Chapter 13.25
WATER EFFICIENT LANDSCAPE
Sections:
13.25.010 Authority – Findings – Purpose.
13.25.020 Applicability.
13.25.030 Definitions.
13.25.040 Submittal requirements.
13.25.050 Landscape documentation package.
13.25.060 Water efficient landscape worksheet.
13.25.070 Soils management report.
13.25.080 Landscape design plan.
13.25.090 Irrigation design plan.
13.25.100 Grading design plan.
13.25.110 Certificate of completion.
13.25.120 Irrigation scheduling.
13.25.130 Landscape and irrigation maintenance schedule.
13.25.140 Irrigation audit, irrigation survey, and irrigation water use analysis.
13.25.150 Water waste prevention.
13.25.160 Recycled water.
13.25.170 Graywater systems.
13.25.180 Stormwater management and rainwater retention.
13.25.190 Existing landscapes.
13.25.200 Alternative prescriptive compliance option.
13.25.210 Public education.
13.25.220 Violation.
13.25.010 Authority – Findings – Purpose.
A. Authority. This chapter is enacted under the State Model Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance and is a “water efficient landscape ordinance” adopted by a local agency under California Code of Regulations Title 23, Division 2, Chapter 2.7.
B. Findings. The City Council finds and declares that the state of California is historically an arid environment with limited amounts of water resources subject to ever-increasing demands. There are enormous costs to the residents and ecosystem of the state to maintain current water resources systems and create new systems to meet current and future demands for water. The state’s, region’s, and City’s continued economic prosperity is dependent upon continued water availability. Landscapes are essential to our quality of life, for example by providing areas for passive recreation and enhancing the environment by cleaning air and water and preventing erosion. Landscape design, installation, maintenance, and management can be water efficient. Therefore, the City Council finds that it is in the public interest of the residents of the City and the state to require the wise and efficient use of a limited and costly resource through regulations that require and promote water conservation.
C. Purpose. The purpose of this chapter is to establish standards for designing, installing, and maintaining water efficient landscapes that avoid runoff and other water waste in landscape projects. This is accomplished through the requirements for responsible landscape design, soil care, irrigation design and scheduling, and management, which utilize reasonable amounts of water while ensuring that aesthetic, functional, energy and environmental benefits of landscapes are achieved with design flexibility. Bay-Friendly Landscape Guidelines, Bay-Friendly Rated Scorecard and Bay-Friendly Gardening Guide, as defined in LMC 13.25.030, shall be utilized as a whole systems approach to the design, construction and maintenance of the landscape, to conserve water. (Ord. 2091 § 1 (Exh. A), 2020; Ord. 2065 § 1(A), 2018; Ord. 1956 § 4 (Exh. B), 2012; Ord. 1926 § 4 (Exh. B), 2010; Ord. 1399 § 1, 1992)
13.25.020 Applicability.
A. The provisions of this chapter shall apply to landscape projects that require a permit, as that term is defined in LMC 13.25.030, for which an application is deemed complete on or after the effective date of the ordinance codified in this chapter, as follows:
1. New construction projects with an aggregate landscape area equal to or greater than 500 square feet.
2. Rehabilitated landscape projects with an aggregate landscape area equal to or greater than 2,500 square feet.
3. Existing landscapes; limited to LMC 13.25.190.
4. Cemeteries. Recognizing the special landscape management needs of cemeteries, new and rehabilitated cemeteries are limited to LMC 13.25.060, 13.25.130, and 13.25.140. Existing cemeteries are limited to LMC 13.25.190.
B. The exceptions to the requirements of subsection A of this section are that:
1. Any project with an aggregate landscape area of 2,500 square feet or less may comply with the performance requirements of this chapter or conform to the prescriptive measures in LMC 13.25.200.
2. For projects using treated or untreated graywater or rainwater captured on site, any lot or parcel within the project that has less than 2,500 square feet of landscape and meets the lot’s or parcel’s landscape water requirement (estimated total water use) entirely with treated or untreated graywater or through stored rainwater captured on site is subject only to LMC 13.25.200(B)(5).
C. The following categories of uses are exempt from this chapter:
1. Agricultural and horticultural commerce (for example, commercial activities such as farming of grains, wine grapes, vegetables, fruit and nut trees and other agricultural crop production; greenhouses; nurseries; and floriculture facilities).
2. Plant collections, as part of botanical gardens and arboretums open to the public.
3. Registered local, state or federal historical sites.
4. Ecological restoration projects and mined-land reclamation projects that do not require a permanent irrigation system.
D. All landscapes not meeting the criteria of subsection A of this section are subject only to the water waste prevention provisions of LMC 13.25.150. (Ord. 2091 § 1 (Exh. A), 2020; Ord. 1956 § 4 (Exh. B), 2012; Ord. 1926 § 4 (Exh. B), 2010; Ord. 1399 § 1, 1992. Formerly 13.25.030)
13.25.030 Definitions.
“Amendment” means any material added to the soil to alter the pH or improve the natural physical properties of the soil, such as increased organic content, water retention, water infiltration, and drainage.
“Anti-drain or check valve” means a valve located under a sprinkler head, or other location in the irrigation system, to hold water in the system to prevent drainage from sprinkler heads when the sprinkler is off.
“Application rate” means the depth of water applied to a given area, usually measured in inches per hour.
“Applied water” means the portion of water supplied by the irrigation system to the landscape.
“Automatic irrigation controller” means a timing device used to remotely control valves that operate an irrigation system. Automatic irrigation controllers are able to self-adjust and schedule irrigation events using either evapotranspiration (weather-based) or soil moisture data.
“Backflow prevention device” means a safety device used to prevent pollution or contamination of the water supply due to the reverse flow of water from the irrigation system.
“Bay-friendly” means a holistic approach to gardening and landscaping developed and espoused by StopWaste.org that works in harmony with the natural conditions of the San Francisco Bay watershed. Bay-friendly practices foster soil health and conserve water and other valuable resources while reducing waste and preventing pollution.
“Bay-Friendly Landscape Guidelines” means the most recent version of the guidelines developed by StopWaste.org for use in the professional design, construction and maintenance of landscapes.
“Bay-Friendly Maintenance Manual” means the most recent version of the manual outlining bay-friendly maintenance practices administered by the Bay-Friendly Landscaping and Gardening Coalition.
“Bay-Friendly Rated Scorecard” means the most recent version of the bay-friendly points system for landscaping administered by the Bay-Friendly Landscaping and Gardening Coalition.
