Provisions for the review and certification of landscaping and irrigation.
Riverside Municipal Code § 19.570.030
in effect19.570.030 - Provisions for the review and certification of landscaping and irrigation.
An applicant proposing any new or rehabilitated landscape subject to this chapter shall prepare and submit an application to the Planning Division for review and approval by the Community & Economic Development Director or his/her designee. The planting plan, irrigation plan, and soils management plan shall be reviewed to ensure that all components of the plans adhere to the requirements of this chapter. No certificate of occupancy or other final City approval shall be issued until the City reviews and approves the landscape and irrigation plans, and the landscape and irrigation are installed in accordance with the approved plans. A copy of the approved landscape and irrigation plans and conditions of approval shall be provided to the property owner or site manager along with any other information normally forwarded to the property owner or site manager.
Applications submitted to the Planning Division shall include the following information:
A. Elements of a landscape document package. The landscape documentation package shall include the following six elements:
1. Project information:
a. Date
b. Project applicant
c. Project address (if available, parcel and/or lot number(s))
d. Total landscape area (square feet)
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. Checklist of all documents in landscape documentation package
h Project contacts to include contact information for the project applicant and property owner
i. Applicant signature and date with statement, "I agree to comply with the requirements of the water efficient landscape ordinance and submit a complete landscape documentation package."
2. Water Efficient Landscape Worksheet with water budget calculations including:
a. Maximum Applied Water Allowance (MAWA)
b. Estimated Total Water Use (ETWU)
3. Soil management report;
4. Landscape design plan;
5. Irrigation design plan; and
6. Grading design plan.
B. Water Efficient Landscape Worksheet.
1. A project applicant shall complete the Water Efficient Landscape Worksheet (Figure 19.570.030.B.2) 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 nonresidential 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 nonresidential 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.
a. In calculating the maximum applied water allowance and Estimated Total Water Use, a project applicant shall use the following ET O values from the Reference Evapotranspiration Table in Appendix A of the State Model Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance. Values for Riverside are:
County & City | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Annual ETo
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
Source: Appendix A - Reference Evapotranspiration (ET O ) Table of the State Model Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance - ET O values for Riverside
2. Water budget calculations shall adhere to the following requirements:
a. 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.
b. 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.
c. All special landscape areas shall be identified and their water use calculated as shown in Appendix B.
d. ETAF for new and existing (non-rehabilitated) special landscape areas shall not exceed 1.0.
Figure 19.570.030.B - Sample Water Efficient Landscape Worksheet
[image omitted; see the official code]
C. Soil Management Report. 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 laboratory for analysis and recommendations. Soil sampling shall be conducted in accordance with laboratory protocol, including protocols regarding adequate sampling depth for the intended plants.
2. The soil analysis shall include:
a. Soil texture;
b. Infiltration rate determined by laboratory test or soil texture infiltration rate table;
c. pH;
d. Total soluble salts;
e. Sodium;
f. Percent organic matter; and
g. Recommendations.
3. In projects with multiple landscape installations (i.e., production home developments) a soil sampling rate of one in seven lots or approximately 15 percent will satisfy this requirement. Large landscape projects shall sample at a rate equivalent to one in seven lots.
The project applicant, or his/her designee, shall comply with one of the following:
1. If significant mass grading is not planned, the soil analysis report shall be submitted to the local agency as part of the landscape documentation package; or
2. If significant mass grading is planned, the soil analysis report shall be submitted to the local agency as part of the Certificate of Completion.
The soil analysis report shall be made available, in a timely manner, to the professionals preparing the landscape design plans and irrigation design plans to make any necessary adjustments to the design plans.
The project applicant, or his/her designee, shall submit documentation verifying implementation of soil analysis report recommendations to the local agency with Certificate of Completion.
D. Landscape Design Plan. For the efficient use of water, a landscape shall be carefully designed and planned for the intended function of the project. A landscape design plan meeting 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 landscape providing the Estimated Total Water Use in the landscape area does not exceed the Maximum Applied Water Allowance. Methods to achieve water efficiency shall include one or more of the following:
i. Protection and preservation of native species and natural vegetation;
ii. Selection of water-conserving plant, tree and turf species, especially local native plants;
iii. Selection of plants based on local climate suitability, disease and pest resistance;
iv. Selection of trees based on applicable local tree ordinances or tree shading guidelines, and size at maturity as appropriate for the planting area;
v. Selection of plants from local and regional landscape program plant lists; and
vi. Selection of plants from local Fuel Modification Plan Guidelines.
