.
B. Prior to issuance of a certificate of occupancy or other final project sign- off,
the Applicant shall obtain approval from the Director of a Certificate of Completion
prepared in accordance with Section 15.34.080.
15.34.060 Water Budget Calculations.
A. Unless an exception is granted pursuant to Section 15.34.070, new or
altered landscaping projects listed in Section 15.34.030(A) shall comply with the Water
Budget Calculations contained within the Landscape Regulations issued by the Director.
To the extent that any W ater Budget Calculations issued by the State Department of
Water Resources promote greater water conservation than that provided within the
Landscape Regulations, the State Department of Water Resources calculations shall
control.
15.34.070 Exceptions.
Exceptions to the requirements of this chapter may be granted by the Director upon
a finding, based on substantial evidence that the exceptions will promote equivalent or
greater water conservation than that provided in this chapter. Requests for exceptions
shall be in writing and shall be submitted to the Director at the time the Landscape
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Documentation Package is submitted for review. Requests for exceptions shall be
accompanied by documentary evidence supporting the finding of equivalent or greater
water conservation.
15.34.080 Submittals.
A. Landscape Documentation Package.
1. Water Efficient Landscape Permit application shall be submitted to
the Director with a filing fee established by resolution of the City Council.
2. A Landscape Documentation Package shall be prepared in
accordance with this chapter and the Landscape Regulations issued by the
Director.
3. The Landscape Documentation Package shall include a statement
of compliance in a form approved by the Director certifying that the landscape
design complies with the mandatory elements of this chapter. The statement of
compliance shall be signed by the person who prepared the landscape plan.
4. The Landscape Documentation Package shall be prepared in
accordance with this Chapter and the Landscape Regulations, and shall include a
landscape design and soils management plan, an irrigation plan, and a Water
Budget Calculation worksheet.
a. The Landscape Design and Soils Management Plan shall, at a
minimum:
i. Delineate each Hydrozone by number, letter or other method,
and identify the water use level of each. Temporarily irrigated
areas shall be included in the low water use Hydrozone for the
Water Budget Calculations;
ii. Delineate any existing plant material to be retained or removed
by type;
iii. Show the planting areas, plant spacing, plant location and size,
natural features, recreational areas, areas dedicated
permanently and solely to edible plants, areas irrigated with
nonpotable water, surface areas and types of Water Features
and all Hardscapes (pervious and nonpervious);
iv. Have a legend listing the common and botanical plant names and
total quantities by container size and species;
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v. Describe seed mixes with application rates and relevant
germination specifications;
vi. Identify soil amendments, type and quantity, based on soil test
results and recommendations. Soils recommendations can be
included as a generic specification if grading will occur on the site
as part of the project prior to landscape installation. However,
verification of a soils test, and compliance with soil amendment
requirements must be completed after grading is complete and
prior to the landscaping installation;
vii. Identify location and installation details of storm water best
management practices, as applicable;
viii. Include as a separate sheet, a copy of the project grading plan,
when applicable.
b. Irrigation Plan. The Irrigation Plan shall be a separate document from,
but use the same format as, the Landscape Design and Soils
Management Plan. The Irrigation Plan shall, at a minimum:
i. Identify location and size of separate water meters for landscape;
and identify water purveyor name.
ii. Identify location, size and type of all components of the irrigation
system, including controllers, main and lateral lines, valves,
irrigation heads, moisture sensing devices, rain shut-off sensor,
quick couplers, pressure regulators and backflow prevention
devices, and power supply, as applicable;
iii. Identify static water pressure at the point of connection to the
public water supply, as applicable;
iv. Provide the flow rate (gallons per minute), application rate (inches
per hour) and design operating pressure (pressure per square
inch) for each station;
v. Show nonpotable water irrigation systems as applicable.
c. Water Budget Calculation Worksheet. A Water Budget Calculation
worksheet shall include the following elements:
i. A Hydrozone information table that summarizes the Hydrozone
and irrigation information of the landscape design and irrigation
plans, including square footage and irrigation method for each
Hydrozone;
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ii. Identification of the party(ies) responsible for long-term
maintenance of the landscape and irrigation systems;
iii. Water Budget Calculations consistent with Section 15.34.060.
B. Certificate of Completion. Prior to issuance of a Certificate of Occupancy or
other final project sign-off, the Applicant shall submit to the Director for
review and approval a Certificate of Completion. The Certificate of
Completion shall be signed in accordance with the Landscape Regulations
and shall include the following:
1. A project information sheet containing the date; project name; project
Applicant’s name, telephone and mailing address; project address and
location; and property owner’s name, telephone and mailing address.
2. Certification by either 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 per the approved Water
Efficient Landscape Permit for the Landscape Documentation Package.
Where there have been changes made in the field during construction,
a revised set of plans showing the changes shall be included with the
certification and approved by the Director as a revision to the Water
Efficient Landscape Permit.
3. Certification that the irrigation system and controller have been adjusted
to maximize irrigation efficiency and eliminate overspray and runoff;
4. A landscape and irrigation maintenance schedule;
5. An irrigation audit report;
6. A soil analysis report and documentation verifying implementation of soil
report recommendations.
15.34.090 Landscape Water Conservation Design Standards.
All landscaping and irrigation systems associated with development regulated by
this Chapter shall be designed, installed and maintained in accordance with the Water
Efficient Landscape Permit issued upon approval of the Landscape Documentation
Package meeting the minimum standards of the Landscape Regulations and this
Chapter.
A. Planting Requirements.
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1. Any plant may be selected for the landscape provided that the Estimated
Total Water Use in the Landscaped Area does not exceed the Maximum
Applied Water Allowance.
2. Plants shall be grouped into Hydrozones with plant species having
similar water demand and by their soil, sun and shade requirements.
3. The Landscape Area of projects proposing commercial or industrial uses
shall be designed without the use of Turf. Notwithstanding, commercial
or industrial projects may only use Turf where a specific Turf type is
proposed for areas adjacent to pedestrian traffic where walking travel or
crossings are expected. These walking areas would include corner lot
locations or linear areas located along pedestrian routes.
4. Single-family residential, multifamily residential and institutional use
projects shall be designed so that Turf occupies no more than 25% or
1,500 square feet, whichever is less, of the Landscape Area. Approved
Turf parkways shall not be counted toward the 25% Turf limitation.
5. Turf is not permitted in medians or parking lot landscape finger planters.
6. Turf shall not be used on slopes exceeding 25% or 4:1 within the
Landscape Area.
7. Notwithstanding subsections (3) and (4), additional Turf areas may be
approved by the Director for areas designed and used for outdoor
sporting and recreational activities, or for an approved functional use.
8. The Applicant shall prepare a soils test that conforms to the Landscape
Regulations, with recommendations for fertilizers, amendments and
horticultural maintenance practices. Recommendations shall be based
on soil samples taken from the site at the completion of finish grading.
The soils testing requirement may be included as part of the
specifications for installation. The soil testing shall include infiltration
rates.
9. Soil amendments shall be used when necessary to improve water
retention in the soil, to improve the functional structure of the soil for
greater water infiltration and percolation, and to buffer pH and to
optimize plant growth.
10. Weed-free mulches of organic or inorganic material shall be used in all
non-Turf, irrigated areas to minimize Evapotranspiration and runoff, and
to moderate the temperature of the root zone. The Landscape Area,
except those portions of the Landscape Area planted in Turf, shall be
covered with weed-free mulch material to an average thickness of at
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least 3 inches throughout. In areas with groundcovers planted from flats,
mulch shall be installed to an average thickness of 1½ inches. Additional
mulch material shall be added from time to time as necessary in order
to maintain the required depth of mulch.
11. The Landscape Area may include natural features such as decomposing
granite groundcover, rock and stone, non-vegetated natural areas, and
structural features, including but not limited to, fountains, reflecting
pools, art work, screens, walls, and fences, provided all of these features
are integrated into the design of the Landscape Area, the primary
purpose of the feature is decorative, and the feature comply with the
development standards for the base zoning district. These areas shall
be included in the Water Budget Calculations for the project and its
various Hydro-zones as specified in the Landscape Regulations.
12. Nothing in this Chapter shall be construed to permit the installation or
removal of plants, trees or shrubs of a type or in a manner which is
prohibited by another chapter this Code or other applicable law.
B. Irrigation System Requirements.
1. Irrigation systems shall be designed, constructed and managed to
maximize overall irrigation efficiency, and to meet the MAWA.
2. Irrigation systems shall be designed to prevent runoff, overspray, low-
head drainage, and other similar conditions where irrigation water flows
or sprays on to areas not intended for irrigation and not part of the
parcel’s Landscape Area, such as walkways, driveways, roadways,
neighboring properties or the public right-of-way.
3. Irrigation systems (valve systems, piping and pressure regulators) shall
be designed to deliver water to Hydro-zones based on the moisture
requirements of the plant grouping.
4. Irrigation systems shall be automated and shall include a weather-based
irrigation controller, including a rain shut-off sensor.
5. Areas less than 8 feet wide shall be irrigated with appropriately selected
equipment that provides the proper amount of water coverage without
causing overspray onto adjacent surfaces.
6. All sprinklers shall have matched precipitation rates within each valve
and circuit. All irrigation systems shall be designed to include optimum
distribution uniformity, head-to-head spacing, and setbacks from
walkways and pavement. Overhead sprays shall be set back a minimum
of 24 inches from non-pervious surfaces.
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7. All irrigation systems shall provide check valves at the low end of
irrigation lines to prevent unwanted draining of irrigation lines.
8. Installation of a separate landscape water meter is encouraged where
feasible to facilitate water management.
15.34.100. Administration and Appeal Process.
The Director shall administer and enforce this Chapter. The Project Applicant or property
owner may appeal the decision made by the Director pursuant to this Chapter by filing a
written appeal with the Director within 15 days of the date of Decision, which shall be
heard in accordance with the applicable provisions of Chapter 17.80 of the Rancho Palos
Verdes Municipal Code.
15.34.110. Penalties.
Violations of this Chapter may be pursued pursuant to Chapters 1.08 and 1.16 of the
Rancho Palos Verdes Municipal Code. In addition, the City’s Building Official may deny
any project subject to this Chapter or withhold a final building permit approval until
violations of this Chapter are addressed.
15.34.120. Annual Reporting.
The Director, on behalf of the City, shall comply with the reporting requirements of Title
23 of the California Code of Regulations Section 495.
Section 2. The City Council has considered this Ordinance and finds that this
project is exempt from the requirements of the California Environmental Quality Act
(“CEQA”). The project is exempt pursuant to State CEQA Guidelines, 14 Cal. Code Regs.
Sec. 15307 as an action taken to assure the maintenance, restoration, or enhancement
of a natural resource, specifically water, where the regulatory process involves
procedures for protection of the environment. This Ordinance does not contemplate any
construction activities, and there is no evidence to suggest that the Ordinance will result
in a significant impact on the environment, including impacts due to unusual
circumstances. The adoption of this Ordinance will result in the enhancement and
protection of water resources in the City, and there is no evidence that the Ordinance
would produce any adverse environment impacts, cumulative or otherwise. Based on the
foregoing and other substantial evidence in the record, the City Council hereby finds and
determines that the Ordinance is exempt from the provisions of CEQA, pursuant to State
CEQA Guidelines Section 15307. Further, as a separate and independent ground, the
City Council finds that the Ordinance is covered by the general rule that CEQA applies
only to projects that have the potential for causing a significant effect on the environment.
Because there is no possibility that the Ordinance will have a significant effect on the
environment, the Ordinance is not subject to CEQA pursuant to State CEQA Guidelines
Section 15061 (b)(3).
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Section 3. If any section, subsection, subdivision, sentence, clause, phrase, or
portion of this Ordinance or the application thereof to any person or place, is for any
reason held to be invalid or unconstitutional by the decision of any court of competent
jurisdiction, such decision shall not affect the validity of the remainder of this Ordinance.
The City Council hereby declares that it would have adopted this Ordinance, and each
and every section, subsection, subdivision, sentence, clause, phrase, or portion thereof,
irrespective of the fact that any one or more sections, subsections, subdivisions,
sentences, clauses, phrases, or portions thereof be declared invalid or unconstitutional.
Section 4. The time within which judicial review of the decision reflected in this
Ordinance must be sought is governed by Section 1094.6 of the California Code of Civil
Procedure and other applicable periods of limitation.
PASSED, APPROVED and ADOPTED this 4th day of December, 2018.
_______ _________
Mayor
ATTEST:
___________ _________
City Clerk
STATE OF CALIFORNIA )
COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES ) ss
CITY OF RANCHO PALOS VERDES )
I, EMILY COLBORN, City Clerk of the City of Rancho Palos Verdes, do hereby
certify that the whole number of members of the City Council of said City is five; that the
foregoing Ordinance No. _____ passed first reading on December 4, 2018, was duly and
regularly adopted by the City Council of said City at a regular meeting thereof held on
_______ 2018, and that the same was passed and adopted by the following roll call vote:
AYES:
NOES:
ABSENT:
ABSTAINED:
__________________________
City Clerk
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01203.0005/373352.10
LANDSCAPE REGULATIONS
FOR THE
RANCHO PALOS VERDES
WATER EFFICIENT LANDSCAPE ORDINANCE
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01203.0005/373352.10
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Section Page No.
1. Purpose and Applicability ................................................................................... 1
1.1 Purpose ....................................................................................................... 1
1.2 Applicability .............................................................................................. 1
2. Submittal Requirements for New Landscape Area Installations or Altered
Landscape Area Projects ..................................................................................... 2
2.1 Standard Condition of Approval on a Discretionary Project. .................... 2
2.2 Compliance with Landscape Documentation Package. ............................. 2
2.3 Elements of the Landscape Documentation Package ................................ 3
2.4 Water Efficient Landscape Calculations and Alternatives ........................ 4
2.5 Soil Management Report ........................................................................... 5
2.6 Landscape Design Plan .............................................................................. 6
2.7 Irrigation Design Plan .............................................................................. 10
2.8 Grading Design Plan ................................................................................ 15
2.9 Certification of Completion ..................................................................... 15
2.10 Irrigation Scheduling ............................................................................... 16
2.11 Landscape and Irrigation Maintenance .................................................... 18
3. Provisions for Existing Landscapes – Irrigation Audits ................................ 18
4. Irrigation Efficiency........................................................................................... 19
5. Recycled Water .................................................................................................. 19
6. Storm Water Management ................................................................................ 19
7. Public Education ................................................................................................ 20
8. Water Waste Prevention ................................................................................... 20
9. Effective Precipitation ....................................................................................... 21
10. Graywater Systems …………………………………………………………..23
Appendices
Appendix A – Reference Evapotranspiration Table ....................................................... 20
Appendix B – Water Efficient Landscape Worksheet ..................................................... 23
Appendix C – Certificate of Completion ......................................................................... 26
Appendix D – Definitions ................................................................................................ 34
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Appendix E – Prescriptive Compliance Option ............................................................... 40
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01203.0005/373352.10 R6876.0001/1193040v2 1
1. Purpose and Applicability
1.1 Purpose
(a) The primary purpose of these Landscape Regulations is to provide procedural and
design guidance for Project Applicants proposing installation of Landscaped Areas,
Altered Landscaped Areas or Landscaped Area irrigation systems that are subject
to the Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance as codified in Chapter 15.34 of Title
15 of the Rancho Palos Verdes Municipal Code (RPVMC). The Landscape
Regulations are also intended for use and reference by City Staff in reviewing and
approving designs and verifying compliance with the City’s Water Efficient
Landscape Ordinance. The general purpose of the Water Efficient Landscape
Ordinance is to promote the design, installation, and maintenance of landscaping in
a manner that conserves regional water resources by ensuring that Landscaping
Projects are not unduly water-needy and that irrigation systems are appropriately
implemented to minimize water waste.