“Bubbler” means an irrigation head that delivers water to the root zone by flooding the planted area, usually measured in gallons per minute. Bubblers exhibit a trickle, umbrella, or short stream pattern.
“Certificate of completion” means the document required under LMC 13.25.110.
“Certified irrigation designer” means a person certified to design irrigation systems by an accredited academic institution, a professional trade organization or other program such as the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s WaterSense irrigation designer certificate program and the Irrigation Association’s certified irrigation designer program.
“Certified landscape irrigation auditor” means a person certified to perform landscape irrigation audits by an accredited academic institution, a professional trade organization or other program such as the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s WaterSense irrigation auditor certification program and the Irrigation Association’s certified landscape irrigation auditor program.
“CIMIS” means the California Irrigation Management Information System, which is a network of weather stations located around the state which collects reference evapotranspiration data and is managed by the California Department of Water Resources.
“City” means the area within the legal boundaries of the City of Livermore.
“Common interest developments” means community apartment projects, condominium projects, planned developments, and stock cooperatives per California Civil Code Section 1351.
“Compost” means the safe and stable product of controlled biologic decomposition of organic materials that is beneficial to plant growth.
“Conversion factor (0.62)” means the number that converts acre-inches per acre per year to gallons per square foot per year.
“Cycle” means the complete operation of an irrigation controller station.
“Department” means the community development department.
“Director” means the Community Development Department Director or his or her designee.
“Distribution uniformity” means a measure of the uniformity of applied irrigation water over an area.
“Drip irrigation” means any non-spray low volume irrigation system utilizing emission devices with a flow rate measured in gallons per hour. Low volume irrigation systems are specifically designed to apply small volumes of water slowly at or near the root zone of plants.
“Drought-resistant soil” means soil that has been supplemented, for example by addition of an amendment such as compost and by covering with mulch, to maximize rainfall infiltration, increase the soil’s capacity to hold water, and allow for plant roots to penetrate and proliferate such that the landscape can survive with less than the maximum applied water allowance.
“Drought-tolerant, extra” refers to a plant or landscape that can survive without irrigation throughout the year once established, although supplemental water may be desirable during drought periods for improved appearance and disease resistance. Plants in “Water-Conserving Plants and Landscape for the Bay Area” (latest edition), published by the East Bay Municipal Utility District, that can tolerate “no water after second year” are examples of such plants. Also known as “xeric” or “xeriscape” plants or landscapes.
“Ecological restoration project” means a project where the site is intentionally altered to establish a defined, indigenous, historic ecosystem.
“Emitter” means a drip irrigation emission device that delivers water slowly from the system to the soil.
“Established landscape” means the point in time at which plants in the landscape have developed roots into the soil adjacent to the root ball. Typically, most plants are established after one or two years of growth.
“Establishment period of the plants” means the first year after installing the plant in the landscape or the first two years if irrigation will be terminated after establishment. Typically, most plants are established after one or two years of growth. Native habitat mitigation areas and trees may need three to five years for establishment.
“Estimated applied water use” means the annual total amount of water estimated to be needed to keep the plants in the landscape healthy.
“Estimated total water use (ETWU)” means the total water used for the landscape as described in LMC 13.25.060.
“ET adjustment factor (ETAF)” means a factor of 0.55 for residential and 0.45 for nonresidential areas that, when applied to reference evapotranspiration, adjusts for plant factors and irrigation efficiency, two major influences upon the amount of water that needs to be applied to the landscape. The ETAF for new and existing (nonrehabilitated) special landscape areas shall not exceed 1.0. The ETAF for existing nonrehabilitated landscapes is 0.8.
“Evapotranspiration rate” means the quantity of water evaporated from adjacent soil surfaces and other surfaces and transpired by plants during a specific time.
“Fertilizer” means a substance added to soil to provide nutrients.
“Flow rate” means the rate at which water flows through pipes, valves and emission devices, measured in gallons per minute, gallons per hour, or cubic feet per second.
“Flow sensor” means an inline device installed at the supply point of the irrigation system that produces a repeatable signal proportional to flow rate. Flow sensors must be connected to an automatic irrigation controller, or flow monitor capable of receiving flow signals and operating master valves. This combination flow sensor/controller may also function as a landscape water meter or submeter.
“Friable” means a soil condition that is easily crumbled or loosely compacted down to a minimum depth per planting material requirements, whereby the root structure of newly planted material will be allowed to spread unimpeded.
“Grading” means earthwork performed to alter the natural contours of an area.
“Grasses, cool-season” means grasses that green up and grow more during the spring, set seed in early summer, then go dormant during warmer seasons until fall, when they begin growing again; e.g., annual bluegrass, Kentucky bluegrass, perennial ryegrass, red fescue, and tall fescue.
“Grasses, warm-season” means grasses that green up and grow more during the summer, set seed in fall, and go dormant during cold seasons; e.g., seashore paspalum, St. Augustine grass, zoysiagrass, bahiagrass, and buffalo grass.
“Graywater” means untreated wastewater that has not been contaminated by any toilet discharge, has not been affected by infectious, contaminated, or unhealthy bodily wastes, and does not present a threat from contamination by unhealthful processing, manufacturing, or operating wastes.
Graywater includes, but is not limited to, wastewater from bathtubs, showers, bathroom washbasins, clothes washing machines, and laundry tubs, but does not include wastewater from kitchen sinks or dishwashers. Health and Safety Code Section 17922.12.
“Green roof” means a roof of a structure partially or completely covered with vegetation and a growing medium, typically planted over a waterproofing membrane. It may also include additional layers such as a root barrier and drainage and irrigation systems.
“Hardscapes” means any durable material (pervious and nonpervious).
“High flow sensors” or “flow meters” detect and report high flow conditions created by system damage or malfunction.
“High water using plant” means a plant that will require regular irrigation for adequate appearance, growth and disease resistance.
“Homeowner-provided landscaping” means any landscaping either installed by a private individual for an owner-occupied detached or attached single-family residence or installed by a licensed contractor hired by a homeowner.
“Hydrozone” means a portion of the landscaped area having plants with similar water needs and rooting depth. A hydrozone may be irrigated or nonirrigated.
“Infiltration rate” means the rate of water entry into the soil expressed as a depth of water per unit of time (e.g., inches per hour).
“Invasive plant species” means species of plants not historically found in California that spread outside cultivated areas and can also damage environmental or economic resources. Invasive species may be regulated by county agricultural agencies as noxious species. Lists of invasive plants are maintained at the California Invasive Plant Council Inventory and USDA invasive and noxious weeds database.
