1. (a) This section contains prescriptive requirements, which may be used as a compliance option for new construction projects with a landscape area between 500 and 2,500 square feet.
2. (b) Compliance with the requirements of this section is mandatory and must be documented in the Landscape Documentation Package pursuant to Section 491.4(a) in order to use the prescriptive compliance option.

3. (c) Landscape project requirements.

   1. (1) 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). Soils with greater than 6% organic matter in the top six inches of soil are exempt from adding compost and tilling.

   2. (2) Irrigation systems shall comply with the following:

      1. (A) For non-residential projects with landscape areas of 1,000 sq. ft. or more, a dedicated irrigation meter or private submeter(s) to measure landscape water use shall be installed.
      2. (B) Automatic irrigation controllers are required and must use either evapotranspiration (weather-based) or soil moisture (sensor-based) data and utilize a rain sensor.
      3. (C) Irrigation controllers shall use non-volatile memory.
      4. (D) Pressure regulating devices, which may include pressure boosters or reducers, shall be installed on the irrigation system to ensure the dynamic pressure of the system is within the manufacturers recommended pressure range.
      5. (E) 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.
      6. (F) All irrigation emission devices must meet the requirements set by ANSI in the 2020 ASABE/ICC 802Landscape Irrigation Sprinkler and Emitter Standard, which is herein incorporated by reference. All sprinkler heads installed in the landscape must document a low-quarter distribution uniformity of 0.65 or higher using the protocol defined in 2020 ASABE/ICC 802 Standard.
      7. (G) Non-rotating spray sprinkler bodies are required to meet the standards described in the California Code of Regulations, Title 20, Division 4, Chapter 4, Section 1605.3(x).
      8. (H) Landscape areas less than 10 feet in width in any direction shall be irrigated with subsurface irrigation or other means that produces no water waste, runoff or overspray.

   3. (3) Plant material shall comply with all of the following:

      1. (A) For residential landscapes, install climate adapted plants that require occasional, little, or no summer water (average WUCOLS plant factor 0.3) for 75% of the landscape area excluding areas permanently and solely dedicated to edible plants, and areas using recycled water;
      2. (B) For non-residential landscapes, install climate adapted plants that require occasional, little, or no summer water (average WUCOLS plant factor 0.3) for 100% of the landscape area excluding areas permanently and solely dedicated to edible plants, and areas using recycled water;

      3. (C) Turfgrass shall comply with all of the following:

         1. 1. Turfgrass shall not exceed 25% of the landscape area in residential landscapes;
         2. 2. There shall be no turfgrass in non-residential landscapes; and
         3. 3. Turfgrass shall not be planted on sloped areas which exceed a slope of one foot vertical elevation change for every four feet of horizontal length; and,
         4. 4. Turfgrass 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 turfgrass in parkways must be irrigated by subsurface irrigation or by other technology that creates no water waste, overspray or runoff.
   4. (4) A minimum three-inch (3″) layer of mulch shall be applied on all exposed soil surfaces of planting areas except in turfgrass areas, creeping or rooting groundcovers, or direct seeding applications where mulch is contraindicated.
4. (d) The designer of record shall make plants identifiable to an inspector during final inspection. Plants must be identifiable by botanical name, common name or cultivar as specified in Section 53481 of the Food and Agricultural Code.
5. (e) At the time of final inspection, the permit applicant must provide the owner of the property and the local agency with a certificate of completion package pursuant to Section 494(a).

Note: Authority cited: Sections 65596 and 65596.5, Government Code. Reference: Sections 65593, 65596 and 65596.5, Government Code.

History

1. New section filed 7-31-92; operative 7-31-92 (Register 92, No. 32).

2. Amendment of section heading, repealer and new section and amendment of Note filed 9-10-2009; operative 9-10-2009 pursuant to Government Code section 11343.4 (Register 2009, No. 37).

3. Amendment of section and Note filed 9-15-2015; operative 9-15-2015. Exempt from OAL review and submitted to OAL for printing only pursuant to Governor's Executive Order No. B-29-15 (4-1-2015) (Register 2015, No. 38).

4. Repealer and new section filed 1-2-2025; operative 1-2-2025 pursuant to Government Code section 11343.4(b)(3) (Register 2025, No. 1).