(b) Other regulations affecting landscape design and maintenance practices are
potentially applicable and should be consulted for additional requirements. These
regulations include, but may not be limited, to:
(1) National Pollutant Discharge Elimination Permit for the Municipal Separate
Storm Sewer System;
(2) Rancho Palos Verdes Fire Code;
(3) Rancho Palos Verdes Zoning Code;
(4) Rancho Palos Verdes Building Code;
(5) Rancho Palos Verdes Specific Plans, General Plan or other similar land use
and planning documents;
(6) Conditions of approval for a specific project; and
(7) Rancho Palos Verdes Landslide Moratorium Ordinance.
1.2 Applicability
(a) The Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance and these Landscape Regulations apply
to all of the following Landscape Projects:
(1) New construction projects with an aggregate landscape area equal to or
greater than 500 square feet as a part of a new single-family residential use and
requiring a building, grading, or landscape permit, plan check or design review;
(2) Rehabilitated landscape projects with an aggregate landscape area equal to
or greater than 2,500 square feet as a part of an existing single-family residential
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use and requiring a building, grading, or landscape permit, plan check, or design
review;
(3) Sections 3 and 8 of these Landscape Regulations apply to existing
landscapes, including existing cemeteries that were installed before January 1,
2015 and are over one acre in size.
(4) Sections 2.3, 2.10, and 3 apply to new and rehabilitated cemeteries.
(b) The Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance and these Landscape Regulations do not
apply to:
(1) Landscape that is part of a property listed on any applicable local, state or
federal register of historic places; or
(2) Existing plant collections as part of botanical gardens and arboretums open
to the public.
(3) Ecological restoration projects that do not require a permanent irrigation
system.
2. Submittal Requirements for New Landscape Area Installations or Altered Landscape
Area Projects
2.1 Standard Condition of Approval on a Discretionary Project.
Landscape Projects that are subject to the Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance typically
involve discretionary approval such that standard or special conditions of approval are imposed on
the project. A standard condition of approval may be imposed that reads generally as follows:
“Prior to issuance of the Certificate or Occupancy or permit final, landscaping for the
project shall be designed and implemented to comply with the City’s Water Efficient
Landscape Ordinance and with the Landscape Regulations, and shall be maintained in
perpetuity by the property owner and subsequent property owners.”
2.2 Compliance with Landscape Documentation Package.
(a) Prior to construction, the City shall:
(1) Provide the Project Applicant with the Water Efficient Landscape
Ordinance, Landscape Regulations, and procedures for Permits;
(2) Review the Landscape Documentation Package submitted by the Project
Applicant for completeness and compliance with the City’s Water Efficiency Landscape
Ordinance;
(3) Render a decision of the Landscape Documentation Package;
(4) Issue a Permit to the Project Applicant; and
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01203.0005/373352.10 3
(5) Upon approval of the Landscape Documentation Package, submit a copy of
the Water Efficient Landscape Worksheet to West Basin Municipal Water District.
(b) Prior to construction, the Project Applicant shall:
(1) Submit a Landscape Documentation Package to the City.
(2) Respond to corrections to the satisfaction of the Director or designee prior
to deeming the Landscape Documentation Package complete for processing.
(c) Upon approval of the Landscape Documentation Package by the City, the Project
Applicant shall:
(1) Receive a Permit and record the date of the Permit in the Certificate of
Completion;
(2) Submit a copy of the approved Landscape Documentation Package along
with the record drawings, and any other information to the Property Owner or his/her designee;
and
(3) Submit a copy of the Water Efficient Landscape Worksheet to the West
Basin Municipal Water District.
2.3 Elements of the Landscape Documentation Package
(a) Prior to issuance of a Permit for any project that involves Landscaped Areas or
Altered Landscaped Areas, the Project Applicant must submit a Landscape
Documentation Package for review and approval by the Department. The
Landscape Documentation Package shall include all of the documentation set forth
in Section 15.34.040 of the RPVMC, all of the following information either on plan
sheets or supplemental pages or on a form provided by the City, and the full
payment of a fee as prescribed by the Rancho Palos Verdes Fees and Charges
Schedule:
(1) Project Information, including, but not limited to, all of the following:
(a) Date;
(b) Project Applicant name;
(c) Project address, including parcel and/or lot number(s);
(d) Total Landscaped Area/Altered Landscaped Area (square feet) as
applicable;
(e) Project type (e.g., new, altered, public, private, homeowner-
installed, irrigation system);
(f) Water supply type (e.g., potable, well);
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01203.0005/373352.10 4
(g) Checklist of all documents in the Landscape Documentation
Package;
(h) Project contacts, including contact information for the Project
Applicant and Property Owner;
(i) Project Applicant’s signature and date with the statement: “I agree
to comply with the requirements of the Water Efficient Landscape
Ordinance and Landscape Regulations and hereby submit a
complete Landscape Documentation Package.”
(j) Any other information the City deems relevant for determining
whether the project complies with the Water Efficient Landscape
Ordinance and these Landscape Regulations.
(2) Landscape design plan as described in Section 15.34.050 of the RPVMC.
(3) Irrigation design plan as described in Section 15.34.060 of the RPVMC.
(4) Grading design plan as described in Section 15.34.070 of the RPVMC.
(5) A soil management report as described in Section 15.34.080 of the RPVMC.
(6) Water Efficient Landscape Worksheet as described in Section 15.34.090 of
the RPVMC and attached hereto as Appendix B.
2.4 Water Efficient Landscape Calculations and Alternatives
(a) A Project Applicant shall complete the Water Efficient Landscape Worksheet
which contains information on the plant factor, irrigation method, irrigation efficiency,
and area associated with each hydrozone. Calculations are then made to show that the
evapotranspiration adjustment factor (ETAF) for the landscape project does not exceed a
factor of 0.55 for residential areas and 0.45 for non-residential areas, exclusive of Special
Landscape Areas. The ETAF for a landscape project is based on the plant factors and
irrigation methods selected. The Maximum Applied Water Allowance is calculated based
on the maximum ETAF allowed (0.55 for residential areas and 0.45 for non-residential
areas) and expressed as annual gallons required. The Estimated Total Water Use (ETWU)
is calculated based on the plants used and irrigation method selected for the landscape
design. ETWU must be below the MAWA.
(b) For the calculation of the Maximum Applied Water Allowance and Estimated Total
Water Use, a Project Applicant shall use the ETo values for the City of Long Beach from the
Reference Evapotranspiration Table in Appendix A, which are:
County and City
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May Jun Jul
Aug Sep Oct
Nov Dec
Annual
ETo
Long Beach 1.8 2.1 3.3 3.9 4.5 4.3 5.3 4.7 3.7 2.8 1.8 1.5 39.7
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01203.0005/373352.10 5
(c) The water budget calculations shall adhere to the following requirements:
(1) The plant factor used shall be from WUCOLS or from horticultural researchers
with academic institutions or professional associations as approved by the California
Department of Water Resources (DWR). The plant factor ranges from 0 to 0.1 for very low
water using plants, 0.1 to 0.3 for low water use plants, from 0.4 to 0.6 for moderate water
use plants, and from 0.7 to 1.0 for high water use plants.
(2) All water features shall be included in the high water use hydrozone and
temporarily irrigated areas shall be included in the low water use hydrozone.
(3) All Special Landscape Areas shall be identified and their water use calculated
as shown in Appendix B.
(4) ETAF for new and existing (non-rehabilitated) Special Landscape Areas shall
not exceed 1.0.
2.5 Soil Management Report
(a) In order to reduce Runoff and encourage healthy plant growth, a soil management
report shall be completed by the Project Applicant or his/her designee, as follows:
(1) Submit soil samples to a certified agronomic soils laboratory for analysis
and recommendations.
(a) Soil sampling shall be conducted in accordance with laboratory
protocol, including protocols regarding adequate sampling depth for
the intended plants.
(b) The soil analysis may include, but is not limited to:
1. Soil Texture;
2. Infiltration Rate determined by laboratory test or Soil Texture
infiltration rate table;
3. pH;
4. Total soluble salts;
5. Sodium;
6. Percent organic matter; and
7. Recommendations.
(c) In projects with multiple landscape installations (i.e. production
home developments) a soil sampling rate of 1 in 7 lots or
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01203.0005/373352.10 6
approximately 15% will satisfy this requirement. Large landscape
projects shall sample at a rate equivalent to 1 in 7 lots.
(2) The Project Applicant or his/ her designee shall comply with one of the
following:
(a) If significant mass grading is not planned, the soil analysis report
shall be submitted to the Department as part of the Landscape
Documentation Package; or
(b) If significant mass grading is planned, the soil analysis report shall
be submitted to the Department as part of the Certification of
Completion.
(3) The soil analysis report shall be made available, in a timely manner, to the
professionals preparing the landscape design plans and irrigation design
plans in order to make any necessary adjustments to the design plans.
(4) The Project Applicant or his/ her designee shall submit documentation
verifying implementation of soil analysis report recommendations to the
Department with the Certification of Completion.
2.6 Landscape Design Plan
(a) For the efficient use of water, landscape shall be carefully designed and planned for
the intended function of the project. A Landscape Design Plan that meets the
following design criteria shall be submitted as part of the Landscape
Documentation Package:
(1) Plant Material
(a) Any plant may be selected for the Landscaped Area or Altered
Landscaped Area provided the Estimated Total Water Use
(“ETWU”) does not exceed the Maximum Applied Water Use
(“MAWA”). To encourage the efficient use of water, the following
is highly recommended:
1. Protection and preservation of native species and natural
vegetation;
2. Selection of water-conserving plant species and Turf species,
especially local native plants;
3. Selection of plants based on local climate suitability, disease and
pest resistance;
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01203.0005/373352.10 7
4. Selection of trees based on applicable City View Ordinance
(17.02.040 of the RPVMC), tree ordinances or tree shading
guidelines, and size at maturity as appropriate for the planting
area; and
5. Selection of plants from local and regional landscape program
plant lists.
(b) 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 2.6(a)(2)(d) of these Landscape Regulations.
(c) Plants shall be selected and planted appropriately based upon their
adaptability to the climatic, geologic, and topographical conditions
of the project site. To encourage the efficient use of water, the
following is highly recommended:
1. Use the Sunset Western Climate Zone System which takes into
account temperature, humidity, elevation, terrain, latitude, and
varying degrees of continental and marine influence on local
climate;
2. Recognize the horticultural attributes of plants (i.e., mature plant
size, invasive surface roots) to minimize damage to property or
infrastructure (e.g., buildings, sidewalks, and power lines); and
3. Consider the solar orientation for plant placement to maximize
summer shade and winter solar gain.
(d) Turf is not allowed on slopes greater than 25% where the toe of the
slope is adjacent to an impermeable hardscape and where 25%
means 1 foot of vertical elevation change for every 4 feet of
horizontal length (rise divided by run x 100 = slope percent).
(e) A landscape design plan for projects in fire-prone areas shall address
fire safety and prevention. A defensible space or zone around a
building or structure is required per Public Resources Code Section
4291(a) and (b). Avoid fire-prone plant materials and highly
flammable mulches.
(f) The use of invasive and/or noxious plant species is strongly
discouraged.
(g) The architectural guidelines of a common interest development,
which include community apartment projects, condominiums,
planned developments, and stock cooperatives, shall not prohibit or
include conditions that have the effect of prohibiting the use of low-
water use plants as a group.
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(2) Water Features
(a) Recirculating water systems shall be used for water features.
(b) Where available, recycled water shall be used as a source for
decorative water features.
(c) Surface area of a water feature shall be included in the high water
use hydrozone area of the water budget calculation.
(d) Pool and spa covers are highly recommended.
(3) Soil Preparation, Mulch and Amendments
(a) 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.
(b) Soil amendments shall be incorporated according to
recommendations of the soil report and what is appropriate for the
plants selected.
(c) For landscape installations, compost at a rate of a minimum of four
cubic yards per 1,000 square feet of permeable area shall be
incorporated to a depth of six inches into the soil. Soils with greater
than 6% organic matter in the top 6 inches of soil are exempt from
adding compost and tilling.
(d) 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.
(e) Stabilizing Mulching products shall be used on slopes.
(f) The Mulching portion of the seed/mulch slurry in hydro-seeded
applications shall meet the Mulching requirement.
(g) Soil amendments shall be incorporated according to
recommendations of the soil report and what is appropriate for the
plants selected (see Section 2.4).
(b) The Landscape Design Plan, at a minimum, shall:
(1) Delineate and label each Hydrozone by number, letter, or other method;
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01203.0005/373352.10 9
(2) Identify each Hydrozone as low, moderate, high water, or mixed water use.
Temporarily irrigated areas of the landscaped area shall be included in the
low water use Hydrozone for the water budget calculation;
(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, a 24-hour retention or infiltration
capacity of any applicable stormwater best management practices that
encourage on-site retention and infiltration of stormwater. Project
applicants shall refer to the City or Los Angeles Regional Water Quality
Control Board for information on any applicable stormwater technical
requirements. Storm water best management practices are encouraged in the
landscape design plan and examples include, but are not limited to:
(a) Stormwater management practices minimize runoff and increase
infiltration which recharges groundwater and improves water
quality. Implementing stormwater best management practices into
the landscape and grading design plans to minimize runoff and to
increase on-site rainwater retention and infiltration are encouraged.