“Irrigated” means supplied with equipment that can apply water from an irrigation system.
“Irrigation audit” means an in-depth evaluation of the performance of an irrigation system conducted by a certified landscape irrigation auditor. An irrigation audit includes, but is not limited to, inspection, system tune-up, system test with distribution uniformity and emission uniformity.
“Irrigation efficiency (IE)” means the measurement of the amount of water beneficially used divided by the amount of water applied. Irrigation efficiency is derived from measurements and estimates of irrigation system characteristics and from management practices. The irrigation efficiency for purposes of this chapter is 0.75 for overhead spray devices and 0.81 for drip systems.
“Irrigation survey” means an evaluation of an irrigation system that is less detailed than an irrigation audit. An irrigation survey includes, but is not limited to: inspection, system test, and written recommendations to improve performance of the irrigation system.
“Irrigation system” means a complete connection of system components, including the water source, the water distribution network, controller and the necessary irrigation equipment.
“Irrigation water use analysis” means an analysis of water use data based on meter readings and billing data.
“Landscape architect” means a person licensed to practice landscape architecture in State of California Business and Professions Code Section 5615.
“Landscape area” means all the planting areas, turf areas, and water features in a landscape design plan subject to the maximum applied water allowance calculation. “Landscape area” does not include footprints of buildings or structures, sidewalks, driveways, parking lots, decks, patios, gravel or stone walks, other pervious or nonpervious hardscapes, and other nonirrigated areas designed for nondevelopment (e.g., open spaces and existing native vegetation).
“Landscape contractor” means a person licensed by the state of California to construct, maintain, repair, install, or subcontract the development of landscape systems.
“Landscape documentation package” means the documents required under LMC 13.25.050.
“Landscape project” means the total area of landscape in a project for purposes of this chapter, meeting requirements of LMC 13.25.020.
“Landscape water meter” means an inline device installed at the irrigation supply point that measures the flow of water into the irrigation system and is connected to a totalizer to record water use.
“Lateral line” means the water delivery pipeline that supplies water from the source to the emitters or sprinklers from the valve.
“Local water purveyor” means an entity, including a public agency, city, county or private water company, that provides retail water service.
“Low volume irrigation” means the application of irrigation water at low pressure through a system of tubing or lateral lines and low volume emitters such as drip, drip lines, and bubblers. Low volume irrigation systems are specifically designed to apply small volumes of water slowly at or near the root zone of plants.
“Low water using plant” means a plant that can survive throughout the year with little irrigation and is semi-drought-tolerant.
“Main line” means the pressurized pipeline that delivers water from the water source to the valve or outlet.
“Master shut-off valve” means an automatic valve installed at the irrigation supply point which controls water flow into the irrigation system. When this valve is closed water will not be supplied to the irrigation system. A master valve will greatly reduce any water loss due to a leaky station valve.
“Maximum applied water allowance (MAWA)” means the upper limit of annual applied water for the established landscape area as specified in LMC 13.25.060. It is based upon the area’s reference evapotranspiration, the ET adjustment factor, and the size of the landscape area. The estimated total water use shall not exceed the maximum applied water allowance. Special landscape areas, including recreation areas, areas permanently and solely dedicated to edible plants such as orchards and vegetable gardens, and areas irrigated with recycled water, are subject to the MAWA with an ETAF not to exceed 1.0. MAWA = (ETo)(0.62) [(ETAF x LA) + ((1-ETAF) x SLA)]
“Median” means an area between opposing lanes of traffic that may be unplanted or planted with trees, shrubs, perennials, and ornamental grasses.
“Microclimate” means the climate of a small, specific area that may contrast with the climate of the overall landscape area due to factors such as wind, sun exposure, plant density, slope, or proximity to reflective surfaces.
“Mined-land reclamation projects” means any surface mining operation with a reclamation plan approved in accordance with the Surface Mining and Reclamation Act of 1975.
“Mulch” means any organic material such as leaves, bark, straw, compost, or inorganic mineral material such as rocks, gravel, or decomposed granite left loose and applied to the soil surface to the beneficial purposes of reducing evaporation, suppressing weeds, moderating soil temperature, and preventing soil erosion.
“New construction” means a new building with a landscape or other new landscape, such as a park, playground, or greenbelt, without an associated building.
“Nonresidential landscape” means landscapes in commercial, institutional, industrial and public settings that may have areas designated for recreation or public assembly. It also includes portions of common areas or common interest developments with designated recreational areas.
“Operating pressure” means the pressure at which the parts of an irrigation system are designed by the manufacturer to operate.
“Overhead sprinkler irrigation systems” or “overhead spray irrigation systems” means systems that deliver water through the air (e.g., spray heads and rotors).
“Overspray” means irrigation water that is delivered beyond the target area.
“Parkway” means the area between a sidewalk and the curb or traffic lane. It may be planted, unplanted, and with or without pedestrian egress.
“Permeable” means any surface or material that allows the substantial passage of water through the material and into the underlying soil (also “pervious”).
“Permit” means an authorization issued by the City for new construction or rehabilitated landscapes and can include but not be limited to a building or landscape permit, plan check, land use entitlement, design review, encroachment permit, or capital improvement project approval.
“Pervious” means any surface or material that allows the substantial passage of water through the material and into the underlying soil.
“Plant factor” or “plant water use factor” means a factor that, when multiplied by ETo, estimates the amount of water needed by plants. For purposes of this chapter, the plant factor range for very low water use plants is 0 to 0.1, the plant factor range for low water use plants is 0.1 to 0.3, the plant factor range for moderate water use plants is 0.4 to 0.6, and the plant factor range for high water use plants is 0.7 to 1.0. Plant factors cited in this chapter are derived from the publication “Water Use Classification of Landscape Species.” Plant factors may also be obtained from horticultural researchers from academic institutions or professional associations as approved by the California Department of Water Resources (DWR).
“Point of connection” means the point at which an irrigation system connects into the public water system and is usually the point at which the meter and backflow prevention device are located or will be installed.
“Project applicant” means the individual or entity submitting a landscape documentation package required under LMC 13.25.050, to request a permit, plan check, or design review from the City. A project applicant may be the property owner or his or her designee.
“Project development site” means the area of land under common ownership and use which contains the landscape area subject to a permit, and which may contain other features including but not limited to buildings, structures, and/or circulation routes.
“Rain sensor” or “rain-sensing shutoff device” means a component that automatically suspends an irrigation event when it rains.
