Design and installation of irrigation systems.
Coral Springs Land Development Code § 250834.1
in effectSec. 250834.1. - Design and installation of irrigation systems.
All irrigation systems installed after the effective date of this ordinance shall meet the irrigation standards identified in F.S. § 373.228, as amended. All landscape areas, excluding single-family residences and duplex dwellings, shall be provided with an automatically operating, underground irrigation system designed to have head-to-head coverage (one hundred (100) per cent coverage with one hundred (100) per cent overlap). The use of drip, trickle or other low-volume or micro-irrigation systems is encouraged. Irrigation systems shall be designed to minimize application of water to impervious areas.
(a) Irrigation systems shall be designed to meet the needs of the plants in the landscape.
(b) Irrigation systems shall be designed to separately serve turf and non-turf areas.
(c) The irrigation system plans and specifications shall identify the materials to be used and the construction methods.
(d) The design shall consider soil, slope, and other site characteristics in order to minimize water waste, including overspray, the watering of impervious surfaces and other non-vegetated areas, and off-site runoff.
(e) The system shall be designed to minimize free flow conditions in case of damage or other mechanical failure.
(f) The system shall be designed to use the lowest quality water available at the time of the installation.
(g) A recommended seasonal operating schedule and average precipitation rates for each irrigation zone for both establishment and maintenance conditions shall be provided.
(h) Control systems shall provide the following minimum capabilities:
(1) Ability to be programmed in minutes, by day of week, season and time of day;
(2) Ability to accommodate multiple start times and programs;
(3) Automatic shut off after adequate rainfall or detection of adequate soil moisture;
(4) Ability to maintain time during power outages for a minimum of three (3) days; and
(5) Operational flexibility to meet applicable year-round water conservation requirements and temporary water shortage restrictions.
(i) Recommended maintenance activities and schedules shall be provided.
(j) Precipitation rates for sprinklers and all other emitters in the same zone shall be matched, except that microirrigation emitters may be specified to meet the requirements of individual plants.
(k) Irrigation systems shall be designed to maximize uniformity, considering factors such as emitter types, head spacing, sprinkler pattern, and water pressure at the emitter.
(l) Irrigation systems with main lines larger than two (2) inches or designed to supply more than seventy (70) gallons per minute shall incorporate a means to measure irrigation water use, at a minimum of ninety-five (95) per cent accuracy across the flow range.
(m) Irrigation system plans and specifications shall require the system installer to conduct final testing and adjustments to achieve design specifications prior to completion of the system and acceptance by the owner or owner's representative.
(n) Irrigation system plans and specifications shall require that the installer provide property owners and users with the following post-construction documentation, including as-constructed drawings, recommended maintenance activities and schedules, operational schedule, design precipitation rates, instructions on adjusting the system to apply less water after the landscape is established, maintenance schedule, water source, water shut-off method, and the manufacturer's operational guide for their irrigation controller. To the extent feasible, similar information should be made available for subsequent property transfers.
(o) To assist the end user to operate the system properly, the following should be provided to the owner at the time of installation. A map of the system shall be kept in a readily available location.
(1) Irrigation scheduling information, with instructions for seasonal timer and sensor changes.
(2) An irrigation valve site map detailing:
a. Valve locations;
b. Gallons per minute demands;
c. Precipitation rates;
d. Plant types within valve circuits; and
e. Operating pressure requirements for each valve.
(p) The irrigation system shall be designed to correlate to the organization of plants into hydrozones. These hydrozones shall be shown on the Irrigation Plan, as required. All plants require watering during establishment. Temporary facilities may be installed to facilitate establishment. Irrigation must be conducted in accordance with South Florida Water Management District restrictions. If local water restrictions are more restrictive, then irrigation must be conducted in accordance with the stricter restrictions.
(q) Rain shut-off switch equipment shall be required on automatic irrigation systems to avoid irrigation during periods of sufficient rainfall or soil moisture pursuant to F.S. § 373.62, as amended. Said equipment shall consist of an automatic mechanical or electronic sensing device or switch that will override the irrigation cycle of the sprinkler system when adequate rainfall has occurred.
(r) The installation of tracer wire along main lines and laterals is strongly encouraged to permit easy location and prevent inadvertent cutting of pipes.
(s) If the water supply for the irrigation system is from a well, a constant pressure flow control device or pressure tank with adequate capacity shall be required to minimize pump "cycling".
(t) Check valves must be installed at irrigation heads as needed to prevent low head drainage and puddling.
(u) Nozzle precipitation rates for all heads within each valve circuit must be matched to within twenty (20) per cent of one another.
(v) No water spray from irrigation systems shall be applied under roof overhangs.
(w) Irrigated areas shall not be less than four feet wide, except when using micro or drip irrigation.
(x) A pressure-regulating valve shall be installed and maintained if static service pressure exceeds eighty (80) pounds per square inch.
(y) Preserved ecological communities shall not be irrigated after establishment unless required by the city forester.
(z) On non-conforming lots under five thousand (5,000) square feet in size requiring landscape upgrades, irrigation may be accomplished by the installation and use of hand watering in accordance with current water restrictions
(Ord. No. 2011-117, § 2, 7-5-11)
Source: City of Coral Springs, Florida, Code of Ordinances, Charter and Land Development Code (Municode Library, library.municode.com)URL: https://library.municode.com/fl/coral_springs/codes/land_development_code?nodeId=CH25ZOOR_ARTIXMILARE_S250834.1DEINIRSYFetched: 11/8/2026