(b) Project applicants shall refer to the local agency or Regional Water
Quality Control Board for information on any applicable stormwater
technical requirements.
(c) All planted landscape areas are required to have friable soil to
maximize water retention and infiltration. Refer to 23 Cal. Code of
Regulations § 492.6(a)(3).
(d) It is strongly recommended that landscape areas be designed for
capture and infiltration capacity that is sufficient to prevent runoff
from impervious surfaces (i.e. roof and paved areas) from either: the
one inch, 24-hour rain event or (2) the 85th percentile, 24-hour rain
event, and/or additional capacity as required by any applicable local,
regional, state or federal regulation.
(e) It is recommended that storm water projects incorporate any of the
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following elements to improve on-site storm water and dry weather
runoff capture and use:
• Grade impervious surfaces, such as driveways, during
construction to drain to vegetated areas.
• Minimize the area of impervious surfaces such as paved areas,
roof and concrete driveways.
• Incorporate pervious or porous surfaces (e.g., gravel, permeable
pavers or blocks, pervious or porous concrete) that minimize
runoff.
• Direct runoff from paved surfaces and roof areas into planting
beds or landscaped areas to maximize site water capture and
reuse.
• Incorporate rain gardens, cisterns, and other rain harvesting or
catchment systems.
• Incorporate infiltration beds, swales, basins and drywells to
capture storm water and dry weather runoff and increase
percolation into the soil.
• Consider constructed wetlands and ponds that retain water,
equalize excess flow, and filter pollutants.
(11) Identify any applicable graywater discharge piping, system components and
area(s) of distribution;
(12) Contain the following statement: “I have complied with the criteria of the
Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance and Landscape Regulations and
applied them for the efficient use of water in the Landscape Design Plan;”
and
(13) Bear the signature of a licensed Landscape Architect, licensed Landscape
Contractor, or any other person authorized to design a landscape.
2.7 Irrigation Design Plan
(a) This section applies to landscaped areas requiring permanent irrigation, not areas
that require temporary irrigation solely for the plant establishment period. For the
efficient use of water, an irrigation system shall meet all the requirements listed in
this section and the manufacturer’s recommendations. The irrigation system and its
related components shall be planned and designed to allow for proper installation,
management, and maintenance. An irrigation design plan meeting the following
design criteria shall be submitted as part of the Landscape Documentation Package.
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01203.0005/373352.10 11
(1) System
(a) Landscape water meters, defined as either a dedicated water service
meter or private submeter, shall be installed for all non-residential
irrigated landscapes of 1,000 sq. ft. or greater but not more than
5,000 sq. ft. and residential irrigated landscapes of 5,000 sq. ft. or
greater. A landscape water meter may be either: (1) a customer
service meter dedicated to landscape use provided by the local water
purveyor; or (2) a privately owned meter or submeter.
(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) The irrigation system shall be designed 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 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.
(d) 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 should be avoided during
windy or freezing weather or during rain.
(e) 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.
(f) Backflow prevention devices shall be required to protect the water
supply from contamination by the irrigation system. A project
applicant shall refer to the applicable local agency code for
additional backflow prevention requirements.
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01203.0005/373352.10 12
(g) Flow sensors that detect and report high flow conditions created by
system damage or malfunction are recommended and are required
for all non-residential landscapes and residential landscapes of 5000
sq. ft or larger.
(h) The irrigation system shall be designed to prevent Runoff, low head
drainage, Overspray, or other similar conditions where irrigation
water flows onto non-targeted areas, such as adjacent property, non-
irrigated areas, Hardscapes, roadways, or structures.
(i) Relevant information from the soil management plan, such as soil
type and Infiltration Rate, shall be utilized when designing irrigation
systems.
(j) The design of the irrigation system shall conform to the Hydrozones
of the landscape design plan.
(k) The irrigation system must be designed and installed to meet, at a
minimum, the Irrigation Efficiency criteria as described in Section
2.3, regarding the Maximum Applied Water Allowance.
(l) It is highly recommended that the Project Applicant inquire with
West Basin Municipal Water District about peak water operating
demands (on the water supply system) or water restrictions that may
impact the effectiveness of the irrigation system.
(m) In Mulched planting areas, the use of Low Volume Irrigation is
required to maximize water infiltration into the root zone.
(n) Sprinkler Heads and other emission devices shall have matched
Precipitation Rates, unless otherwise directed by the manufacturer’s
recommendations.
(o) Head-to-head coverage is recommended. However, sprinkler
spacing shall be designed to achieve the highest possible distribution
uniformity using the manufacturer’s recommendations.
(p) Swing joints or other riser-protection components are required on
all risers subject to damage that are adjacent to high traffic areas.
(q) Check Valves or Anti-Drain Valves are required for all irrigation
systems.
(r) 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.
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01203.0005/373352.10 13
(s) Overhead irrigation shall not be permitted within 24 inches of any
non-permeable surface. Allowable irrigation within the setback
from non-permeable surfaces may include drip, drip line, or other
low flow non-spray 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 Landscaped Area is adjacent to permeable surfacing and no
Runoff occurs; or
2. The adjacent non-permeable surfaces are designed and
constructed to drain entirely to landscaping; or
3. The irrigation designer for the Landscape Project specifies an
alternative design or technology, as part of the Landscape
Documentation Package, and clearly demonstrates strict
adherence to the irrigation system design criteria in Section
2.7(a)(1). Prevention of Overspray and Runoff must be
confirmed during an Irrigation Audit.
(t) Slopes greater than 25% shall not be irrigated with an irrigation
system with a Precipitation Rate exceeding 0.75 inches per hour.
This restriction may be modified if the landscape designer of the
Landscape Project 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.
(u) Master shut-off valves are required on all projects except landscapes
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.
(v) 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 must document a distribution uniformity low quarter of
0.65 or higher using the protocol defined in ASABE/ICC 802-2014.
(2) Hydrozone
(a) Each Valve shall irrigate a Hydrozone with similar site, slope, sun
exposure, soil conditions, and plant materials with similar water use.
(b) Sprinkler heads and other emission devices shall be selected based
on what is appropriate for the plant type within that Hydrozone.
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(c) Where feasible, trees shall be placed on separate Valves from
shrubs, groundcovers, and Turf to facilitate the appropriate
irrigation of trees. The mature size and extent of the root zone shall
be considered when designing irrigation for the tree.
(d) Individual Hydrozones that mix plants of moderate and low water
use or moderate and high water use may be allowed if:
1. The Plant Factor calculation is based on the proportions of the
respective plant water uses and their respective Plant Factors; or
2. The Plant Factor of the higher water using plant is used for the
calculations.
(e) Individual Hydrozones that mix high and low water use plants shall
not be permitted.
(f) 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, designate the areas
irrigated by each Valve and assign a number to each Valve. This
Valve number shall be used in the Hydrozone Information Table
(Appendix B). This table can also assist with the Irrigation Audit
and programming the controller.
(b) The Irrigation Design Plan, at a minimum, shall contain:
(1) The location and size of separate water meters for landscape;
(2) The 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, flow sensors,
pressure regulators, and Backflow Prevention Devices;
(3) Static Water Pressure at the point of connection to the public water supply;
(4) Flow Rate (gallons per minute), application rate (inches per hour), and
design Operating Pressure (pressure per square inch) for each Station;
(5) Recycled water irrigation systems as specified in Section 5 below;
(6) The following statement: “I have complied with the criteria of the Water
Efficient Landscape Ordinance and the Landscape Regulations and applied
them accordingly for the efficient use of water in the irrigation design plan”;
and
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(7) The signature of a licensed Landscape Architect, Certified Irrigation
Designer, licensed Landscaped Contractor, or any other person authorized
to design an irrigation system.
2.8 Grading Design Plan
(a) For the efficient use of water, grading of a Landscape Project site shall be designed
to minimize soil erosion, Runoff, and water waste. The Project Applicant shall
submit a grading plan as part of the Landscape Documentation Package. A
comprehensive grading plan prepared by a civil engineer for the project for other
City permits, would satisfy this requirement.
(b) The Project Applicant shall submit a landscape grading plan that indicates finished
configurations and elevations of the Landscaped Area, including:
(1) Height of graded slopes;
(2) Drainage patterns;
(3) Pad elevations;
(4) Finish grade; and
(5) Storm water retention improvements, if applicable.
(c) To prevent excessive erosion and Runoff, it is highly recommended that the Project
Applicant:
(1) Grade so that all irrigation and normal rainfall remains within property lines
and does not drain on to non-permeable Hardscapes;
(2) Avoid disruption of natural drainage patterns and undisturbed soil; and
(3) Avoid soil compaction in Landscaped Areas.
(d) The Grading Design Plan shall contain the following statement: “I have complied
with the criteria of the Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance and Landscape
Regulations and applied them accordingly for the efficient use of water in the
grading design plan.” This statement shall bear the signature of a licensed
professional, as authorized by law.
2.9 Certification of Completion
(a) A Certificate of Completion shall be in the form attached as Appendix C and shall
include the following elements:
(1) A project information sheet that contains the following:
(a) Date;
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(b) Project name;
(c) Project Applicant name, telephone and mailing address;
(d) Project address and location; and
(e) Property Owner name, telephone and mailing address.
(2) Certification by either 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 per the approved Landscape
Documentation Package.
(a) Where there have been significant changes made in the field during
construction, these Record Drawings or As-Builts shall be included
with the certification.
(3) Irrigation scheduling parameters used to set the controller (see Section 2.9).
(4) Landscape and irrigation maintenance schedule (see Section 2.10).
(5) Irrigation audit report (see Section 3).
(6) Soil analysis report, if not submitted with Landscape Documentation
Package, and documentation verifying implementation of soil report
recommendations (see Section 2.4).
(b) The Project Applicant shall:
(1) Submit the signed Certificate of Completion to the City for review; and
(2) Ensure that copies of the approved Certificate of Completion are submitted
to the West Basin Municipal Water District and Property Owner or his or
her designee.
(c) The City shall:
(1) Receive the signed Certificate of Completion from the Project Applicant;
and
(2) Approve or deny the Certificate of Completion. If the Certificate of
Completion is denied, the City shall provide information to the Project
Applicant regarding reapplication, appeal, or other assistance.
2.10 Irrigation Scheduling
(a) 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:
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(1) Irrigation scheduling shall be regulated by Smart Irrigation Controllers.
(2) Overhead irrigation shall be scheduled between 8:00 p.m. and 10:00 a.m.
unless weather conditions prevent it. Operation of the irrigation system
outside the allowable Watering Window is allowed for auditing and system
maintenance.
(3) For implementation of the irrigation schedule, particular attention must be
paid to irrigation run times, emission device, Flow Rate, and current
Reference Evapotranspiration, so that Applied Water meets the Estimated
Total Water Use. Total annual Applied Water shall be less than or equal to
Maximum Applied Water Allowance (“MAWA”) Actual irrigation
schedules shall be regulated by automatic irrigation controllers using
current reference evapotranspiration data (i.e., CIMIS) or Soil Moisture
Sensor data.
(4) Parameters used to set the automatic controller shall be developed and
submitted for each of the following:
(a) The plant establishment period;
(b) The Established Landscape; and
(c) Temporarily irrigated areas.
(5) Each irrigation schedule shall consider for each Station all of the
following that apply:
(a) Irrigation interval (days between irrigation);
(b) Irrigation run times (hours or minutes per irrigation event to
avoid Runoff);
(c) Number of cycle starts required for each irrigation event to avoid
Runoff;
(d) Amount of Applied Water scheduled to be applied on a monthly
basis;
(e) Application rate setting;
(f) Root depth setting;
(g) Plant type setting;
(h) Soil type;
(i) Slope factor setting;
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(j) Shade factor setting; and
(k) Irrigation uniformity or efficiency setting.
2.11 Landscape and Irrigation Maintenance
(a) Landscapes shall be maintained to ensure water use efficiency. A regular
maintenance schedule shall be submitted 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; replenishing Mulch; fertilizing; pruning,
weeding in all Landscape Areas, and removing any obstruction to emission devices.
Operation of the irrigation system outside the allowable Watering Window is
allowed for auditing and system maintenance.
(c) Repair of all irrigation equipment shall be done with the originally installed
components or their equivalents.
(d) A Project Applicant is encouraged to implement sustainable Best Practices for all
landscape maintenance activities.
3. Provisions for Existing Landscapes – Irrigation Audits
(a) For new Landscaped Areas or Altered Landscaped Areas installed after January 1,
2010, including but not limited to new construction and rehabilitated landscape
projects, the Project Applicant shall submit an Irrigation Audit report with the
Certificate of Completion that 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. The City may
administer programs that may include, but not be limited to, Irrigation Water Use
Analysis, Irrigation Surveys and/or Irrigation Audits for compliance with the
Maximum Applied Water Allowance.
(b) For all existing landscapes that were installed before November 1, 2015 and are
over one acre in size, the following shall apply:
(1) For all landscapes that have a water meter, the City shall administer
programs that may include, but not be limited to, irrigation water uses
analyses, Irrigation Surveys, and Irrigation Audits to evaluate water use and
provide recommendations as necessary to reduce landscape water use to a
level that does not exceed the Maximum Applied Water Allowance for
existing landscapes. The Maximum Applied Water Allowance for existing
landscapes shall be calculated as MAWA = (0.8)(ETo)(LA)(0.62).
(2) For all landscapes that do not have a meter, the City shall administer
programs that may include, but not be limited to, Irrigation Surveys and
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Irrigation Audits to evaluate water use and provide recommendations as
necessary in order to prevent water waste.
(c) All Irrigation Audits shall be conducted by a local agency landscape irrigation
auditor or a third party certified landscape irrigation auditor. Landscape audits shall not be
conducted by the person who designed the landscape or installed the landscape.
4. Irrigation Efficiency
For the purpose of determining Estimated Total Water Use, average irrigation efficiency is
assumed to be 0.75 for overhead spray devices and 0.81 for drip system devices.
5. Recycled Water
(a) The installation of Recycled Water irrigation systems shall allow for the current
and future use of Recycled Water, unless a written exemption has been granted as
described herein.
(b) Irrigation systems and decorative water features shall use Recycled Water unless
the West Basin Municipal Water District provides a written exemption stating that
recycled water meeting all public health code and standards is not available and
will not be available for the foreseeable future.
(c) All Recycled Water irrigation systems shall be designed and operated in accordance
with all applicable local and state laws.
(d) Landscapes using Recycled Water are considered Special Landscape Areas. The
ET Adjustment Factor for Special Landscape Areas shall not exceed 1.0.