“Record drawings” or “as-builts” means a set of reproducible drawings which show significant changes in the work made during construction and which are usually based on drawings marked up in the field and other data furnished by the contractor.
“Recreational area” means areas, excluding private single-family residential areas, designated for active play, recreation or public assembly in parks, sports fields, picnic grounds, amphitheaters or golf course tees, fairways, roughs, surrounds and greens.
“Recycled water,” “reclaimed water,” or “treated sewage effluent water” means treated or recycled wastewater of a quality suitable for nonpotable uses such as landscape irrigation and water features. This water is not intended for human consumption.
“Reference evapotranspiration” or “ETo” means a standard measurement of environmental parameters that affect the water use of plants. ETo is expressed in inches per day, month, or year and is an estimate of the evapotranspiration of a large field of four- to seven-inch-tall, cool-season grass that is well-watered. Reference evapotranspiration is used as the basis of determining the maximum applied water allowances so that regional differences in climate can be accommodated.
“Registered historical site” means a site that is listed in a national, state or local register or inventory of historic resources or is zoned with a historic preservation (HP) combining district overlay.
“Rehabilitated landscape” means any landscaping project that requires a permit, plan check, or design review, meets the requirements of LMC 13.25.020, and the modified landscape area is equal to or greater than 2,500 square feet.
“Remote control valve” means a valve in an irrigation system which is activated by an automatic electric controller via a wired or wireless signal.
“Residential landscape” means landscapes surrounding single- or multifamily homes.
“Runoff” means water which is not absorbed by the soil or landscape to which it is applied and flows from the landscape area. For example, runoff may result from water that is applied at too great a rate (application rate exceeds infiltration rate) or when there is a slope.
“Smart irrigation controller” means an electronic automatic irrigation controller that is weather or soil moisture based with a timing device used to operate remote control valves that operate an irrigation system, which schedules irrigation events using evapotranspiration (weather-based) data such as that from the California Irrigation and Management Information System (see definition of “CIMIS”) and/or data from an integral or auxiliary soil moisture or rain sensor, and which may also include a high flow sensor for high flow damage or malfunction control.
“Soil moisture sensing device” or “soil moisture sensor” means a device that measures the amount of water in the soil. The device may also suspend or initiate an irrigation event.
“Soil texture” means the classification of soil based on the percentage of sand, silt, and clay in the soil. Soil texture largely determines the amount of water that can be stored in a soil as well as the soil infiltration rate.
“Special landscape area (SLA)” means an area of landscape dedicated solely to edible plants, recreation areas, areas irrigated with recycled water, or water features using recycled water.
“Sprinkler head” or “spray head” means a device which delivers water through a nozzle.
“Static water pressure” means the pipeline or municipal water supply pressure when water is not flowing.
“Station” means an area served by one valve or a set of valves that operate simultaneously.
“Submeter” means a metering device to measure water applied to the landscape that is installed after the primary utility water meter.
“Swing joint” means an irrigation component that provides a flexible, leak-free connection between the emission device and lateral pipeline to allow movement in any direction and to prevent equipment damage.
“Turf” means a ground cover surface of mowed grass. Areas planted with lawn alternatives such as Carex pansa and other tufted grass or sedge species are not considered turf. See definitions of “grasses, warm-season” and “grasses, cool-season.”
“Valve” means a device used to control the flow of water in the irrigation system.
“Very low water using plant” means a plant that can survive throughout the year with little or no irrigation and is generally extra drought-tolerant.
“Water conserving plant species” means a plant species identified as having a very low or low plant factor.
“Water feature” means a design element where open water performs an aesthetic or recreational function. Water features include ponds, lakes, waterfalls, fountains, artificial streams, spas, and swimming pools (where water is artificially supplied). The surface area of water features is included in the high water use hydrozone of the landscape area. Constructed wetlands used for on-site wastewater treatment or stormwater best management practices that are not irrigated and used solely for water treatment or stormwater retention are not water features and, therefore, are not subject to the water budget calculation.
“Water purveyor” means the public or private owner or operator of the water supplying an approved water supply which provides the water that will be used to irrigate a landscape project.
“Watering window” means the time of day irrigation is allowed.
“Wildfire management plan” means the guidelines from the Alameda County Fire Bureau to assist residents and businesses that are developing land or building structures in a fire hazard severity zone.
“WUCOLS” means the Water Use Classification of Landscape Species published by the University of California Cooperative Extension and the Department of Water Resources, 2014. (Ord. 2091 § 1 (Exh. A), 2020; Ord. 2065 § 1(A), 2018; Ord. 2045 § 1(A), 2016; Ord. 2016 §§ 1(A), 1(B), 2015; Ord. 1956 § 4 (Exh. B), 2012; Ord. 1926 § 4 (Exh. B), 2010; Ord. 1399 § 51, 1992. Formerly 13.25.040)
13.25.040 Submittal requirements.
A. For projects subject to the provisions of this chapter, the property owner or property owner’s authorized agent must submit the following elements of a landscape documentation package meeting the requirements of LMC 13.25.050 as part of a required planning permit:
1. Project information consistent with LMC 13.25.050(A)(1)(a) through (i).
2. Draft water budget calculations consistent with LMC 13.25.050(A)(2)(b).
3. Draft landscape design plan consistent with LMC 13.25.050(A)(4).
4. Draft grading design plan consistent with LMC 13.25.050(A)(6).
B. Prior to issuance of a building permit and a landscape installation certification meeting the requirements of LMC 13.25.110 following landscape installation and prior to a final inspection sign-off and occupancy, the property owner or property owner’s authorized agent must submit a final landscape documentation package meeting the requirements of LMC 13.25.050. (Ord. 2091 § 1 (Exh. A), 2020; Ord. 1956 § 4 (Exh. B), 2012; Ord. 1926 § 4 (Exh. B), 2010; Ord. 1860 § 5, 2009; Ord. 1399 § 1, 1992. Formerly 13.25.050)
13.25.050 Landscape documentation package.
A. The landscape documentation package shall include the following six elements:
1. Project information, including the following:
a. Date.
b. Project applicant.
c. Project address, including assessor’s parcel number and/or tract and lot numbers.
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 local water purveyor if not served by a private well.
g. Checklist of all documents in the landscape documentation package.
h. Project contacts including contact information for the project applicant and property owner.
i. Applicant signature and date with the statement, “I agree to comply with the requirements of the water efficient landscape ordinance and submit a complete landscape documentation package.”
j. Certification Statement. The statement “I have complied with the criteria of Livermore Municipal Code Chapter 13.25 and have applied them for efficient use of water in the landscape documentation plan” and the signature of an architect or landscape architect licensed in the state in good standing shall be submitted.
