1. (a) The landscape design plan, at a minimum, shall:

   1. (1) delineate and label each hydrozone by number, letter, or other method;

   2. (2) identify the plant factor for each hydrozone as very low, low, moderate, high, or mixed water use.

      1. (A) Temporarily irrigated landscape areas shall use the low water use plant factor range in the water budget calculation specified in Section 493.3(b)(1).

   3. (3) identify special landscape areas, including:

      1. (A) recreational areas;
      2. (B) areas permanently and solely dedicated to edible plants; and,
      3. (C) areas irrigated with or water features using recycled water;
   4. (4) identify type of mulch and application depth;
   5. (5) identify type and quantity of soil amendments;
   6. (6) identify type and surface areas of water features;
   7. (7) identify hardscapes (pervious and non-pervious);
   8. (8) identify location, installation details, and 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 local agency or regional Water Quality Control Board for information on any applicable stormwater technical requirements. Stormwater best management practices are encouraged in the landscape design plan and examples are provided in Section 490.1(a)(5) requirements.
   9. (9) identify any applicable rain harvesting or catchment technologies and their 24-hour retention or infiltration capacity, if applicable;
   10. (10) Identify any applicable graywater discharge piping, system components, and area(s) of distribution;
   11. (11) Identify designated insect habitat;

   12. (12) make plants identifiable to an inspector during final inspection;

       1. (A) Plants must be identifiable by botanical name, common name or cultivar as specified in Section 53481 of the Food and Agricultural Code.
   13. (13) contain the following statement: “I have complied with the performance compliance option criteria of the MWELO and applied them for the efficient use of water in the landscape design plan.”; and
   14. (14) bear the signature of the designer of record as defined in Section 490.2(a)(14).

2. (b) Plant Selection.

   1. (1) Any plant may be selected for the landscape, providing the Estimated Total Water Use in the landscape area does not exceed the Maximum Applied Water Allowance.
   2. (2) 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.

   3. (3) Each hydrozone shall have plant materials with similar water use.

      1. (A) Exceptions are allowed for hydrozones that use a mix of plant materials with low and moderate plant factors or moderate and high plant factors, as specified in Section 493.2.2(d)(7).
   4. (4) High water use plants, characterized by a plant factor range of 0.7 to 1.0, are prohibited in street medians.
   5. (5) Turfgrass is not allowed on slopes greater than 25% where the toe of the slope is adjacent to a non-pervious hardscape and where 25% means one (1) foot of vertical elevation change for every four (4) feet of horizontal length (rise divided by run x 100 = slope percent).

   6. (6) Methods to achieve water efficiency shall include one or more of the following:

      1. (A) protection and preservation of-native species and natural vegetation;
      2. (B) selection of plants based on local climate suitability, disease, and pest resistance;
      3. (C) selection of water-conserving plant, tree, and turfgrass species, especially local native plants;
      4. (D) Selection of trees based on applicable local tree ordinances or tree shading guidelines, and size at maturity as appropriate for the planting area;
      5. (E) Selection of plants from local and regional landscape program recommended plant lists; and
      6. (F) selection of plants from local Fuel Modification Plan Guidelines.

   7. (7) Plants shall be selected and planted appropriately based upon their adaptability to the climatic, geologic, and topographical conditions of the project site. Methods to achieve water efficiency shall include one or more of the following:

      1. (A) use the Sunset Western Climate Zone System, 2007, which is herein incorporated by reference, which takes into account temperature, humidity, elevation, terrain, latitude, and varying degrees of continental and marine influence on local climate;
      2. (B) 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, power lines); allow for adequate soil volume for healthy root growth; and
      3. (C) consider the solar orientation for plant placement to maximize summer shade and winter solar gain.

3. (c) Water Features.

   1. (1) Recirculating water systems shall be used for water features.
   2. (2) Where available, recycled water shall be used for decorative water features.
   3. (3) Surface area of a water feature shall use the high water use hydrozone plant factor in the water budget calculation.
   4. (4) Pool and spa covers are highly recommended pursuant to subdivision (d) of Section 115921 of the Health and Safety Code.

4. (d) Soil Preparation, Mulch, and Amendments.

   1. (1) 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.
   2. (2) Soil amendments shall be incorporated according to recommendations of the soil management report and what is appropriate for the plants selected (see Section 493.1).
   3. (3) For landscape installations, compost at a rate of a minimum of four cubic yards per 1,000 square feet of pervious area shall be incorporated to a depth of six inches into the soil. Soils with greater than 6% organic matter in the top six inches of soil are exempt from adding compost and tilling.

   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.

      1. (A) To provide habitat for beneficial insects and other wildlife, up to 5% of the landscape area may be left without mulch and identified in the landscape design plan (see Section 493.2(a)(11)).
   5. (5) The mulching portion of the seed/mulch slurry in hydro-seeded applications shall meet the mulching requirement in Section 493.2(d)(4).
   6. (6) Stabilizing mulching products shall be used on slopes that meet current engineering standards.

   7. (7) Organic mulch made from recycled or post-consumer materials shall take precedence over inorganic materials or virgin forest products unless the recycled post-consumer organic products are not locally available.

      1. (A) Organic mulches are not required where prohibited by local Fuel Modification Plan Guidelines or other applicable local ordinances. (Public Resources Code section 4291).

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

History

1. New section filed 9-10-2009; operative 9-10-2009 pursuant to Government Code section 11343.4 (Register 2009, No. 37).

2. 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).