6. Storm Water Management and Rainwater Retention
(a) Storm water management practices minimize Runoff and increase infiltration
which recharges groundwater and improves water quality. Implementing storm
water best management practices into the landscape and grading design plans to
minimize Runoff and to increase on-site retention and infiltration are encouraged.
(b) Project Applicants shall refer to the City or Regional Water Quality Control Board
for information on any applicable storm water ordinances and storm water
management plans.
(c) All planted landscape areas are required to have friable soil to maximize water
retention and infiltration. Refer to 23 Cal. Code of Regulations §492.6(a)(3).
(d) It is strongly recommended that landscape areas be designed for capture and
infiltration capacity that is sufficient to prevent runoff from impervious surfaces
(i.e. roof and paved areas) from either: the one inch, 24-hour rain event or (2) the
85th percentile, 24-hour rain event, and/or additional capacity as required by any
applicable local, regional, state or federal regulation.
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(e) It is recommended that storm water projects incorporate any of the following
elements to improve on-site storm water and dry weather runoff capture and use:
• Grade impervious surfaces, such as driveways, during construction to drain to
vegetated areas.
• Minimize the area of impervious surfaces such as paved areas, roof and concrete
driveways.
• Incorporate pervious or porous surfaces (e.g., gravel, permeable pavers or blocks,
pervious or porous concrete) that minimize runoff.
• Direct runoff from paved surfaces and roof areas into planting beds or landscaped
areas to maximize site water capture and reuse.
• Incorporate rain gardens, cisterns, and other rain harvesting or catchment systems.
• Incorporate infiltration beds, swales, basins and drywells to capture storm water
and dry weather runoff and increase percolation into the soil.
• Consider constructed wetlands and ponds that retain water, equalize excess
flow, and filter pollutants.
7. Public Education
(a) Education is a critical component to promote the efficient use of water in
landscapes. The use of appropriate principles of design, installation, management and maintenance
that save water is encouraged in the City. The Director shall cooperate with the West Basin
Municipal Water District to provide information to owners of permitted renovations and new,
single-family residential homes regarding the design, installation, management and maintenance
of water efficient landscapes based on a water budget.
(b) Model Homes. All model homes that are landscaped shall use signs and written
information to demonstrate the principles of water efficient landscapes described in this ordinance.
(1) Signs shall be used to identify the model as an example of a water efficient
landscape featuring elements such as hydrozones, irrigation equipment, and
others that contribute to the overall water efficient theme. Signage shall
include information about the site water use as designed per the local
ordinance; specify who designed and installed the water efficient landscape;
and demonstrate low water use approaches to landscaping such as using
native plants, graywater systems, and rainwater catchment systems.
(2) Information shall be provided about designing, installing, managing, and
maintaining water efficient landscapes.
8. Water Waste Prevention
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The City prohibits Runoff from leaving the target landscape due to low head drainage, Overspray,
or other similar conditions where water flows onto adjacent property, non-irrigated areas, walks,
roadways, parking lots or structures. Restrictions regarding Overspray and Runoff may be
modified if the landscape area is adjacent to permeable surfacing and no Runoff occurs or if the
adjacent non-permeable surfaces are designed and constructed to drain entirely to landscaping.
9. Effective Precipitation
The City may consider Effective Precipitation (25% of annual precipitation) in tracking water use
and may use the following equation to calculate Maximum Applied Water Allowance:
• MAWA = (ETo - Eppt) (0.62) [(0.55 x LA) + (0.45 x SLA)] for residential areas.
• MAWA = (ETo - EPPT) (0.62) [(0.45 x LA) + (0.55 x SLA)] for non-residential areas.
10. Graywater Systems
Graywater systems promote the efficient use of water and are encouraged to assist in on-site
landscape irrigation. All graywater systems shall conform to the California Plumbing Code (Title
24, Part 5, Chapter 16) and any applicable local ordinance standards. Refer to 23 CCR § 490.1 (d)
for the applicability of this ordinance to landscape areas less than 2,500 square feet with the
Estimated Total Water Use met entirely by graywater.
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Appendix A – Reference Evapotranspiration (ETo) Table
County and City Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun Jul
Aug Sep Oct
Nov
Dec
Annual
ETo
ALAMEDA
Fremont 1.5 1.9 3.4 4.7 5.4 6.3 6.7 6.0 4.5 3.4 1.8 1.5 47.0
Livermore 1.2 1.5 2.9 4.4 5.9 6.6 7.4 6.4 5.3 3.2 1.5 0.9 47.2
Oakland 1.5 1.5 2.8 3.9 5.1 5.3 6.0 5.5 4.8 3.1 1.4 0.9 41.8
Oakland Foothills 1.1 1.4 2.7 3.7 5.1 6.4 5.8 4.9 3.6 2.6 1.4 1.0 39.6
Pleasanton 0.8 1.5 2.9 4.4 5.6 6.7 7.4 6.4 4.7 3.3 1.5 1.0 46.2
Union City 1.4 1.8 3.1 4.2 5.4 5.9 6.4 5.7 4.4 3.1 1.5 1.2 44.2
ALPINE
Markleeville 0.7 0.9 2.0 3.5 5.0 6.1 7.3 6.4 4.4 2.6 1.2 0.5 40.6
AMADOR
Jackson 1.2 1.5 2.8 4.4 6.0 7.2 7.9 7.2 5.3 3.2 1.4 0.9 48.9
Shanandoah Valley 1.0 1.7 2.9 4.4 5.6 6.8 7.9 7.1 5.2 3.6 1.7 1.0 48.8
BUTTE
Chico 1.2 1.8 2.9 4.7 6.1 7.4 8.5 7.3 5.4 3.7 1.7 1.0 51.7
Durham 1.1 1.8 3.2 5.0 6.5 7.4 7.8 6.9 5.3 3.6 1.7 1.0 51.1
Gridley 1.2 1.8 3.0 4.7 6.1 7.7 8.5 7.1 5.4 3.7 1.7 1.0 51.9
Oroville 1.2 1.7 2.8 4.7 6.1 7.6 8.5 7.3 5.3 3.7 1.7 1.0 51.5
CALAVERAS
San Andreas 1.2 1.5 2.8 4.4 6.0 7.3 7.9 7.0 5.3 3.2 1.4 0.7 48.8
COLUSA
Colusa 1.0 1.7 3.4 5.0 6.4 7.6 8.3 7.2 5.4 3.8 1.8 1.1 52.8
Williams 1.2 1.7 2.9 4.5 6.1 7.2 8.5 7.3 5.3 3.4 1.6 1.0 50.8
CONTRA COSTA
Benicia 1.3 1.4 2.7 3.8 4.9 5.0 6.4 5.5 4.4 2.9 1.2 0.7 40.3
Brentwood 1.0 1.5 2.9 4.5 6.1 7.1 7.9 6.7 5.2 3.2 1.4 0.7 48.3
Concord 1.1 1.4 2.4 4.0 5.5 5.9 7.0 6.0 4.8 3.2 1.3 0.7 43.4
Courtland 0.9 1.5 2.9 4.4 6.1 6.9 7.9 6.7 5.3 3.2 1.4 0.7 48.0
Martinez 1.2 1.4 2.4 3.9 5.3 5.6 6.7 5.6 4.7 3.1 1.2 0.7 41.8
Moraga 1.2 1.5 3.4 4.2 5.5 6.1 6.7 5.9 4.6 3.2 1.6 1.0 44.9
Pittsburg 1.0 1.5 2.8 4.1 5.6 6.4 7.4 6.4 5.0 3.2 1.3 0.7 45.4
Walnut Creek 0.8 1.5 2.9 4.4 5.6 6.7 7.4 6.4 4.7 3.3 1.5 1.0 46.2
DEL NORTE
Crescent City 0.5 0.9 2.0 3.0 3.7 3.5 4.3 3.7 3.0 2.0 0.9 0.5 27.7
EL DORADO
Camino 0.9 1.7 2.5 3.9 5.9 7.2 7.8 6.8 5.1 3.1 1.5 0.9 47.3
FRESNO
Clovis 1.0 1.5 3.2 4.8 6.4 7.7 8.5 7.3 5.3 3.4 1.4 0.7 51.4
Coalinga 1.2 1.7 3.1 4.6 6.2 7.2 8.5 7.3 5.3 3.4 1.6 0.7 50.9
Firebaugh 1.0 1.8 3.7 5.7 7.3 8.1 8.2 7.2 5.5 3.9 2.0 1.1 55.4
FivePoints 1.3 2.0 4.0 6.1 7.7 8.5 8.7 8.0 6.2 4.5 2.4 1.2 60.4
Fresno 0.9 1.7 3.3 4.8 6.7 7.8 8.4 7.1 5.2 3.2 1.4 0.6 51.1
Fresno State 0.9 1.6 3.2 5.2 7.0 8.0 8.7 7.6 5.4 3.6 1.7 0.9 53.7
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Friant 1.2 1.5 3.1 4.7 6.4 7.7 8.5 7.3 5.3 3.4 1.4 0.7 51.3
Kerman 0.9 1.5 3.2 4.8 6.6 7.7 8.4 7.2 5.3 3.4 1.4 0.7 51.2
Kingsburg 1.0 1.5 3.4 4.8 6.6 7.7 8.4 7.2 5.3 3.4 1.4 0.7 51.6
Mendota 1.5 2.5 4.6 6.2 7.9 8.6 8.8 7.5 5.9 4.5 2.4 1.5 61.7
Orange Cove 1.2 1.9 3.5 4.7 7.4 8.5 8.9 7.9 5.9 3.7 1.8 1.2 56.7
Panoche 1.1 2.0 4.0 5.6 7.8 8.5 8.3 7.3 5.6 3.9 1.8 1.2 57.2
Parlier 1.0 1.9 3.6 5.2 6.8 7.6 8.1 7.0 5.1 3.4 1.7 0.9 52.0
Reedley 1.1 1.5 3.2 4.7 6.4 7.7 8.5 7.3 5.3 3.4 1.4 0.7 51.3
Westlands 0.9 1.7 3.8 6.3 8.0 8.6 8.6 7.8 5.9 4.3 2.1 1.1 58.8
GLENN
Orland 1.1 1.8 3.4 5.0 6.4 7.5 7.9 6.7 5.3 3.9 1.8 1.4 52.1
Willows 1.2 1.7 2.9 4.7 6.1 7.2 8.5 7.3 5.3 3.6 1.7 1.0 51.3
HUMBOLDT
Eureka 0.5 1.1 2.0 3.0 3.7 3.7 3.7 3.7 3.0 2.0 0.9 0.5 27.5
Ferndale 0.5 1.1 2.0 3.0 3.7 3.7 3.7 3.7 3.0 2.0 0.9 0.5 27.5
Garberville 0.6 1.2 2.2 3.1 4.5 5.0 5.5 4.9 3.8 2.4 1.0 0.7 34.9
Hoopa 0.5 1.1 2.1 3.0 4.4 5.4 6.1 5.1 3.8 2.4 0.9 0.7 35.6
IMPERIAL
Brawley 2.8 3.8 5.9 8.0 10.4 11.5 11.7 10.0 8.4 6.2 3.5 2.1 84.2
Calipatria/Mulberry 2.4 3.2 5.1 6.8 8.6 9.2 9.2 8.6 7.0 5.2 3.1 2.3 70.7
El Centro 2.7 3.5 5.6 7.9 10.1 11.1 11.6 9.5 8.3 6.1 3.3 2.0 81.7
Holtville 2.8 3.8 5.9 7.9 10.4 11.6 12.0 10.0 8.6 6.2 3.5 2.1 84.7
Meloland 2.5 3.2 5.5 7.5 8.9 9.2 9.0 8.5 6.8 5.3 3.1 2.2 71.6
Palo Verde II 2.5 3.3 5.7 6.9 8.5 8.9 8.6 7.9 6.2 4.5 2.9 2.3 68.2
Seeley 2.7 3.5 5.9 7.7 9.7 10.1 9.3 8.3 6.9 5.5 3.4 2.2 75.4
Westmoreland 2.4 3.3 5.3 6.9 8.7 9.6 9.6 8.7 6.9 5.0 3.0 2.2 71.4
Yuma 2.5 3.4 5.3 6.9 8.7 9.6 9.6 8.7 6.9 5.0 3.0 2.2 71.6
INYO
Bishop 1.7 2.7 4.8 6.7 8.2 10.9 7.4 9.6 7.4 4.8 2.5 1.6 68.3