2. Water efficient landscape worksheet, including:
a. Hydrozone information table.
b. Water budget calculations.
i. Maximum applied water allowance (MAWA).
ii. Estimated total water use (ETWU).
3. Soil management report.
4. Landscape design plan.
5. Irrigation design plan.
6. Grading design plan.
B. Homeowners Associations and Common Interest Developments. The covenants, codes and restrictions (i.e., CC&Rs) of a common interest development, which may include but not be limited to community apartment projects, condominiums, planned developments, stock cooperatives, or single-family subdivisions governed by a homeowners association, shall not prohibit or include conditions that have the effect of prohibiting the use of low water use plants as a group. Further, said guidelines shall not prohibit the removal of turf, nor restrict or prohibit the reduction of turf in lieu of more water efficient alternatives. Verification of compliance with this requirement may be deferred prior to occupancy at the discretion of the Director. (Ord. 2091 § 1 (Exh. A), 2020; Ord. 2065 § 1(A), 2018; Ord. 1956 § 4 (Exh. B), 2012; Ord. 1926 § 4 (Exh. B), 2010; Ord. 1399 § 1, 1992. Formerly 13.25.060)
13.25.060 Water efficient landscape worksheet.
A. A project applicant shall submit a water efficient landscape worksheet in a format provided by the Community Development Director which adheres to the following:
1. The evapotranspiration adjustment factor (ETAF) for the landscape project shall not exceed a factor of 0.55 for residential areas, 0.45 for non-residential areas, and 1.0 for special landscape areas.
2. The estimated total water use (ETWU) is calculated based on the plants used and the irrigation method selected.
3. An ETo value of 47.2 (City of Livermore Reference ETo as shown in the State Model Ordinance) shall be used to calculate the maximum applied water allowance (MAWA) and the estimated total water use.
4. ETWU must be below the MAWA.
B. Water budget calculations shall adhere to the following requirements:
1. The plant factor used shall be from the most current edition of WUCOLS or published plant reference book as approved by the California Department of Water Resources (DWR). The plant factor ranges from 0 to 0.1 for very low water use plants, from 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.
2. Published plant reference books may include but are not limited to the following:
a. California Native Plants for the Garden, Carol Bornstein, David Fross and Bart O’Brien, Cachuma Press, 2005. (CNP)
b. Plants and Landscapes for Summer-Dry Climates, Nora Harlow (ed.), East Bay Municipal Utility District, 2004. (EBMUD)
c. Landscape Plants for California Gardens, Robert C. Perry, Land Design Publisher, 2010.
d. Sunset Western Garden Book, editors of Sunset Magazine, Oxmoor House, 2012.
e. University of California Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Water Use Classification of Landscape Species (WUCOLS IV), www.ucanr.edu/sites/WUCOLS.
3. 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.
4. All special landscape areas shall be identified and their water use calculated.
5. ETAF for new and existing (nonrehabilitated) special landscape areas shall not exceed 1.0. (Ord. 2091 § 1 (Exh. A), 2020)
13.25.070 Soils management report.
A. 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.
a. Soil sampling shall be conducted in accordance with laboratory protocol, including protocols regarding adequate sampling depth for the intended plants.
b. The soil analysis shall include:
i. Soil texture.
ii. Infiltration rate determined by laboratory test or soil texture infiltration rate table.
iii. pH.
iv. Total soluble salts.
v. Sodium.
vi. Percent organic matter.
vii. Recommendations for amending the soil with compost to bring the soil organic matter to a minimum of six percent by dry weight and incorporating organic fertilizers to recommended levels for planting areas. Acceptable organic fertilizers and amendment products are those allowed for use in crop production by at least one of the following: Organic Materials Review Institute’s Generic Materials List; California Department of Food and Agriculture’s Organic Input Materials Program; U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Organic Program.
2. The project applicant, or his/her designee, shall comply with one of the following:
a. If significant mass grading is not planned, the soil management report shall be submitted as part of the landscape documentation package; or
b. If significant mass grading is planned, the soil management report shall be submitted as part of the certificate of completion.
3. Documentation verifying implementation of soil management report recommendations shall be submitted with the certificate of completion. (Ord. 2091 § 1 (Exh. A), 2020)
13.25.080 Landscape design plan.
A. For the efficient use of water, a landscape shall be carefully designed and planned for the intended function of the project and meet the following design criteria. A landscape design plan meeting the following design criteria shall be submitted to the City as part of the landscape documentation package:
1. Plant Material.
a. The estimated total water use of selected plants in the landscape area shall 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 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 tree ordinances or tree shading guidelines and size and maturity as appropriate for the planting area.
v. Selection of plants from local and regional landscape program plant lists.
vi. Selection of plants consistent with wildfire management plan.
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 LMC 13.25.090(A)(2)(e).
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 that 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 (e.g., 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.
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 impervious hardscape.
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 Sections 4291(a) and (b). Avoid fire-prone plant materials and highly flammable mulches as listed in the wildfire management plan or other applicable local ordinances.
g. The use of invasive and/or noxious plant species, such as those listed by the California Invasive Plant Council, are prohibited.
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.
3. Soil Preparation, Mulch and Amendments.
a. Prior to the planting of any materials, compacted soil shall be transformed to a friable condition. On engineered slopes, only amended planting holes need to meet this requirement.
b. Soil amendments shall be incorporated according to recommendations of the soil management report and what is appropriate for the plants selected.
c. 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 six percent organic matter in the top six inches of soil are exempt from adding compost and tilling. Organic matter must be confirmed by an accredited soil testing laboratory. Projects that incorporate sheet mulching may choose to install the compost above the cardboard layer instead of tilling it into the soil. Projects that are sheet mulching lawn in place are exempt from the tilling requirement.
d. A minimum three-inch layer of mulch shall be applied on all exposed soil surfaces of planting areas except in turf areas, areas receiving closely spaced plugs as a lawn alternative or direct seeding applications where mulch is not desirable. 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 hydroseeded applications shall meet the mulching requirement.
g. Organic mulch materials made from recycled or post-consumer products 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 the wildfire management plan or other applicable local ordinances.