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 19.570.030.E.2.d.
c. 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:
i. 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;
ii. 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
iii. 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 percent where the toe of the slope is adjacent to an impermeable hardscape and where 25 percent means one foot of vertical elevation change for every four feet of horizontal length (rise divided by run × 100 = slope percent).
e. High water use plants, characterized by a plant factor of 0.7 to 1.0, are prohibited in street medians.
f. 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. Refer to the local Fuel Modification Plan guidelines.
g. The use of invasive plant species, such as those listed by the California Invasive Plant Council, is strongly discouraged. When a project is located in the Sycamore Canyon, Canyon Springs, Mission Grove, and Canyon Crest Neighborhoods, consult Table 6-2 (Plants That Should be Avoided Adjacent to the MSHCP Conservation Area) of the Multiple Species Habitat Conservation Plan to avoid the use of invasive plant species.
h. 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.
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 (see Section 19.570.030.C).
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 six percent organic matter in the top six inches of soil are exempt from adding compost and tilling.
d. A minimum three inch 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. To provide habitat for beneficial insects and other wildlife, up to five percent of the landscape area may be left without mulch. Designated insect habitat must be included in the landscape design plan as such.
e. Stabilizing mulching products shall be used on slopes that meet current engineering standards.
f. The mulching portion of the seed/mulch slurry in hydro-seeded applications shall meet the mulching requirement.
g. 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. Organic mulches are not required where prohibited by local Fuel Modification Plan Guidelines or other applicable local ordinances.
4. The landscape design plan, at a minimum, shall:
a. Identify new and existing trees, shrubs, ground covers, and turf areas within the proposed landscape area;
b. Planting legend indicating all plant species by botanical name and common name, spacing, Water Use Classification of Landscape Species (WUCOLS) plant factor, and quantities of each type of plant by container size;
c. Delineate and label each hydrozone by number, letter or other methods;
d. Identify each hydrozone as low, moderate, high water, or mixed water use. Temporarily irrigated areas of the landscape shall be included in the low water use hydrozone for the water budget calculation;
e. Include area, in square feet, devoted to landscaping and a breakdown of the total area by landscape hydrozones;
f. Identify property lines, streets, and street names;
g. Identify building locations, driveways, sidewalks, retaining walls, and other hardscape features;
h. Include scale and north arrow;
i. Identify recreational areas;
j. Identify areas permanently and solely dedicated to edible plants;
k. Identify areas irrigated with recycled water;
l. Identify type of mulch and application depth;
m. Identify soil amendments, type and quantity;
n. Identify type and surface area of any water features;
o. Identify hardscapes (pervious and non-pervious);
p. Include type and installation details of any applicable stormwater best management practices;
q. 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 19.570.100.
r. Identify any applicable rain harvesting or catchment technologies as discussed in Section 19.570.100 and their 24-hour retention or infiltration capacity;
s. Identify any applicable graywater discharge piping, system components and area(s) of distribution;
t. Contain the following statement: "I have complied with the criteria of the ordinance and applied them for the efficient use of water in the landscape design plan"; and
u. Bear the signature of a licensed landscape architect, licensed landscape contractor, or any other person authorized to design a landscape. The Planting Plan shall be prepared, wet stamped, and signed by a landscape architect as defined in Section 19.570.120 - Definitions (HH). Any plans submitted without the signature of a licensed landscape architect shall not be accepted for review.
E. Irrigation Design Plan Requirements. 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 manufacturers' 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.
1. System.
a. Landscape water meters, defined as either a dedicated water service meter or private submeter, shall be installed for all nonresidential irrigated landscapes of 1,000 square feet but not more than 5,000 square feet (the level at which Water Code 535 applies), and residential irrigated landscapes of 5,000 square feet or greater. A landscape water meter may be either:
i. A customer service meter dedicated to landscape use provided by the local water purveyor; or
ii. A privately owned meter or submeter for single-family residential uses only.