Death Valley Jct 2.2 3.3 5.4 7.7 9.8 11.1 11.4 10.1 8.3 5.4 2.9 1.7 79.1
Independence 1.7 2.7 3.4 6.6 8.5 9.5 9.8 8.5 7.1 3.9 2.0 1.5 65.2
Lower Haiwee Res. 1.8 2.7 4.4 7.1 8.5 9.5 9.8 8.5 7.1 4.2 2.6 1.5 67.6
Oasis 2.7 2.8 5.9 8.0 10.4 11.7 11.6 10.0 8.4 6.2 3.4 2.1 83.1
KERN
Arvin 1.2 1.8 3.5 4.7 6.6 7.4 8.1 7.3 5.3 3.4 1.7 1.0 51.9
Bakersfield 1.0 1.8 3.5 4.7 6.6 7.7 8.5 7.3 5.3 3.5 1.6 0.9 52.4
Bakersfield/Bonanza 1.2 2.2 3.7 5.7 7.4 8.2 8.7 7.8 5.7 4.0 2.1 1.2 57.9
Bakersfield/Greenlee 1.2 2.2 3.7 5.7 7.4 8.2 8.7 7.8 5.7 4.0 2.1 1.2 57.9
Belridge 1.4 2.2 4.1 5.5 7.7 8.5 8.6 7.8 6.0 3.8 2.0 1.5 59.2
Blackwells Corner 1.4 2.1 3.8 5.4 7.0 7.8 8.5 7.7 5.8 3.9 1.9 1.2 56.6
Buttonwillow 1.0 1.8 3.2 4.7 6.6 7.7 8.5 7.3 5.4 3.4 1.5 0.9 52.0
China Lake 2.1 3.2 5.3 7.7 9.2 10.0 11.0 9.8 7.3 4.9 2.7 1.7 74.8
Delano 0.9 1.8 3.4 4.7 6.6 7.7 8.5 7.3 5.4 3.4 1.4 0.7 52.0
Famoso 1.3 1.9 3.5 4.8 6.7 7.6 8.0 7.3 5.5 3.5 1.7 1.3 53.1
Grapevine 1.3 1.8 3.1 4.4 5.6 6.8 7.6 6.8 5.9 3.4 1.9 1.0 49.5
Inyokern 2.0 3.1 4.9 7.3 8.5 9.7 11.0 9.4 7.1 5.1 2.6 1.7 72.4
Isabella Dam 1.2 1.4 2.8 4.4 5.8 7.3 7.9 7.0 5.0 3.2 1.7 0.9 48.4
Lamont 1.3 2.4 4.4 4.6 6.5 7.0 8.8 7.6 5.7 3.7 1.6 0.8 54.4
Lost Hills 1.6 2.2 3.7 5.1 6.8 7.8 8.7 7.8 5.7 4.0 2.1 1.6 57.1
McFarland/Kern 1.2 2.1 3.7 5.6 7.3 8.0 8.3 7.4 5.6 4.1 2.0 1.2 56.5
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Shafter 1.0 1.7 3.4 5.0 6.6 7.7 8.3 7.3 5.4 3.4 1.5 0.9 52.1
Taft 1.3 1.8 3.1 4.3 6.2 7.3 8.5 7.3 5.4 3.4 1.7 1.0 51.2
Tehachapi 1.4 1.8 3.2 5.0 6.1 7.7 7.9 7.3 5.9 3.4 2.1 1.2 52.9
KINGS
Caruthers 1.6 2.5 4.0 5.7 7.8 8.7 9.3 8.4 6.3 4.4 2.4 1.6 62.7
Corcoran 1.6 2.2 3.7 5.1 6.8 7.8 8.7 7.8 5.7 4.0 2.1 1.6 57.1
Hanford 0.9 1.5 3.4 5.0 6.6 7.7 8.3 7.2 5.4 3.4 1.4 0.7 51.5
Kettleman 1.1 2.0 4.0 6.0 7.5 8.5 9.1 8.2 6.1 4.5 2.2 1.1 60.2
Lemoore 0.9 1.5 3.4 5.0 6.6 7.7 8.3 7.3 5.4 3.4 1.4 0.7 51.7
Stratford 0.9 1.9 3.9 6.1 7.8 8.6 8.8 7.7 5.9 4.1 2.1 1.0 58.7
LAKE
Lakeport 1.1 1.3 2.6 3.5 5.1 6.0 7.3 6.1 4.7 2.9 1.2 0.9 42.8
Lower Lake 1.2 1.4 2.7 4.5 5.3 6.3 7.4 6.4 5.0 3.1 1.3 0.9 45.4
LASSEN
Buntingville 1.0 1.7 3.5 4.9 6.2 7.3 8.4 7.5 5.4 3.4 1.5 0.9 51.8
Ravendale 0.6 1.1 2.3 4.1 5.6 6.7 7.9 7.3 4.7 2.8 1.2 0.5 44.9
Susanville 0.7 1.0 2.2 4.1 5.6 6.5 7.8 7.0 4.6 2.8 1.2 0.5 44.0
LOS ANGELES
Burbank 2.1 2.8 3.7 4.7 5.1 6.0 6.6 6.7 5.4 4.0 2.6 2.0 51.7
Claremont 2.0 2.3 3.4 4.6 5.0 6.0 7.0 7.0 5.3 4.0 2.7 2.1 51.3
El Dorado 1.7 2.2 3.6 4.8 5.1 5.7 5.9 5.9 4.4 3.2 2.2 1.7 46.3
Glendale 2.0 2.2 3.3 3.8 4.7 4.8 5.7 5.6 4.3 3.3 2.2 1.8 43.7
Glendora 2.0 2.5 3.6 4.9 5.4 6.1 7.3 6.8 5.7 4.2 2.6 2.0 53.1
Gorman 1.6 2.2 3.4 4.6 5.5 7.4 7.7 7.1 5.9 3.6 2.4 1.1 52.4
Hollywood Hills 2.1 2.2 3.8 5.4 6.0 6.5 6.7 6.4 5.2 3.7 2.8 2.1 52.8
Lancaster 2.1 3.0 4.6 5.9 8.5 9.7 11.0 9.8 7.3 4.6 2.8 1.7 71.1
Long Beach 1.8 2.1 3.3 3.9 4.5 4.3 5.3 4.7 3.7 2.8 1.8 1.5 39.7
Los Angeles 2.2 2.7 3.7 4.7 5.5 5.8 6.2 5.9 5.0 3.9 2.6 1.9 50.1
Monrovia 2.2 2.3 3.8 4.3 5.5 5.9 6.9 6.4 5.1 3.2 2.5 2.0 50.2
Palmdale 2.0 2.6 4.6 6.2 7.3 8.9 9.8 9.0 6.5 4.7 2.7 2.1 66.2
Pasadena 2.1 2.7 3.7 4.7 5.1 6.0 7.1 6.7 5.6 4.2 2.6 2.0 52.3
Pearblossom 1.7 2.4 3.7 4.7 7.3 7.7 9.9 7.9 6.4 4.0 2.6 1.6 59.9
Pomona 1.7 2.0 3.4 4.5 5.0 5.8 6.5 6.4 4.7 3.5 2.3 1.7 47.5
Redondo Beach 2.2 2.4 3.3 3.8 4.5 4.7 5.4 4.8 4.4 2.8 2.4 2.0 42.6
San Fernando 2.0 2.7 3.5 4.6 5.5 5.9 7.3 6.7 5.3 3.9 2.6 2.0 52.0
Santa Clarita 2.8 2.8 4.1 5.6 6.0 6.8 7.6 7.8 5.8 5.2 3.7 3.2 61.5
Santa Monica 1.8 2.1 3.3 4.5 4.7 5.0 5.4 5.4 3.9 3.4 2.4 2.2 44.2
MADERA
Chowchilla 1.0 1.4 3.2 4.7 6.6 7.8 8.5 7.3 5.3 3.4 1.4 0.7 51.4
Madera 0.9 1.4 3.2 4.8 6.6 7.8 8.5 7.3 5.3 3.4 1.4 0.7 51.5
Raymond 1.2 1.5 3.0 4.6 6.1 7.6 8.4 7.3 5.2 3.4 1.4 0.7 50.5
MARIN
Black Point 1.1 1.7 3.0 4.2 5.2 6.2 6.6 5.8 4.3 2.8 1.3 0.9 43.0
Novato 1.3 1.5 2.4 3.5 4.4 6.0 5.9 5.4 4.4 2.8 1.4 0.7 39.8
Point San Pedro 1.1 1.7 3.0 4.2 5.2 6.2 6.6 5.8 4.3 2.8 1.3 0.9 43.0
San Rafael 1.2 1.3 2.4 3.3 4.0 4.8 4.8 4.9 4.3 2.7 1.3 0.7 35.8
MARIPOSA
Coulterville 1.1 1.5 2.8 4.4 5.9 7.3 8.1 7.0 5.3 3.4 1.4 0.7 48.8
Mariposa 1.1 1.5 2.8 4.4 5.9 7.4 8.2 7.1 5.0 3.4 1.4 0.7 49.0
Yosemite Village 0.7 1.0 2.3 3.7 5.1 6.5 7.1 6.1 4.4 2.9 1.1 0.6 41.4
B-27
01203.0005/373352.10 25
MENDOCINO
Fort Bragg 0.9 1.3 2.2 3.0 3.7 3.5 3.7 3.7 3.0 2.3 1.2 0.7 29.0
Hopland 1.1 1.3 2.6 3.4 5.0 5.9 6.5 5.7 4.5 2.8 1.3 0.7 40.9
Point Arena 1.0 1.3 2.3 3.0 3.7 3.9 3.7 3.7 3.0 2.3 1.2 0.7 29.6
Sanel Valley 1.0 1.6 3.0 4.6 6.0 7.0 8.0 7.0 5.2 3.4 1.4 0.9 49.1
Ukiah 1.0 1.3 2.6 3.3 5.0 5.8 6.7 5.9 4.5 2.8 1.3 0.7 40.9
MERCED
Kesterson 0.9 1.7 3.4 5.5 7.3 8.2 8.6 7.4 5.5 3.8 1.8 0.9 55.1
Los Banos 1.0 1.5 3.2 4.7 6.1 7.4 8.2 7.0 5.3 3.4 1.4 0.7 50.0
Merced 1.0 1.5 3.2 4.7 6.6 7.9 8.5 7.2 5.3 3.4 1.4 0.7 51.5
MODOC
Modoc/Alturas 0.9 1.4 2.8 3.7 5.1 6.2 7.5 6.6 4.6 2.8 1.2 0.7 43.2
MONO
Bridgeport 0.7 0.9 2.2 3.8 5.5 6.6 7.4 6.7 4.7 2.7 1.2 0.5 43.0
MONTEREY
Arroyo Seco 1.5 2.0 3.7 5.4 6.3 7.3 7.2 6.7 5.0 3.9 2.0 1.6 52.6
Castroville 1.4 1.7 3.0 4.2 4.6 4.8 4.0 3.8 3.0 2.6 1.6 1.4 36.2
Gonzales 1.3 1.7 3.4 4.7 5.4 6.3 6.3 5.9 4.4 3.4 1.9 1.3 45.7
Greenfield 1.8 2.2 3.4 4.8 5.6 6.3 6.5 6.2 4.8 3.7 2.4 1.8 49.5
King City 1.7 2.0 3.4 4.4 4.4 5.6 6.1 6.7 6.5 5.2 2.2 1.3 49.6
King City-Oasis Rd. 1.4 1.9 3.6 5.3 6.5 7.3 7.4 6.8 5.1 4.0 2.0 1.5 52.7
Long Valley 1.5 1.9 3.2 4.1 5.8 6.5 7.3 6.7 5.3 3.6 2.0 1.2 49.1
Monterey 1.7 1.8 2.7 3.5 4.0 4.1 4.3 4.2 3.5 2.8 1.9 1.5 36.0
Pajaro 1.8 2.2 3.7 4.8 5.3 5.7 5.6 5.3 4.3 3.4 2.4 1.8 46.1
Salinas 1.6 1.9 2.7 3.8 4.8 4.7 5.0 4.5 4.0 2.9 1.9 1.3 39.1
Salinas North 1.2 1.5 2.9 4.1 4.6 5.2 4.5 4.3 3.2 2.8 1.5 1.2 36.9
San Ardo 1.0 1.7 3.1 4.5 5.9 7.2 8.1 7.1 5.1 3.1 1.5 1.0 49.0
San Juan 1.8 2.1 3.4 4.6 5.3 5.7 5.5 4.9 3.8 3.2 2.2 1.9 44.2
Soledad 1.7 2.0 3.4 4.4 5.5 5.4 6.5 6.2 5.2 3.7 2.2 1.5 47.7
NAPA
Angwin 1.8 1.9 3.2 4.7 5.8 7.3 8.1 7.1 5.5 4.5 2.9 2.1 54.9
Carneros 0.8 1.5 3.1 4.6 5.5 6.6 6.9 6.2 4.7 3.5 1.4 1.0 45.8
Oakville 1.0 1.5 2.9 4.7 5.8 6.9 7.2 6.4 4.9 3.5 1.6 1.2 47.7
St Helena 1.2 1.5 2.8 3.9 5.1 6.1 7.0 6.2 4.8 3.1 1.4 0.9 44.1
Yountville 1.3 1.7 2.8 3.9 5.1 6.0 7.1 6.1 4.8 3.1 1.5 0.9 44.3
NEVADA
Grass Valley 1.1 1.5 2.6 4.0 5.7 7.1 7.9 7.1 5.3 3.2 1.5 0.9 48.0
Nevada City 1.1 1.5 2.6 3.9 5.8 6.9 7.9 7.0 5.3 3.2 1.4 0.9 47.4
ORANGE
Irvine 2.2 2.5 3.7 4.7 5.2 5.9 6.3 6.2 4.6 3.7 2.6 2.3 49.6
Laguna Beach 2.2 2.7 3.4 3.8 4.6 4.6 4.9 4.9 4.4 3.4 2.4 2.0 43.2
Santa Ana 2.2 2.7 3.7 4.5 4.6 5.4 6.2 6.1 4.7 3.7 2.5 2.0 48.2
PLACER
Auburn 1.2 1.7 2.8 4.4 6.1 7.4 8.3 7.3 5.4 3.4 1.6 1.0 50.6
Blue Canyon 0.7 1.1 2.1 3.4 4.8 6.0 7.2 6.1 4.6 2.9 0.9 0.6 40.5
Colfax 1.1 1.5 2.6 4.0 5.8 7.1 7.9 7.0 5.3 3.2 1.4 0.9 47.9
Roseville 1.1 1.7 3.1 4.7 6.2 7.7 8.5 7.3 5.6 3.7 1.7 1.0 52.2
Soda Springs 0.7 0.7 1.8 3.0 4.3 5.3 6.2 5.5 4.1 2.5 0.7 0.7 35.4
Tahoe City 0.7 0.7 1.7 3.0 4.3 5.4 6.1 5.6 4.1 2.4 0.8 0.6 35.5
Truckee 0.7 0.7 1.7 3.2 4.4 5.4 6.4 5.7 4.1 2.4 0.8 0.6 36.2
B-28
01203.0005/373352.10 26
PLUMAS
Portola 0.7 0.9 1.9 3.5 4.9 5.9 7.3 5.9 4.3 2.7 0.9 0.5 39.4
Quincy 0.7 0.9 2.2 3.5 4.9 5.9 7.3 5.9 4.4 2.8 1.2 0.5 40.2
RIVERSIDE
Beaumont 2.0 2.3 3.4 4.4 6.1 7.1 7.6 7.9 6.0 3.9 2.6 1.7 55.0
Blythe 2.4 3.3 5.3 6.9 8.7 9.6 9.6 8.7 6.9 5.0 3.0 2.2 71.4
Cathedral City 1.6 2.2 3.7 5.1 6.8 7.8 8.7 7.8 5.7 4.0 2.1 1.6 57.1
Coachella 2.9 4.4 6.2 8.4 10.5 11.9 12.3 10.1 8.9 6.2 3.8 2.4 88.1
Desert Center 2.9 4.1 6.4 8.5 11.0 12.1 12.2 11.1 9.0 6.4 3.9 2.6 90.0
Elsinore 2.1 2.8 3.9 4.4 5.9 7.1 7.6 7.0 5.8 3.9 2.6 1.9 55.0
Indio 3.1 3.6 6.5 8.3 10.5 11.0 10.8 9.7 8.3 5.9 3.7 2.7 83.9
RIVERSIDE
La Quinta 2.4 2.8 5.2 6.5 8.3 8.7 8.5 7.9 6.5 4.5 2.7 2.2 66.2
Mecca 2.6 3.3 5.7 7.2 8.6 9.0 8.8 8.2 6.8 5.0 3.2 2.4 70.8
Oasis 2.9 3.3 5.3 6.1 8.5 8.9 8.7 7.9 6.9 4.8 2.9 2.3 68.4
Palm Deser 2.5 3.4 5.3 6.9 8.7 9.6 9.6 8.7 6.9 5.0 3.0 2.2 71.6
Palm Springs 2.0 2.9 4.9 7.2 8.3 8.5 11.6 8.3 7.2 5.9 2.7 1.7 71.1
Rancho California 1.8 2.2 3.4 4.8 5.6 6.3 6.5 6.2 4.8 3.7 2.4 1.8 49.5
Rancho Mirage 2.4 3.3 5.3 6.9 8.7 9.6 9.6 8.7 6.9 5.0 3.0 2.2 71.4
Ripley 2.7 3.3 5.6 7.2 8.7 8.7 8.4 7.6 6.2 4.6 2.8 2.2 67.8
Salton Sea North 2.5 3.3 5.5 7.2 8.8 9.3 9.2 8.5 6.8 5.2 3.1 2.3 71.7
Temecula East II 2.3 2.4 4.1 4.9 6.4 7.0 7.8 7.4 5.7 4.1 2.6 2.2 56.7
Thermal 2.4 3.3 5.5 7.6 9.1 9.6 9.3 8.6 7.1 5.2 3.1 2.1 72.8
Riverside UC 2.5 2.9 4.2 5.3 5.9 6.6 7.2 6.9 5.4 4.1 2.9 2.6 56.4
Winchester 2.3 2.4 4.1 4.9 6.4 6.9 7.7 7.5 6.0 3.9 2.6 2.1 56.8
SACRAMENTO
Fair Oaks 1.0 1.6 3.4 4.1 6.5 7.5 8.1 7.1 5.2 3.4 1.5 1.0 50.5
Sacramento 1.0 1.8 3.2 4.7 6.4 7.7 8.4 7.2 5.4 3.7 1.7 0.9 51.9
Twitchell Island 1.2 1.8 3.9 5.3 7.4 8.8 9.1 7.8 5.9 3.8 1.7 1.2 57.9
SAN BENITO
Hollister 1.5 1.8 3.1 4.3 5.5 5.7 6.4 5.9 5.0 3.5 1.7 1.1 45.1
San Benito 1.2 1.6 3.1 4.6 5.6 6.4 6.9 6.5 4.8 3.7 1.7 1.2 47.2
San Juan Valley 1.4 1.8 3.4 4.5 6.0 6.7 7.1 6.4 5.0 3.5 1.8 1.4 49.1
SAN BERNARDINO