B. The landscape design plan, at a minimum, shall:
1. Include project information as provided in LMC 13.25.050(A).
2. Delineate and label each hydrozone by number, letter, or other method.
3. Identify the following:
a. Each hydrozone as low, moderate, high, or mixed water use. Temporarily irrigated areas of the landscape shall be included in the low water use hydrozone for the water budget calculation.
b. Recreational areas.
c. Areas permanently and solely dedicated to edible plants.
d. Areas irrigated with recycled water.
e. Type of mulch and application depth.
f. Soil amendments, type, and quantity.
g. Type and surface area of water features.
h. Hardscapes (pervious and nonpervious).
i. 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 City of Livermore 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 LMC 13.25.180.
j. Any applicable rain harvesting or catchment technologies (e.g., rain gardens, cisterns, etc.) and their 24-hour retention or infiltration capacity.
k. Landfill diversion verification requirement that the landscape contractor shall be required to submit in certificate of completion.
4. Contain the following statement: “The landscape design plan complies with Livermore Municipal Code Chapter 13.25 for the efficient use of water.”
5. Bear the signature of a licensed landscape architect, licensed landscape contractor, or any other person authorized to design a landscape. (Ord. 2091 § 1 (Exh. A), 2020)
13.25.090 Irrigation design plan.
A. 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 manufacturer’s recommendations. The irrigation system and its related components shall be planned and designed to allow for proper installation, management, and maintenance.
1. System.
a. A dedicated water service meter for landscape irrigation shall be installed for all irrigated landscapes, except for single-family residential connections which are exempt from this requirement. A landscape water meter shall be a separate submeter or metering device for outdoor potable water use for the landscape.
b. Automatic irrigation controllers utilizing either evapotranspiration or soil moisture sensor data utilizing nonvolatile 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.
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 or routine repair.
f. Backflow prevention devices shall be required to protect the potable water supply from contamination by the irrigation system.
g. Flow sensors that detect high flow conditions created by system damage or malfunctions 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 shutdown features.
i. The irrigation system shall be designed to prevent runoff, low head drainage, overspray, or other similar conditions where irrigation water flows onto nontargeted areas, such as adjacent property, nonirrigated 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 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. The project applicant shall inquire with the water district about peak water operating demands (on the water supply system) or water restrictions that may impact the effectiveness of the irrigation system.
o. Sprinkler heads and other emission devices shall have matched precipitation rates, unless otherwise directed by the manufacturer’s recommendations.
p. Head-to-head coverage is recommended. However, sprinkler spacing shall be designed to achieve the highest possible distribution uniformity using the manufacturer’s recommendations.
q. 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 on turfgrass.
r. Check valves or anti-drain valves are required on all emission devices where low point drainage could occur.
s. Drip irrigation operation indicators are required for all low volume and drip irrigation systems.
t. Bubblers shall not exceed a maximum of 0.25 gallons per minute.
u. Areas less than 10 feet in width in any direction shall be irrigated with subsurface irrigation or other means that produce no runoff or overspray.
v. No obstruction of overhead irrigation by mature size of plant material shall be clearly demonstrated as part of the landscape documentation package.
w. Overhead irrigation shall not be permitted within 24 inches of any impervious surface. Allowable irrigation within the setback from impervious surfaces may include drip, drip line, or other low flow non-spray technology. These restrictions may be modified if:
i. The landscape area is adjacent to pervious surfacing;
ii. The adjacent impervious 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 design documentation package, and clearly demonstrates strict adherence to irrigation system design criteria in subsection (A)(1)(i) of this section. Prevention of overspray and runoff must be confirmed during the irrigation audit.
x. Slopes greater than 25 percent shall not be irrigated with an irrigation system with an application rate exceeding 0.75 inches per hour.
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. Trees shall be placed on separate valves from shrubs, ground covers, and turf to facilitate the appropriate irrigation for trees. The mature size and extent of the root zone shall be considered when designing the irrigation for the tree.
d. Plants in biotreatment soils shall be on a separate valve.
e. 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.
f. Individual hydrozones that mix high and low water use plants shall not be permitted.
g. Hydrozone areas shall be designated by number, letter, or other designation on the landscape plan and irrigation plan. Designate the areas irrigated by each valve, and assign a number to each valve on the irrigation design plan.
B. The irrigation design plan, at a minimum, shall contain:
1. Location and size of any landscape water meters.
2. 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.
3. Static water pressure at the point of connection to the public water supply.
4. Flow rate (gallons per minute), application rate (inches per hour), and design operating pressure (pressure per square inch) for each station (valve).
5. Recycled water irrigation systems as specified in LMC 13.25.160.
6. The following statement: “This irrigation design plan complies with the criteria of Livermore Municipal Code Chapter 13.25 for efficient use of water.”
7. The signature of a licensed landscape architect, certified irrigation designer, licensed landscape contractor, or any other person authorized to design an irrigation system. (Ord. 2091 § 1 (Exh. A), 2020)
13.25.100 Grading design plan.
A. 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 City permits satisfies this requirement.
1. The project applicant shall submit a landscape grading plan that indicates finished configurations and elevations of the landscape area including:
a. Height of graded slopes.
b. Drainage patterns.
c. Pad elevations.
d. Finish grade.
e. Stormwater retention improvements, if applicable.
2. To prevent excessive erosion and runoff, it is highly recommended that project applicants:
a. Grade so that all irrigation and normal rainfall remains within property lines and does not drain on to nonpermeable hardscapes.
b. Avoid disruption of natural drainage patterns and undisturbed soil.
c. Avoid soil compaction in landscape areas.
B. Grading Plan Topsoil Protection. The grading plan shall include specifications to avoid topsoil compaction. The grading plan shall indicate available areas to stockpile topsoil for use in planting areas and specify to the grading contractor to remove and store topsoil prior to rough grading; protect it from wind and rain erosion and compaction; and mitigate compacted soil conditions (e.g., by ripping the soil). (Ord. 2091 § 1 (Exh. A), 2020)
13.25.110 Certificate of completion.
A. The certificate of completion shall be submitted by the applicant to the City for review on forms provided by the City prior to project sign-off or acceptance. Final occupancy shall not be granted until the certificate of completion is approved by the community development department.
B. The certificate of completion shall include the following:
1. Project information sheet.
2. Certification by either the signer of the landscape design plan, the signer of the irrigation design plan, or the licensed landscape contractor that the landscape project has been installed per the approved landscape documentation package.
a. Where there have been significant changes made in the field during construction, these “as-built” or record drawings shall be included with the certification.
b. A diagram of the irrigation plan showing hydrozones shall be kept with the irrigation controller for subsequent management purposes.
