Water Use Rules and Regulations

Effective May 4, 2023, through October 31, 2023
 Watering is Restricted to Three Days a Week

  • Mondays, Thursdays, and Saturdays for ODD numbered addresses and properties with no address
  • Tuesdays, Fridays, and Sundays for EVEN numbered addresses
  • Watering is ONLY allowed before 9 a.m. or after 7 p.m.
  • Car washing is allowed only by use of a hand-held bucket, similar container, or a hand-held hose equipped with a positive self-closing water shut-off nozzle or device or at a car washing facility.
  • Full list of rules is below. 

These restrictions will help us avoid or minimize the effects of drought, climate change, and the unreliability of imported water infrastructure that serves the City. 

The City’s Water Waste Ordinance (PDF) includes rules and regulations that are in effect at all times and apply to any person using any potable water in the City.

1. Limits on Watering Hours: Watering or irrigating of lawn, landscape or other vegetated area with potable water is prohibited between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. Pacific Standard/Daylight Savings Time on any day, except by use of a hand-held bucket or similar container, a hand-held hose equipped with a positive self-closing water shut-off nozzle or device, or for very short periods of time for the express purpose of adjusting or repairing an irrigation system. Watering or irrigating within 48 hours after ¼ inch or more of precipitation is received is prohibited.

2. Limit on Watering Duration: Watering or irrigating of lawn, landscape or other vegetated area with potable water using a landscape irrigation system or a watering device that is not continuously attended is limited to no more than fifteen (15) minutes watering per day per station/valve/zone. This subsection does not apply to landscape irrigation stations/valves/zones that exclusively use drip type irrigation systems, soaker hoses, bubblers, or high efficiency sprinkler nozzles that have a precipitation rate of less than one (1) inch per hour. However, at no time can any irrigation system be operated long enough to cause runoff.

3. Limit on Watering Days: During the months of March through October, watering or irrigating of lawn, landscape or other vegetated area with potable water is limited to three days per week on a schedule established and posted by the city.

During the months of November through February, watering or irrigating of lawn, landscape or other vegetated area with potable water is limited to no more than one day per week on a schedule established and posted by the city. This provision does not apply to the following uses of water:

  1. To landscape irrigation zones that exclusively use very low flow drip type irrigation systems when no emitter produces more than two (2) gallons of water per hour;
  2. To watering or irrigating by use of a hand-held bucket or similar container, a hand-held hose equipped with a positive self-closing water shut-off nozzle or device, or for very short periods of time for the express purpose of adjusting or repairing an irrigation system;
  3.  To landscape irrigation zones that are controlled by an activated weather-based irrigation controller;
  4. To watering or irrigating a newly installed or significantly rehabilitated landscape for the first sixty days after the first plant is placed in the ground. For the purposes of this section, a significantly rehabilitated landscape is a landscape in which 25% or more of a property’s landscape is replaced.

4. No Excessive Water Flow or Runoff: Watering or irrigating of any lawn, landscape or other vegetated area in a manner that causes or allows excessive water flow or runoff onto an adjoining sidewalk, driveway, street, alley, gutter or ditch is prohibited.

5. No Washing Down Hard or Paved Surfaces: Washing down hard or paved surfaces, including but not limited to sidewalks, walkways, driveways, parking areas, tennis courts, patios or alleys, is prohibited except when necessary to alleviate safety or sanitary hazards, and then only by use of a hand-held bucket or similar container, a hand-held hose equipped with a positive self-closing water shut-off device, a low-volume, high-pressure cleaning machine equipped to recycle any water used, or a low-volume high-pressure water broom. Washing down structures, fences, and hard surfaces expressly for the purposes of preparing a surface for the application of a surface coating is not prohibited provided it does not occur more than one time in any twelve (12) month period.

6. Obligation to Fix Leaks, Breaks or Malfunctions: Excessive use, loss or escape of water through breaks, leaks or other malfunctions in the water user’s plumbing or distribution system for any period of time after such escape of water should have reasonably been discovered and corrected.

7. Recirculating Water Required for Water Fountains and Decorative Water Features: Operating a water fountain or other decorative water feature that does not use recirculated water is prohibited. 

8. Limits on Washing Vehicles: Using water to wash or clean a vehicle, including but not limited to any automobile, truck, van, bus, motorcycle, boat or trailer, whether motorized or not is prohibited, except by use of a hand-held bucket or similar container or a hand-held hose equipped with a positive self-closing water shut-off nozzle or device. This subsection does not apply to any commercial car washing facility that incorporates a recycled or recirculating water system in its operation.

9. Drinking Water Served Upon Request Only: Eating or drinking establishments, including but not limited to a restaurant, hotel, cafe, cafeteria, bar, or other public place where food or drinks are sold, served, or offered for sale, are prohibited from providing drinking water to any person unless expressly requested.

10. Commercial Lodging Establishments Must Provide Guests Option to Decline Daily Linen Services: Hotels, motels and other commercial lodging establishments must provide customers the option of not having towels and linen laundered daily. Commercial lodging establishments must prominently display notice of this option in each bathroom using clear and easily understood language.  

11. No Installation of Single Pass Cooling Systems: Installation of single pass cooling systems is prohibited in buildings requesting new water service.  

12. No Installation of Nonrecirculating Water Systems in Commercial Car Wash and Laundry Systems: Installation of nonrecirculating water systems is prohibited in new commercial conveyor car wash and new commercial laundry systems.

13. Restaurants Required to Use Water Conserving Dish Wash Spray Valves: Food preparation establishments, such as restaurants or cafes, are prohibited from using non-water conserving dish wash spray valves.   

14. Commercial Car Wash Systems: Within one year of passage of this ordinance, all commercial conveyor car wash systems must have installed operational re-circulating water systems, or must have secured a waiver of this requirement from the city.

15. Construction Activities: Use of potable water for construction site dust control, compaction, and other site activities suitable for nonpotable water is prohibited if recycled water is available within five miles of the construction site. 

16. Plumbing System Testing: Use of potable water for plumbing system testing is prohibited unless required by law or alternative testing procedures are determined to be unsuitable by City inspection staff.

17. Pool Covers: Constructing a pool without the inclusion of a pool cover is prohibited. All contracts for the construction of a new pool entered into after September 2, 2015, shall include the provision of a pool cover.