Baker 2.7 3.9 6.1 8.3 10.4 11.8 12.2 11.0 8.9 6.1 3.3 2.1 86.6
Barstow NE 2.2 2.9 5.3 6.9 9.0 10.1 9.9 8.9 6.8 4.8 2.7 2.1 71.7
Big Bear Lake 1.8 2.6 4.6 6.0 7.0 7.6 8.1 7.4 5.4 4.1 2.4 1.8 58.6
Chino 2.1 2.9 3.9 4.5 5.7 6.5 7.3 7.1 5.9 4.2 2.6 2.0 54.6
Crestline 1.5 1.9 3.3 4.4 5.5 6.6 7.8 7.1 5.4 3.5 2.2 1.6 50.8
Lake Arrowhead 1.8 2.6 4.6 6.0 7.0 7.6 8.1 7.4 5.4 4.1 2.4 1.8 58.6
Lucerne Valley 2.2 2.9 5.1 6.5 9.1 11.0 11.4 9.9 7.4 5.0 3.0 1.8 75.3
Needles 3.2 4.2 6.6 8.9 11.0 12.4 12.8 11.0 8.9 6.6 4.0 2.7 92.1
Newberry Springs 2.1 2.9 5.3 8.4 9.8 10.9 11.1 9.9 7.6 5.2 3.1 2.0 78.2
San Bernardino 2.0 2.7 3.8 4.6 5.7 6.9 7.9 7.4 5.9 4.2 2.6 2.0 55.6
Twentynine Palms 2.6 3.6 5.9 7.9 10.1 11.2 11.2 10.3 8.6 5.9 3.4 2.2 82.9
Victorville 2.0 2.6 4.6 6.2 7.3 8.9 9.8 9.0 6.5 4.7 2.7 2.1 66.2
SAN DIEGO
Chula Vista 2.2 2.7 3.4 3.8 4.9 4.7 5.5 4.9 4.5 3.4 2.4 2.0 44.2
Escondido SPV 2.4 2.6 3.9 4.7 5.9 6.5 7.1 6.7 5.3 3.9 2.8 2.3 54.2
Miramar 2.3 2.5 3.7 4.1 5.1 5.4 6.1 5.8 4.5 3.3 2.4 2.1 47.1
B-29
01203.0005/373352.10 27
Oceanside 2.2 2.7 3.4 3.7 4.9 4.6 4.6 5.1 4.1 3.3 2.4 2.0 42.9
Otay Lake 2.3 2.7 3.9 4.6 5.6 5.9 6.2 6.1 4.8 3.7 2.6 2.2 50.4
Pine Valley 1.5 2.4 3.8 5.1 6.0 7.0 7.8 7.3 6.0 4.0 2.2 1.7 54.8
Ramona 2.1 2.1 3.4 4.6 5.2 6.3 6.7 6.8 5.3 4.1 2.8 2.1 51.6
San Diego 2.1 2.4 3.4 4.6 5.1 5.3 5.7 5.6 4.3 3.6 2.4 2.0 46.5
Santee 2.1 2.7 3.7 4.5 5.5 6.1 6.6 6.2 5.4 3.8 2.6 2.0 51.1
Torrey Pines 2.2 2.3 3.4 3.9 4.0 4.1 4.6 4.7 3.8 2.8 2.0 2.0 39.8
Warner Springs 1.6 2.7 3.7 4.7 5.7 7.6 8.3 7.7 6.3 4.0 2.5 1.3 56.0
SAN FRANCISCO
San Francisco 1.5 1.3 2.4 3.0 3.7 4.6 4.9 4.8 4.1 2.8 1.3 0.7 35.1
SAN JOAQUIN
Farmington 1.5 1.5 2.9 4.7 6.2 7.6 8.1 6.8 5.3 3.3 1.4 0.7 50.0
SAN JOAQUIN
Lodi West 1.0 1.6 3.3 4.3 6.3 6.9 7.3 6.4 4.5 3.0 1.4 0.8 46.7
Manteca 0.9 1.7 3.4 5.0 6.5 7.5 8.0 7.1 5.2 3.3 1.6 0.9 51.2
Stockton 0.8 1.5 2.9 4.7 6.2 7.4 8.1 6.8 5.3 3.2 1.4 0.6 49.1
Tracy 1.0 1.5 2.9 4.5 6.1 7.3 7.9 6.7 5.3 3.2 1.3 0.7 48.5
SAN LUIS OBISPO
Arroyo Grande 2.0 2.2 3.2 3.8 4.3 4.7 4.3 4.6 3.8 3.2 2.4 1.7 40.0
Atascadero 1.2 1.5 2.8 3.9 4.5 6.0 6.7 6.2 5.0 3.2 1.7 1.0 43.7
Morro Bay 2.0 2.2 3.1 3.5 4.3 4.5 4.6 4.6 3.8 3.5 2.1 1.7 39.9
Nipomo 2.2 2.5 3.8 5.1 5.7 6.2 6.4 6.1 4.9 4.1 2.9 2.3 52.1
Paso Robles 1.6 2.0 3.2 4.3 5.5 6.3 7.3 6.7 5.1 3.7 2.1 1.4 49.0
San Luis Obispo 2.0 2.2 3.2 4.1 4.9 5.3 4.6 5.5 4.4 3.5 2.4 1.7 43.8
San Miguel 1.6 2.0 3.2 4.3 5.0 6.4 7.4 6.8 5.1 3.7 2.1 1.4 49.0
San Simeon 2.0 2.0 2.9 3.5 4.2 4.4 4.6 4.3 3.5 3.1 2.0 1.7 38.1
SAN MATEO
Hal Moon Bay 1.5 1.7 2.4 3.0 3.9 4.3 4.3 4.2 3.5 2.8 1.3 1.0 33.7
Redwood City 1.5 1.8 2.9 3.8 5.2 5.3 6.2 5.6 4.8 3.1 1.7 1.0 42.8
Woodside 1.8 2.2 3.4 4.8 5.6 6.3 6.5 6.2 4.8 3.7 2.4 1.8 49.5
SANTA BARBARA
Betteravia 2.1 2.6 4.0 5.2 6.0 5.9 5.8 5.4 4.1 3.3 2.7 2.1 49.1
Carpenteria 2.0 2.4 3.2 3.9 4.8 5.2 5.5 5.7 4.5 3.4 2.4 2.0 44.9
Cuyama 2.1 2.4 3.8 5.4 6.9 7.9 8.5 7.7 5.9 4.5 2.6 2.0 59.7
Goleta 2.1 2.5 3.9 5.1 5.7 5.7 5.4 5.4 4.2 3.2 2.8 2.2 48.1
Goleta Foothills 2.3 2.6 3.7 5.4 5.3 5.6 5.5 5.7 4.5 3.9 2.8 2.3 49.6
Guadalupe 2.0 2.2 3.2 3.7 4.9 4.6 4.5 4.6 4.1 3.3 2.4 1.7 41.1
Lompoc 2.0 2.2 3.2 3.7 4.8 4.6 4.9 4.8 3.9 3.2 2.4 1.7 41.1
Los Alamos 1.8 2.0 3.2 4.1 4.9 5.3 5.7 5.5 4.4 3.7 2.4 1.6 44.6
Santa Barbara 2.0 2.5 3.2 3.8 4.6 5.1 5.5 4.5 3.4 2.4 1.8 1.8 40.6
Santa Maria 1.8 2.3 3.7 5.1 5.7 5.8 5.6 5.3 4.2 3.5 2.4 1.9 47.4
Santa Ynez 1.7 2.2 3.5 5.0 5.8 6.2 6.4 6.0 4.5 3.6 2.2 1.7 48.7
Sisquoc 2.1 2.5 3.8 4.1 6.1 6.3 6.4 5.8 4.7 3.4 2.3 1.8 49.2
Solvang 2.0 2.0 3.3 4.3 5.0 5.6 6.1 5.6 4.4 3.7 2.2 1.6 45.6
SANTA CLARA
Gilroy 1.3 1.8 3.1 4.1 5.3 5.6 6.1 5.5 4.7 3.4 1.7 1.1 43.6
Los Gatos 1.5 1.8 2.8 3.9 5.0 5.6 6.2 5.5 4.7 3.2 1.7 1.1 42.9
Morgan Hill 1.5 1.8 3.4 4.2 6.3 7.0 7.1 6.0 5.1 3.7 1.9 1.4 49.5
Palo Alto 1.5 1.8 2.8 3.8 5.2 5.3 6.2 5.6 5.0 3.2 1.7 1.0 43.0
San Jose 1.5 1.8 3.1 4.1 5.5 5.8 6.5 5.9 5.2 3.3 1.8 1.0 45.3
B-30
01203.0005/373352.10 28
SANTA CRUZ
De Laveaga 1.4 1.9 3.3 4.7 4.9 5.3 5.0 4.8 3.6 3.0 1.6 1.3 40.8
Green Valley Rd 1.2 1.8 3.2 4.5 4.6 5.4 5.2 5.0 3.7 3.1 1.6 1.3 40.6
Santa Cruz 1.5 1.8 2.6 3.5 4.3 4.4 4.8 4.4 3.8 2.8 1.7 1.2 36.6
Watsonville 1.5 1.8 2.7 3.7 4.6 4.5 4.9 4.2 4.0 2.9 1.8 1.2 37.7
Webb 1.8 2.2 3.7 4.8 5.3 5.7 5.6 5.3 4.3 3.4 2.4 1.8 46.2
SHASTA
Burney 0.7 1.0 2.1 3.5 4.9 5.9 7.4 6.4 4.4 2.9 0.9 0.6 40.9
Fall River Mills 0.6 1.0 2.1 3.7 5.0 6.1 7.8 6.7 4.6 2.8 0.9 0.5 41.8
Glenburn 0.6 1.0 2.1 3.7 5.0 6.3 7.8 6.7 4.7 2.8 0.9 0.6 42.1
McArthur 0.7 1.4 2.9 4.2 5.6 6.9 8.2 7.2 5.0 3.0 1.1 0.6 46.8
Redding 1.2 1.4 2.6 4.1 5.6 7.1 8.5 7.3 5.3 3.2 1.4 0.9 48.8
SIERRA
Downieville 0.7 1.0 2.3 3.5 5.0 6.0 7.4 6.2 4.7 2.8 0.9 0.6 41.3
Sierraville 0.7 1.1 2.2 3.2 4.5 5.9 7.3 6.4 4.3 2.6 0.9 0.5 39.6
SISKIYOU
Happy Camp 0.5 0.9 2.0 3.0 4.3 5.2 6.1 5.3 4.1 2.4 0.9 0.5 35.1
MacDoel 1.0 1.7 3.1 4.5 5.9 7.2 8.1 7.1 5.1 3.1 1.5 1.0 49.0
Mt Shasta 0.5 0.9 2.0 3.0 4.5 5.3 6.7 5.7 4.0 2.2 0.7 0.5 36.0
Tule lake FS 0.7 1.3 2.7 4.0 5.4 6.3 7.1 6.4 4.7 2.8 1.0 0.6 42.9
Weed 0.5 0.9 2.0 2.5 4.5 5.3 6.7 5.5 3.7 2.0 0.9 0.5 34.9
Yreka 0.6 0.9 2.1 3.0 4.9 5.8 7.3 6.5 4.3 2.5 0.9 0.5 39.2
SOLANO
Dixon 0.7 1.4 3.2 5.2 6.3 7.6 8.2 7.2 5.5 4.3 1.6 1.1 52.1
Fairfield 1.1 1.7 2.8 4.0 5.5 6.1 7.8 6.0 4.8 3.1 1.4 0.9 45.2
Hastings Tract 1.6 2.2 3.7 5.1 6.8 7.8 8.7 7.8 5.7 4.0 2.1 1.6 57.1
Putah Creek 1.0 1.6 3.2 4.9 6.1 7.3 7.9 7.0 5.3 3.8 1.8 1.2 51.0
Rio Vista 0.9 1.7 2.8 4.4 5.9 6.7 7.9 6.5 5.1 3.2 1.3 0.7 47.0
Suisun Valley 0.6 1.3 3.0 4.7 5.8 7.0 7.7 6.8 5.3 3.8 1.4 0.9 48.3
Winters 0.9 1.7 3.3 5.0 6.4 7.5 7.9 7.0 5.2 3.5 1.6 1.0 51.0
SONOMA
Bennett Valley 1.1 1.7 3.2 4.1 5.5 6.5 6.6 5.7 4.5 3.1 1.5 0.9 44.4
Cloverdale 1.1 1.4 2.6 3.4 5.0 5.9 6.2 5.6 4.5 2.8 1.4 0.7 40.7
Fort Ross 1.2 1.4 2.2 3.0 3.7 4.5 4.2 4.3 3.4 2.4 1.2 0.5 31.9
Healdsburg 1.2 1.5 2.4 3.5 5.0 5.9 6.1 5.6 4.5 2.8 1.4 0.7 40.8
Lincoln 1.2 1.7 2.8 4.7 6.1 7.4 8.4 7.3 5.4 3.7 1.9 1.2 51.9
Petaluma 1.2 1.5 2.8 3.7 4.6 5.6 4.6 5.7 4.5 2.9 1.4 0.9 39.6
Santa Rosa 1.2 1.7 2.8 3.7 5.0 6.0 6.1 5.9 4.5 2.9 1.5 0.7 42.0
Valley of the Moon 1.0 1.6 3.0 4.5 5.6 6.6 7.1 6.3 4.7 3.3 1.5 1.0 46.1
Windsor 0.9 1.6 3.0 4.5 5.5 6.5 6.5 5.9 4.4 3.2 1.4 1.0 44.2
STANISLAUS
Denair 1.0 1.9 3.6 4.7 7.0 7.9 8.0 6.1 5.3 3.4 1.5 1.0 51.4
La Grange 1.2 1.5 3.1 4.7 6.2 7.7 8.5 7.3 5.3 3.4 1.4 0.7 51.2
Modesto 0.9 1.4 3.2 4.7 6.4 7.7 8.1 6.8 5.0 3.4 1.4 0.7 49.7
Newman 1.0 1.5 3.2 4.6 6.2 7.4 8.1 6.7 5.0 3.4 1.4 0.7 49.3
Oakdale 1.2 1.5 3.2 4.7 6.2 7.7 8.1 7.1 5.1 3.4 1.4 0.7 50.3
Patterson 1.3 2.1 4.2 5.4 7.9 8.6 8.2 6.6 5.8 4.0 1.9 1.3 57.3
Turlock 0.9 1.5 3.2 4.7 6.5 7.7 8.2 7.0 5.1 3.4 1.4 0.7 50.2
SUTTER
Nicolaus 0.9 1.6 3.2 4.9 6.3 7.5 8.0 6.9 5.2 3.4 1.5 0.9 50.2
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01203.0005/373352.10 29
Yuba City 1.3 2.1 2.8 4.4 5.7 7.2 7.1 6.1 4.7 3.2 1.2 0.9 46.7
TEHAMA
Corning 1.2 1.8 2.9 4.5 6.1 7.3 8.1 7.2 5.3 3.7 1.7 1.1 50.7
Gerber 1.0 1.8 3.5 5.0 6.6 7.9 8.7 7.4 5.8 4.1 1.8 1.1 54.7
Gerber Dryland 0.9 1.6 3.2 4.7 6.7 8.4 9.0 7.9 6.0 4.2 2.0 1.0 55.5
Red Bluff 1.2 1.8 2.9 4.4 5.9 7.4 8.5 7.3 5.4 3.5 1.7 1.0 51.1
TRINITY
Hay Fork 0.5 1.1 2.3 3.5 4.9 5.9 7.0 6.0 4.5 2.8 0.9 0.7 40.1
Weaverville 0.6 1.1 2.2 3.3 4.9 5.9 7.3 6.0 4.4 2.7 0.9 0.7 40.0
TULARE
Alpaugh 0.9 1.7 3.4 4.8 6.6 7.7 8.2 7.3 5.4 3.4 1.4 0.7 51.6
Badger 1.0 1.3 2.7 4.1 6.0 7.3 7.7 7.0 4.8 3.3 1.4 0.7 47.3
Delano 1.1 1.9 4.0 4.9 7.2 7.9 8.1 7.3 5.4 3.2 1.5 1.2 53.6
TULARE
Dinuba 1.1 1.5 3.2 4.7 6.2 7.7 8.5 7.3 5.3 3.4 1.4 0.7 51.2
Lindcove 0.9 1.6 3.0 4.8 6.5 7.6 8.1 7.2 5.2 3.4 1.6 0.9 50.6
Porterville 1.2 1.8 3.4 4.7 6.6 7.7 8.5 7.3 5.3 3.4 1.4 0.7 52.1
Visalia 0.9 1.7 3.3 5.1 6.8 7.7 7.9 6.9 4.9 3.2 1.5 0.8 50.7
TUOLUMNE
Groveland 1.1 1.5 2.8 4.1 5.7 7.2 7.9 6.6 5.1 3.3 1.4 0.7 47.5
Sonora 1.1 1.5 2.8 4.1 5.8 7.2 7.9 6.7 5.1 3.2 1.4 0.7 47.6
VENTURA
Camarillo 2.2 2.5 3.7 4.3 5.0 5.2 5.9 5.4 4.2 3.0 2.5 2.1 46.1
Oxnard 2.2 2.5 3.2 3.7 4.4 4.6 5.4 4.8 4.0 3.3 2.4 2.0 42.3
Piru 2.8 2.8 4.1 5.6 6.0 6.8 7.6 7.8 5.8 5.2 3.7 3.2 61.5
Port Hueneme 2.0 2.3 3.3 4.6 4.9 4.9 4.9 5.0 3.7 3.2 2.5 2.2 43.5
Thousand Oaks 2.2 2.6 3.4 4.5 5.4 5.9 6.7 6.4 5.4 3.9 2.6 2.0 51.0
Ventura 2.2 2.6 3.2 3.8 4.6 4.7 5.5 4.9 4.1 3.4 2.5 2.0 43.5
YOLO
Bryte 0.9 1.7 3.3 5.0 6.4 7.5 7.9 7.0 5.2 3.5 1.6 1.0 51.0
Davis 1.0 1.9 3.3 5.0 6.4 7.6 8.2 7.1 5.4 4.0 1.8 1.0 52.5
Esparto 1.0 1.7 3.4 5.5 6.9 8.1 8.5 7.5 5.8 4.2 2.0 1.2 55.8
Winters 1.7 1.7 2.9 4.4 5.8 7.1 7.9 6.7 5.3 3.3 1.6 1.0 49.4
Woodland 1.0 1.8 3.2 4.7 6.1 7.7 8.2 7.2 5.4 3.7 1.7 1.0 51.6
Zamora 1.1 1.9 3.5 5.2 6.4 7.4 7.8 7.0 5.5 4.0 1.9 1.2 52.8
YUBA
Browns Valley 1.0 1.7 3.1 4.7 6.1 7.5 8.5 7.6 5.7 4.1 2.0 1.1 52.9
Brownsville 1.1 1.4 2.6 4.0 5.7 6.8 7.9 6.8 5.3 3.4 1.5 0.9 47.4
* The values in this table were derived from:
1) California Irrigation Management Information System (CIMIS);
2) Reference EvapoTranspiration Zones Map, UC Dept. of Land, Air & Water Resources and California Dept of Water