3. Irrigation scheduling parameters used to set the controller.
4. Landscape and irrigation maintenance schedule.
5. Irrigation audit report.
6. Soil management report, if not submitted with landscape documentation package, and documentation verifying implementation of soil report recommendations.
7. Landfill diversion verification. (Ord. 2091 § 1 (Exh. A), 2020)
13.25.120 Irrigation scheduling.
A. For the efficient use of water, all irrigation schedules shall be developed, managed, and evaluated to utilize the minimum amount of water required to maintain plant health. Irrigation schedules shall meet the following criteria:
1. Irrigation scheduling shall be regulated by automatic irrigation controllers.
2. Overhead irrigation shall be scheduled between 8:00 p.m. and 10:00 a.m. unless weather conditions prevent it. Operation of the irrigation system outside the normal watering window is allowed for auditing and system maintenance.
3. Irrigation schedules shall be regulated by automatic irrigation controllers using current reference evapotranspiration data (e.g., CIMIS) or soil moisture sensor data to apply water and meet the estimated total water use. Total annual applied water shall be less than or equal to maximum applied water allowance (MAWA).
4. Parameters used to set the automatic controller shall be developed and submitted for each of the following:
a. The plant establishment period.
b. The established landscape.
c. Temporarily irrigated areas.
5. Each irrigation schedule shall consider for each station all of the following that apply:
a. Irrigation interval (days between irrigation).
b. Irrigation run times (hours or minutes per irrigation event to avoid runoff).
c. Number of cycle starts required for each irrigation event to avoid runoff.
d. Amount of applied water scheduled to be applied on a monthly basis.
e. Application rate setting.
f. Root depth setting.
g. Plant type setting.
h. Soil type.
i. Slope factor setting.
j. Shade factor setting.
k. Irrigation uniformity or efficiency setting. (Ord. 2091 § 1 (Exh. A), 2020)
13.25.130 Landscape and irrigation maintenance schedule.
A. The applicant’s regular maintenance schedule shall be submitted with the certificate of completion to ensure water efficiency.
B. The maintenance schedule shall include, but not be limited to, routine inspection; auditing; adjustment and repair of the irrigation system and its components; aerating and dethatching turf areas; topdressing with compost; replenishing mulch; fertilizing; pruning; weeding in all landscape areas; and removing any obstruction to emission devices. Operation of the irrigation system outside the normal watering window is allowed for auditing and system maintenance.
C. Repair of all irrigation equipment shall be done with the originally installed components or their equivalents or better to achieve the desired uniformity and distribution rates.
D. A project applicant is encouraged to implement sustainable or environmentally friendly practices for overall landscape maintenance. (Ord. 2091 § 1 (Exh. A), 2020)
13.25.140 Irrigation audit, irrigation survey, and irrigation water use analysis.
A. It shall be the applicant’s responsibility to ensure irrigation audits are performed as required. The applicant may be required to analyze irrigation water use and conduct irrigation surveys for compliance with the maximum applied water allowance. Said landscape audits and surveys shall be commissioned and paid for by the applicant.
B. All landscape irrigation audits shall be conducted by a third-party certified landscape irrigation auditor. Landscape audits shall not be conducted by the person who designed the landscape or installed the landscape.
C. In projects with multiple landscape installations (i.e., production home developments) an auditing rate of one in seven lots or approximately 15 percent will satisfy this requirement. The irrigation audits are the sole responsibility of the developer.
D. For new construction and rehabilitated landscape projects installed after December 1, 2015, the irrigation audit shall include, but is not limited to, inspection, system tune-up, system test with distribution uniformity, reporting overspray or runoff that causes overland flow, and preparation of an irrigation schedule, including configuring irrigation controllers with application rate, soil types, plant factors, slope, exposure and any other factors necessary for accurate programming. (Ord. 2091 § 1 (Exh. A), 2020)
13.25.150 Water waste prevention.
A. The City shall prevent water waste resulting from inefficient landscape irrigation by prohibiting runoff from leaving the target landscape due to low head drainage, overspray, or other similar conditions where water flows onto adjacent property, nonirrigated areas, walks, roadways, parking lots, or structures. Restrictions regarding overspray and runoff may be modified if:
1. The landscape area is adjacent to permeable surfacing and no runoff occurs; or
2. The adjacent nonpermeable surfaces are designed and constructed to drain entirely to landscaping. (Ord. 2091 § 1 (Exh. A), 2020; Ord. 2065 § 1(A), 2018; Ord. 1956 § 4 (Exh. B), 2012; Ord. 1926 § 4 (Exh. B), 2010. Formerly 13.25.080)
13.25.160 Recycled water.
A. The installation of irrigation systems shall allow for the current and future use of recycled water, unless the project is located in an area in which recycled water is unavailable and will not be available for the foreseeable future, or a written exemption has been granted by the City.
B. Decorative water features shall use recycled water unless a written exemption has been granted by the City stating that recycled water meeting all public health codes and standards is not available and will not be available for the foreseeable future.
C. Landscapes using recycled water are considered special landscape areas. The ET adjustment factor for new and existing (nonrehabilitated) special landscape areas shall not exceed 1.0. (Ord. 2091 § 1 (Exh. A), 2020)
13.25.170 Graywater systems.
A. Graywater systems promote the efficient use of water and are encouraged to assist in on-site landscape irrigation. All graywater systems shall conform to the California Plumbing Code (Title 24, Part 5, Chapter 16) and any applicable local ordinance standards. Refer to LMC 13.25.020(B)(2) for the applicability of this chapter to landscape areas less than 2,500 square feet with the estimated total water use met entirely by graywater.
B. Graywater systems shall not be interconnected with the domestic water system.
C. Applicants shall obtain a construction permit from the City for the installation of all graywater systems.
D. An approved backflow prevention assembly shall be installed on the domestic water system, downstream of the domestic water meter. (Ord. 2091 § 1 (Exh. A), 2020)
13.25.180 Stormwater management and rainwater retention.
A. Stormwater management practices minimize runoff and increase infiltration that recharges groundwater and improves water quality. Including stormwater best management practices into landscape and grading design plans to minimize runoff and to increase on-site rainwater retention and infiltration are encouraged.
B. Project applicants shall refer to City of Livermore’s Stormwater Management and Discharge Control Ordinance (Chapter 7.74) and the San Francisco Bay Regional Water Quality Control Board Municipal Regional Stormwater NPDES Permit for information on any applicable stormwater regulatory requirements.