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. If the water pressure is below or exceeds the recommended pressure of the specified irrigation devices, the installation of a pressure regulating device is required to ensure that the dynamic pressure at each emission device is within the manufacturer's recommended pressure range for optimal performance.
i. 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.
ii. 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 (i.e., public health) for additional backflow prevention requirements.
g. Flow sensors that detect high flow conditions created by system damage or malfunction are required for all nonresidential landscapes and residential landscapes of 5,000 square feet or larger.
h. 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.
i. 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.
j. Relevant information from the soil management plan, such as soil type and infiltration rate, shall be utilized when designing irrigation systems.
k. The design of the irrigation system shall conform to the hydrozones of the landscape design plan.
l. The irrigation system must be designed and installed to meet, at a minimum, the irrigation efficiency criteria as described in Section 492.4 regarding the Maximum Applied Water Allowance.
m. 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.
n. It is highly recommended that the project applicant or local agency inquire with the local water purveyor about peak water operating demands (on the water supply system) or water restrictions that may impact the effectiveness of the irrigation system.
o. In mulched planting areas, the use of low volume irrigation is required to maximize water infiltration into the root zone.
p. Sprinkler heads and other emission devices shall have matched precipitation rates, unless otherwise directed by the manufacturer's recommendations.
q. Head to head coverage is recommended. However, sprinkler spacing shall be designed to achieve the highest possible distribution uniformity using the manufacturer's recommendations.
r. Swing joints or other riser-protection components are required on all risers subject to damage that are adjacent to hardscapes or in high traffic areas of turfgrass.
s. Check valves or anti-drain valves are required on all sprinkler heads where low point drainage could occur.
t. Areas less than ten feet in width in any direction shall be irrigated with subsurface irrigation or other means that produce no runoff or overspray.
u. 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:
i. The landscape area is adjacent to permeable surfacing and no runoff occurs; or
ii. The adjacent non-permeable surfaces are designed and constructed to drain entirely to landscaping; or
iii. The irrigation designer specifies an alternative design or technology, as part of the landscape documentation package and clearly demonstrates strict adherence to irrigation system design criteria in Section 19.570.030.E.1.i. Prevention of overspray and runoff must be confirmed during the irrigation audit.
v. Slopes greater than 25 percent shall not be irrigated with an irrigation system with an application rate exceeding 0.75 inches per hour. This restriction may be modified if the landscape designer 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.
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.
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:
i. Plant factor calculation is based on the proportions of the respective plant water uses and their plant factor; or
ii. The plant factor of the higher water using plant is used for 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. Use this valve number in the Hydrozone Information Table (see Figure 19.570.030.B Section A). This table can also assist with the irrigation audit and programming the controller.
3. The irrigation design plan, at a minimum, shall contain:
a. Location and size of separate water meters for landscape;
b. 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, pressure regulators, and backflow prevention devices;
c. Static water pressure at the point of connection to the public water supply;
d. Flow rate (gallons per minute), application rate (inches per hour), and design operating pressure (pressure per square inch) for each station;
e. Recycled water irrigation systems as specified in Section 19.570.070;
f. The following statement: "I have complied with the criteria of the ordinance and applied them accordingly for the efficient use of water in the irrigation design plan"; and
g. The signature of a licensed landscape architect, certified irrigation designer, licensed landscape contractor, or any other person authorized to design an irrigation system.
F. Grading design plan requirements (if applicable).
1. The project submittal shall include rough/precise grade elevations in accordance with Title 17 (Grading) of the Riverside Municipal Code and be prepared by a licensed civil engineer.
2. For the efficient use of water, grading of a project site shall be designed to minimize soil erosion, runoff, and water waste. A grading plan shall be submitted as part of the landscape documentation package. A comprehensive grading plan prepared by a civil engineer for other local agency permits satisfies this requirement.
a. The project applicant shall submit a landscape grading plan that indicates finished configurations and elevations of the landscape area including:
i. Height of graded slopes;
ii. Drainage patterns;
iii. Pad elevations;
iv. Finish grade; and
v. Stormwater retention improvements, if applicable.
b. To prevent excessive erosion and runoff, it is highly recommended that project applicants:
i. Grade so that all irrigation and normal rainfall remains within property lines and does not drain on to non-permeable hardscapes;
ii. Avoid disruption of natural drainage patterns and undisturbed soil; and
iii. Avoid soil compaction in landscape areas.
c. The grading design plan shall contain the following statement: "I have complied with the criteria of the ordinance and applied them accordingly for the efficient use of water in the grading design plan" and shall bear the signature of a licensed professional as authorized by law.
(Ord. 7454, § 1(Exh. A), 2019)
Source: City of Riverside, California, Municipal Code and City Charter (Municode Library, library.municode.com)URL: https://library.municode.com/ca/riverside/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=PTIICOOR_TIT19ZO_ARTVIIISIPLGEDEPR_CH19.570WAEFLAIR_19.570.030PRRECELAIRFetched: 11/1/2026