Resources 1999; and
3) Reference Evapotranspiration for California, University of California, Department of Agriculture and Natural
Resources
(1987) Bulletin 1922, 4) Determining Daily Reference Evapotranspiration, Cooperative Extension UC Division of
Agriculture and Natural Resources (1987), Publication Leaflet 21426
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01203.0005/373352.10 30
Appendix B – Water Efficient Landscape Worksheet
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01203.0005/373352.10 31
Appendix C – Certificate of Completion
CERTIFICATE OF COMPLETION
This certificate is filled out by the project applicant upon completion of the landscape project.
PART 1. PROJECT INFORMATION SHEET
Date
Project Name
Name of Project Applicant
Telephone No.
Fax No.
Title
Email Address
Company Street Address
City State Zip Code
Project Address and Location:
Street Address
Parcel, tract or lot number, if available.
City
Latitude/Longitude (optional)
State
Zip Code
Property Owner or his/her designee:
Name Telephone No.
Fax No.
Title Email Address
Company Street Address
City
State Zip Code
Property Owner
“I/we certify that I/we have received copies of all the documents within the Landscape Documentation Package and
the Certificate of Completion and that it is our responsibility to see that the project is maintained in accordance with
the Landscape and Irrigation Maintenance Schedule.”
______________________________________________________________________________
Property Owner Signature Date
Please answer the questions below:
1. Date the Landscape Documentation Package was submitted to the City of Rancho Palos Verdes _________
2. Date the Landscape Documentation Package was approved by the City of Rancho Palos Verdes _________
3. Date that a copy of the Water Efficient Landscape Worksheet (including the Water Budget Calculation)
was submitted to City of Rancho Palos Verdes __________
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01203.0005/373352.10 32
PART 2. CERTIFICATION OF INSTALLATION ACCORDING TO THE LANDSCAPE
DOCUMENTATION PACKAGE
“I/we certify that based upon periodic site observations, the work has been substantially completed in accordance
with the Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance and Landscape Regulations, and that the landscape planting and
irrigation installation conform with the criteria and specifications of the approved Landscape Documentation
Package.”
Signature*
Date
Name (print)
Telephone No.
Fax No.
Title
Email Address
License No. or Certification No.
Company Street Address
City
State Zip Code
*Signer of the landscape design plan, signer of the irrigation plan, or a licensed landscape contractor.
PART 3. IRRIGATION SCHEDULING
Attach parameters for setting the irrigation schedule on controller per Landscape Regulations Section 2.9.
PART 4. SCHEDULE OF LANDSCAPE AND IRRIGATION MAINTENANCE
Attach schedule of Landscape and Irrigation Maintenance per Landscape Regulations Section 2.10.
PART 5. LANDSCAPE IRRIGATION AUDIT REPORT
Attach Landscape Irrigation Audit Report per Landscape Regulations Section 3.
PART 6. SOIL MANAGEMENT REPORT
Attach soil analysis report, if not previously submitted with the Landscape Documentation Package per Landscape
Regulations Section 2.4.
Attach documentation verifying implementation of recommendations from soil analysis report per Landscape
Regulations Section 2.4.
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Appendix D – Definitions
The terms defined in the Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance apply also to the Landscape Regulations.
In addition, the terms below, as used in these Landscape Regulations and in the Water Efficient
Landscape Ordinance, have the meanings set forth below:
(a) “applied water” means the portion of water supplied by the irrigation system to the landscape.
(b) “automatic irrigation controller” means a timing device used to remotely control valves that operate
an irrigation system. Automatic irrigation controllers are able to self-adjust and schedule irrigation
events using either evapotranspiration (weather-based) or soil moisture data.
(c) “backflow prevention device” means a safety device used to prevent pollution or contamination of the
water supply due to the reverse flow of water from the irrigation system.
(d) “Certificate of Completion” means the document required under Section 492.9.
(e) “certified irrigation designer” means a person certified to design irrigation systems by an accredited
academic institution, a professional trade organization or other program such as the US Environmental
Protection Agency's WaterSense irrigation designer certification program and Irrigation Association's
Certified Irrigation Designer program.
(f) “certified landscape irrigation auditor” means a person certified to perform landscape irrigation audits
by an accredited academic institution, a professional trade organization or other program such as the
US Environmental Protection Agency's WaterSense irrigation auditor certification program and
Irrigation Association's Certified Landscape Irrigation Auditor program.
(g) “check valve” or “anti-drain valve” means a valve located under a sprinkler head, or other location in
the irrigation system, to hold water in the system to prevent drainage from sprinkler heads when the
sprinkler is off.
(h) “common interest developments” means community apartment projects, condominium projects,
planned developments, and stock cooperatives per Civil Code Section 1351.
(i) “compost” means the safe and stable product of controlled biologic decomposition of organic materials
that is beneficial to plant growth.
(j) “conversion factor (0.62)” means the number that converts acre-inches per acre per year to gallons per
square foot per year.
(k) “distribution uniformity” means the measure of the uniformity of irrigation water over a defined area.
(l) “drip irrigation” means any non-spray low volume irrigation system utilizing emission devices with a
flow rate measured in gallons per hour. Low volume irrigation systems are specifically designed to
apply small volumes of water slowly at or near the root zone of plants.
(m) “ecological restoration project” means a project where the site is intentionally altered to establish a
defined, indigenous, historic ecosystem.
(n) “effective precipitation” or “usable rainfall” (Eppt) means the portion of total precipitation which
becomes available for plant growth.
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(o) “emitter” means a drip irrigation emission device that delivers water slowly from the system to the
soil.
(p) “established landscape” means the point at which plants in the landscape have developed significant
root growth into the soil. Typically, most plants are established after one or two years of growth.
(q) “establishment period of the plants” means the first year after installing the plant in the landscape or
the first two years if irrigation will be terminated after establishment. Typically, most plants are
established after one or two years of growth. Native habitat mitigation areas and trees may need three
to five years for establishment.
(r) “Estimated Total Water Use” (ETWU) means the total water used for the landscape as described in
Section 492.4.
(s) “ET adjustment factor” (ETAF) means a factor of 0.55 for residential areas and 0.45 for non-residential
areas, that, when applied to reference evapotranspiration, adjusts for plant factors and irrigation
efficiency, two major influences upon the amount of water that needs to be applied to the landscape.
The ETAF for new and existing (non-rehabilitated) Special Landscape Areas shall not exceed 1.0. The
ETAF for existing non-rehabilitated landscapes is 0.8.
(t) “evapotranspiration rate” means the quantity of water evaporated from adjacent soil and other surfaces
and transpired by plants during a specified time.
(u) “flow rate” means the rate at which water flows through pipes, valves and emission devices, measured
in gallons per minute, gallons per hour, or cubic feet per second.
(v) “flow sensor” means an inline device installed at the supply point of the irrigation system that produces
a repeatable signal proportional to flow rate. Flow sensors must be connected to an automatic irrigation
controller, or flow monitor capable of receiving flow signals and operating master valves. This
combination flow sensor/controller may also function as a landscape water meter or submeter.
(w) “friable” means a soil condition that is easily crumbled or loosely compacted down to a minimum
depth per planting material requirements, whereby the root structure of newly planted material will be
allowed to spread unimpeded.