C. All planted landscape areas are required to have friable soil to maximize water retention and infiltration.
D. It is recommended that projects incorporate any of the following elements to improve on-site stormwater and dry weather runoff capture and use:
1. Grade impervious surfaces, such as driveways, to drain to vegetated areas.
2. Minimize the area of impervious surfaces such as paved areas, roofs and concrete driveways.
3. Incorporate pervious or porous surfaces (e.g., gravel, permeable pavers or blocks, pervious or porous concrete) that minimize runoff.
4. Direct runoff from paved surfaces and roof areas into planting beds or landscaped areas to maximize site water capture and reuse.
5. Incorporate rain gardens, rain barrels, and other rain harvesting or catchment systems.
6. Incorporate infiltration beds, swales, or basins to capture stormwater and dry weather runoff and increase percolation into the soil.
7. Rainwater catchment systems cannot be connected with the domestic water system.
8. Applicants shall contact the water district to determine if a permit is required for the installation of the rainwater catchment system. (Ord. 2091 § 1 (Exh. A), 2020)
13.25.190 Existing landscapes.
A. This section shall apply to all existing landscapes that were installed before December 1, 2015, and are over an acre in size.
1. For all landscapes that have a landscape water meter, the City may require, but not be limited to, irrigation water use analyses, irrigation surveys, and irrigation audits to evaluate water use and provide recommendations as necessary to reduce landscape water use to a level that does not exceed the maximum applied water allowance for existing landscapes. The maximum applied water allowance for existing landscapes shall be calculated as: MAWA = (0.8)(ETo)(LA)(0.62).
2. For all landscapes that do not have a landscape water meter, the City may require, but not be limited to, irrigation surveys and irrigation audits to evaluate water use and provide recommendations as necessary in order to prevent water waste.
B. All landscape irrigation audits shall be conducted by a certified landscape irrigation auditor. (Ord. 2091 § 1 (Exh. A), 2020)
13.25.200 Alternative prescriptive compliance option.
A. This section contains prescriptive requirements which may be used as a compliance option to this chapter.
B. Compliance with the following items is mandatory and must be documented on a landscape plan in order to use the prescriptive compliance option:
1. Submit a landscape documentation package which includes the following elements:
a. Date.
b. Project applicant.
c. Project address (if available, parcel and/or lot number(s)).
d. Total landscape area (square feet), including a breakdown of turf and plant material.
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. Contact information for the project applicant and property owner.
h. Applicant signature and date with statement, “I agree to comply with the requirements of the prescriptive compliance option of the Livermore Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance, Chapter 13.25 LMC.”
2. 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 contraindicated by a soil test).
3. Plant material shall comply with all of the following:
a. For residential areas, install climate-adapted plants that require occasional, little or no summer water (average WUCOLS plant factor 0.3) for 75 percent of the plant area, excluding edibles and areas using recycled water.
b. For nonresidential areas, install climate adapted plants that require occasional, little or no summer water (average WUCOLS plant factor 0.3) for 100 percent of the plant area, excluding edibles and areas using recycled water.
c. At a minimum, it is required that species listed in the California Invasive Plant Council’s “Don’t Plant a Pest” brochure as invasive in the project’s region are not installed.
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 ground covers areas receiving closely spaced plugs as a lawn alternative, or direct seeding applications where mulch is contraindicated.
4. Turf shall comply with all of the following:
a. Turf shall not exceed 25 percent of the landscape area in residential areas, and there shall be no turf in nonresidential areas.
b. Turf shall not be planted on sloped areas that exceed a slope of one-foot vertical elevation change for every four feet of horizontal length.
c. Turf 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 turf in parkways must be irrigated by subsurface irrigation or by other technology that creates no overspray or runoff.
5. Irrigation systems shall comply with the following:
a. Automatic irrigation controllers are required and must use evapotranspiration or soil moisture sensor data and utilize a rain sensor.
b. Irrigation controllers shall be of a type that does not lose programming data in the event the primary power source is interrupted.
c. Pressure regulators shall be installed on the irrigation system to ensure the dynamic pressure of the system is within the manufacturer’s recommended pressure range.
d. 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.
e. All irrigation emission devices must meet the requirements set in the ANSI standard, 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.
f. Areas less than 10 feet in width in any direction shall be irrigated with subsurface irrigation or other means that produces no runoff or overspray.
6. For nonresidential projects with landscape areas of 1,000 square feet or more, a private submeter(s) to measure landscape water use shall be installed.
7. At the time of final inspection, the permit applicant must provide the owner of the property with a certificate of completion, certificate of installation, irrigation schedule, and a schedule of landscape and irrigation maintenance. (Ord. 2091 § 1 (Exh. A), 2020)
13.25.210 Public education.
A. Education is a critical component to promote the efficient use of water in landscapes. The use of appropriate principles of design, installation, management and maintenance that save water is encouraged in the community. The Director shall be authorized to prepare, from time to time, supplemental materials, in which the definitions of LMC 13.25.030 shall apply, to complement and help implement this chapter that may include but not be limited to:
1. Informational bulletins, forms and plant lists.
2. Information to owners of permitted renovations and new, single-family residential homes regarding the design, installation, management, and maintenance of water efficient landscapes described in this chapter.
B. Model Homes. All model homes that are landscaped shall use signs and written information to demonstrate the principles of water efficient landscapes described in this chapter.
1. Signs shall be used to identify the model as an example of a water efficient landscape featuring elements such as hydrozones, irrigation equipment, and others that contribute to the overall water efficient theme. Signage shall include information about the site water use as designed per this chapter; specify who designed and installed the water efficient landscape; and demonstrate low water use approaches to landscaping, such as using native plants, graywater systems, and rainwater catchment systems.
2. Information shall be provided about designing, installing, managing, and maintaining water efficient landscapes. (Ord. 2091 § 1 (Exh. A), 2020; Ord. 2065 § 1(A), 2018; Ord. 1956 § 4 (Exh. B), 2012; Ord. 1926 § 4 (Exh. B), 2010; Ord. 1399 § 1, 1992. Formerly 13.25.070)
13.25.220 Violation.
Violations of any provision of this chapter may result in the immediate suspension of any development permit previously issued for the property upon which said violation occurred, until compliance with all the requirements of this chapter is demonstrated to the satisfaction of the Director. (Ord. 2091 § 1 (Exh. A), 2020; Ord. 2065 § 1(A), 2018; Ord. 1956 § 4 (Exh. B), 2012; Ord. 1926 § 4 (Exh. B), 2010. Formerly 13.25.100)