(x) “Fuel Modification Plan Guideline” means guidelines from a local fire authority to assist residents and
businesses that are developing land or building structures in a fire hazard severity zone.
(y) “graywater” means untreated wastewater that has not been contaminated by any toilet discharge, has
not been affected by infectious, contaminated, or unhealthy bodily wastes, and does not present a threat
from contamination by unhealthful processing, manufacturing, or operating wastes. “Graywater”
includes, but is not limited to, wastewater from bathtubs, showers, bathroom washbasins, clothes
washing machines, and laundry tubs, but does not include wastewater from kitchen sinks or
dishwashers. Health and Safety Code Section 17922.12.
(z) “hardscapes” means any durable material (pervious and non-pervious).
(aa) “hydrozone” means a portion of the landscaped area having plants with similar water needs and
rooting depth. A hydrozone may be irrigated or non-irrigated.
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(bb) “infiltration rate” means the rate of water entry into the soil expressed as a depth of water per unit of
time (e.g., inches per hour).
(cc) “invasive plant species” means species of plants not historically found in California that spread
outside cultivated areas and can damage environmental or economic resources. Invasive species may
be regulated by county agricultural agencies as noxious species. Lists of invasive plants are maintained
at the California Invasive Plant Inventory and USDA invasive and noxious weeds database.
(dd) “irrigation audit” means an in-depth evaluation of the performance of an irrigation system conducted
by a Certified Landscape Irrigation Auditor. An irrigation audit includes, but is not limited to:
inspection, system tune-up, system test with distribution uniformity or emission uniformity, reporting
overspray or runoff that causes overland flow, and preparation of an irrigation schedule. The audit
must be conducted in a manner consistent with the Irrigation Association's Landscape Irrigation
Auditor Certification program or other U.S. Environmental Protection Agency “Watersense” labeled
auditing program.
(ee) “irrigation efficiency” (IE) means the measurement of the amount of water beneficially used divided
by the amount of water applied. Irrigation efficiency is derived from measurements and estimates of
irrigation system characteristics and management practices. The irrigation efficiency for purposes of
this ordinance are 0.75 for overhead spray devices and 0.81 for drip systems.
(ff) “irrigation survey” means an evaluation of an irrigation system that is less detailed than an irrigation
audit. An irrigation survey includes, but is not limited to: inspection, system test, and written
recommendations to improve performance of the irrigation system.
(gg) “irrigation water use analysis” means an analysis of water use data based on meter readings and
billing data.
(hh) “landscape architect” means a person who holds a license to practice landscape architecture in the
state of California Business and Professions Code, Section 5615.
(ii) “landscape area” means all the planting areas, turf areas, and water features in a landscape design plan
subject to the Maximum Applied Water Allowance calculation. The landscape area does not include
footprints of buildings or structures, sidewalks, driveways, parking lots, decks, patios, gravel or stone
walks, other pervious or non-pervious hardscapes, and other non-irrigated areas designated for non-
development (e.g., open spaces and existing native vegetation).
(jj) “landscape contractor” means a person licensed by the state of California to construct, maintain, repair,
install, or subcontract the development of landscape systems.
(kk) “Landscape Documentation Package” means the documents required under Section 492.3.
(ll) “landscape project” means total area of landscape in a project as defined in “landscape area” for the
purposes of this ordinance, meeting requirements under Section 490.1.
(mm) “landscape water meter” means an inline device installed at the irrigation supply point that measures
the flow of water into the irrigation system and is connected to a totalizer to record water use.
(nn) “lateral line” means the water delivery pipeline that supplies water to the emitters or sprinklers from
the valve.
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(oo) “local agency” or “City” means a the City of Rancho Palos Verdes, which is responsible for adopting
and implementing the ordinance and for the enforcement of this ordinance, including but not limited
to, approval of a permit and plan check or design review of a project.
(pp) “local water purveyor” means any entity, including a public agency, city, county, or private water
company that provides retail water service.
(qq) “low volume irrigation” means the application of irrigation water at low pressure through a system
of tubing or lateral lines and low-volume emitters such as drip, drip lines, and bubblers. Low volume
irrigation systems are specifically designed to apply small volumes of water slowly at or near the root
zone of plants.
(rr) “main line” means the pressurized pipeline that delivers water from the water source to the valve or
outlet.
(ss) “master shut-off valve” is an automatic valve installed at the irrigation supply point which controls
water flow into the irrigation system. When this valve is closed water will not be supplied to the
irrigation system. A master valve will greatly reduce any water loss due to a leaky station valve.
(tt) “Maximum Applied Water Allowance” (MAWA) means the upper limit of annual applied water for
the established landscaped area as specified in Section 492.4. It is based upon the area's reference
evapotranspiration, the ET Adjustment Factor, and the size of the landscape area. The Estimated Total
Water Use shall not exceed the Maximum Applied Water Allowance. Special Landscape Areas,
including recreation areas, areas permanently and solely dedicated to edible plants such as orchards
and vegetable gardens, and areas irrigated with recycled water are subject to the MAWA with an ETAF
not to exceed 1.0. MAWA = (ETo) (0.62) [(ETAF x LA) + ((1-ETAF) x SLA)]
(uu) “median” is an area between opposing lanes of traffic that may be unplanted or planted with trees,
shrubs, perennials, and ornamental grasses.
(vv) “microclimate” means the climate of a small, specific area that may contrast with the climate of the
overall landscape area due to factors such as wind, sun exposure, plant density, or proximity to
reflective surfaces.
(ww) “mined-land reclamation projects” means any surface mining operation with a reclamation plan
approved in accordance with the Surface Mining and Reclamation Act of 1975.
(xx) “mulch” means any organic material such as leaves, bark, straw, compost, or inorganic mineral
materials such as rocks, gravel, or decomposed granite left loose and applied to the soil surface for the
beneficial purposes of reducing evaporation, suppressing weeds, moderating soil temperature, and
preventing soil erosion.
(yy) “new construction” means, for the purposes of this ordinance, a new building with a landscape or
other new landscape, such as a park, playground, or greenbelt without an associated building.
(zz) “non-residential landscape” means landscapes in commercial, institutional, industrial and public
settings that may have areas designated for recreation or public assembly. It also includes portions of
common areas of common interest developments with designated recreational areas.
(aaa) “operating pressure” means the pressure at which the parts of an irrigation system are designed by
the manufacturer to operate.
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(bbb) “overhead sprinkler irrigation systems” or “overhead spray irrigation systems” means systems that
deliver water through the air (e.g., spray heads and rotors).
(ccc) “overspray” means the irrigation water which is delivered beyond the target area.
(ddd) “parkway” means the area between a sidewalk and the curb or traffic lane. It may be planted or
unplanted, and with or without pedestrian egress.
(eee) “permit” means an authorizing document issued by local agencies for new construction or
rehabilitated landscapes.
(fff) “pervious” means any surface or material that allows the passage of water through the material and
into the underlying soil.
(ggg) “plant factor” or “plant water use factor” is a factor, when multiplied by ETo, estimates the amount
of water needed by plants. For purposes of this ordinance, the plant factor range for very low water
use plants is 0 to 0.1, the plant factor range for low water use plants is 0.1 to 0.3, the plant factor range
for moderate water use plants is 0.4 to 0.6, and the plant factor range for high water use plants is 0.7
to 1.0. Plant factors cited in this ordinance are derived from the publication “Water Use Classification
of Landscape Species”. Plant factors may also be obtained from horticultural researchers from
academic institutions or professional associations as approved by the California Department of Water
Resources (DWR).
(hhh) “project applicant” means the individual or entity submitting a Landscape Documentation Package
required under Section 492.3, to request a permit, plan check, or design review from the local agency.
A project applicant may be the property owner or his or her designee.
(iii) “rain sensor” or “rain sensing shutoff device” means a component which automatically suspends an
irrigation event when it rains.
(jjj) “record drawing” or “as-builts” means a set of reproducible drawings which show significant changes
in the work made during construction and which are usually based on drawings marked up in the field
and other data furnished by the contractor.
(kkk) “recreational area” means areas, excluding private single family residential areas, designated for
active play, recreation or public assembly in parks, sports fields, picnic grounds, amphitheaters or golf
course tees, fairways, roughs, surrounds and greens.
(lll) “recycled water,” “reclaimed water,” or “treated sewage effluent water” means treated or recycled
waste water of a quality suitable for nonpotable uses such as landscape irrigation and water features.
This water is not intended for human consumption.
(mmm) “reference evapotranspiration” or “ETo” means a standard measurement of environmental
parameters which affect the water use of plants. ETo is expressed in inches per day, month, or year as
represented in Appendix A, and is an estimate of the evapotranspiration of a large field of four- to
seven-inch tall, cool-season grass that is well watered. Reference evapotranspiration is used as the
basis of determining the Maximum Applied Water Allowances so that regional differences in climate
can be accommodated.
(nnn) “Regional Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance” means a local Ordinance adopted by two or more
local agencies, water suppliers and other stakeholders for implementing a consistent set of landscape
B-40
provisions throughout a geographical region. Regional ordinances are strongly encouraged to provide
a consistent framework for the landscape industry and applicants to adhere to.
(ooo) “rehabilitated landscape” means any relandscaping project that requires a permit, plan check, or
design review, meets the requirements of Section 490.1, and the modified landscape area is equal to
or greater than 2,500 square feet.
(ppp) “residential landscape” means landscapes surrounding single or multifamily homes.
(qqq) “run off” means water which is not absorbed by the soil or landscape to which it is applied and flows
from the landscape area. For example, run off may result from water that is applied at too great a rate
(application rate exceeds infiltration rate) or when there is a slope.
(rrr) “soil moisture sensing device” or “soil moisture sensor” means a device that measures the amount of
water in the soil. The device may also suspend or initiate an irrigation event.
(sss) “soil texture” means the classification of soil based on its percentage of sand, silt, and clay.
(ttt) “Special Landscape Area” (SLA) means an area of the landscape dedicated solely to edible plants,
recreational areas, areas irrigated with recycled water, or water features using recycled water.
(uuu) “sprinkler head” or “spray head” means a device which delivers water through a nozzle.
(vvv) “static water pressure” means the pipeline or municipal water supply pressure when water is not
flowing.
(www) “station” means an area served by one valve or by a set of valves that operate simultaneously.
(xxx) “swing joint” means an irrigation component that provides a flexible, leak-free connection between
the emission device and lateral pipeline to allow movement in any direction and to prevent equipment
damage.
(yyy) “submeter” means a metering device to measure water applied to the landscape that is installed after
the primary utility water meter.
(zzz) “turf” means a ground cover surface of mowed grass. Annual bluegrass, Kentucky bluegrass,
Perennial ryegrass, Red fescue, and Tall fescue are cool-season grasses. Bermudagrass, Kikuyugrass,
Seashore Paspalum, St. Augustinegrass, Zoysiagrass, and Buffalo grass are warm-season grasses.
(aaaa) “valve” means a device used to control the flow of water in the irrigation system.
(bbbb) “water conserving plant species” means a plant species identified as having a very low or low plant
factor.
(cccc) “water feature” means a design element where open water performs an aesthetic or recreational
function. Water features include ponds, lakes, waterfalls, fountains, artificial streams, spas, and
swimming pools (where water is artificially supplied). The surface area of water features is included
in the high water use hydrozone of the landscape area. Constructed wetlands used for on-site
wastewater treatment or stormwater best management practices that are not irrigated and used solely
for water treatment or stormwater retention are not water features and, therefore, are not subject to the
water budget calculation.
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(dddd) “watering window” means the time of day irrigation is allowed.
(eeee) “WUCOLS ” means the Water Use Classification of Landscape Species published by the University
of California Cooperative Extension and the Department of Water Resources 2014.
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APPENDIX E - Prescriptive Compliance Option.
This appendix contains prescriptive requirements which may be used as a compliance option to the Model
Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance.
Compliance with the following items is mandatory and must be documented on a landscape plan in order
to use the prescriptive compliance option:
(1) Submit a Landscape Documentation Package which includes the following elements:
(A) date
(B) project applicant
(C) project address (if available, parcel and/or lot number(s))
(D) total landscape area (square feet), including a breakdown of turf and plant material
(E) project type (e.g., new, rehabilitated, public, private, cemetery, homeowner-installed)
(F) water supply type (e.g., potable, recycled, well) and identify the local retail water purveyor if the
applicant is not served by a private well
(G) contact information for the project applicant and property owner
(H) applicant signature and date with statement, “I agree to comply with the requirements of the
prescriptive compliance option to the MWELO”.
(2) Incorporate compost at a rate of at least four cubic yards per 1,000 square feet to a depth of six inches
into landscape area (unless contra-indicated by a soil test);
(3) Plant material shall comply with all of the following:
(A) For residential areas, install climate adapted plants that require occasional, little or no summer
water (average WUCOLS plant factor 0.3) for 75% of the plant area excluding edibles and areas
using recycled water; For non-residential areas, install climate adapted plants that require
occasional, little or no summer water (average WUCOLS plant factor 0.3) for 100% of the plant
area excluding edibles and areas using recycled water;
(B) 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.
(4) Turf shall comply with all of the following:
(A) Turf shall not exceed 25% of the landscape area in residential areas, and there shall be no turf in
non-residential areas;
(B) Turf shall not be planted on sloped areas which exceed a slope of 1 foot vertical elevation change
for every 4 feet of horizontal length;
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(C) Turf is prohibited in parkways less than 10 feet wide, unless the parkway is adjacent to a parking
strip and used to enter and exit vehicles. Any turf in parkways must be irrigated by sub-surface
irrigation or by other technology that creates no overspray or runoff.
(5) Irrigation systems shall comply with the following:
(A) Automatic irrigation controllers are required and must use evapotranspiration or soil moisture
sensor data and utilize a rain sensor.
(B) Irrigation controllers shall be of a type which does not lose programming data in the event the
primary power source is interrupted.
(C) Pressure regulators shall be installed on the irrigation system to ensure the dynamic pressure of
the system is within the manufacturers recommended pressure range.
(D) 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.
(E) 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 must document a distribution uniformity low quarter of 0.65 or higher using the
protocol defined in ASABE/ICC 802-2014.
(F) 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.
(6) For non-residential projects with landscape areas of 1,000 sq. ft. or more, a private submeter(s) to
measure landscape water use shall be installed.
(7) At the time of final inspection, the permit applicant must provide the owner of the property with a
certificate of completion, certificate of installation, irrigation schedule and a schedule of landscape
and irrigation maintenance.
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