HomeMy WebLinkAboutCC AG PKT 2009-12-14 #HDATE: December 14, 2009
TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council
THRU: David Carmany, City Manager
FROM: Vince Mastrosimone, Director of Public Work
SUBJECT: INTRODUCE WATER EFFICIENT LANDSCAPE
ORDINANCE NO. 1588
SUMMARY OF REQUEST:
It is respectfully requested that the City Council introduce and give first reading to
Ordinance No. 1588 the Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance.
BACKGROUND:
In 1992, the State of California enacted the Water Conservation in Landscaping
Act, (AB 325) requiring the adoption of a water efficient landscape ordinances by
cities and counties throughout the state.
In 2006, Governor Schwarzenegger signed Assembly Bill 1881 (Laird, Water
Conservation) amending the Water Conservation in the Landscape Act (Act).
The bill requires two new things: 1) DWR is to update the 1992 Model Water
Efficient Landscape Ordinance; and 2) cities and counties are to update local
Landscape Ordinances by January 1, 2010 so that they are "at least as effective
as" DWR's updated Model Ordinance. Staff cannot confirm the City ever
adopted a Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance. Because of the new "at least as
effective as" clause, meeting the requirements of AB 1881 will result in significant
changes to most landscape ordinances in Orange County.
In response to the new landscape water efficiency requirements, a stakeholder
group was formed under the leadership of the Municipal Water District of Orange
County (MWDOC) and the Orange County Division of the League of California
Cities (the Division). The stakeholder group includes representatives from the
county, cities, local water agencies, Building Industries Association (BIA), Orange
County Fire Authority, irrigation consultants, landscape architects, and other
green industry professionals. The goal of the stakeholder group was to develop
a locally- crafted Orange County Model Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance
(OC Model) that will meet the "at least as effective as" requirement of state law,
Agenda Item H
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minimize the complexity and cost of compliance, and provide consistency
between local jurisdictions. These sessions have produced an abbreviated OC
Model and Guidelines for city consideration in pursuing adoption of their local
ordinance.
Analysis of New Requirements
The new requirements include the following:
1. Sets the irrigated area compliance threshold at 2,500 square feet for
developer - installed projects, public agency projects, and private
development projects requiring a building or landscape permit, plan check
or design review
2. Requires homeowner - provided or homeowner -hired projects exceeding
5,000 square feet of irrigated area to acquire a building or landscape
permit, plan check, or design review.
3. Collaboration between cities, counties, and water purveyors is now
strongly encouraged in the development and implementation of water
efficient landscape ordinances.
4. Local ordinances must be "at least as effective as" the State Model and
documented "on the record."
5. Jurisdictions must now utilize evapo- transpiration based "Maximum
Applied Water Allowance" (MAWA) rates of 0.7 instead of 1.0. The use of
the new MAWA rate represents a 30% reduction in water allocation for
new landscapes.
6. Water purveyors are now required to offer landscape surveys and /or
incentive programs targeting landscape irrigation efficiency for new and
existing landscapes.
7. Local ordinances must address smaller landscaping projects including
single - family residential projects requiring permits
8. Local jurisdictions must regulate existing landscapes for water waste.
9. A local agency may designate another agency, such as a water purveyor,
to implement some or all of the requirements contained in the State
Model.
Guiding Principles for Orange County
The Division, in partnership with MWDOC, has developed an OC Model for
Orange County cities. There were three broad policy principles that drove the
Technical Drafting Committee.
1) To protect local control and mitigate the creation of increased layers of
government and oversight.
a) While the State Model meets the requirements of the law, it goes a step
further by including detailed and prescriptive language identifying how
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local agencies will meet targets. However, the law only requires that local
agencies adopt an ordinance that is "at least as effective" as the State
Model in reaching targets.
b) In addition, one size does not fit all. Many of the prescriptive measures in
the State Model are not the most effective solutions for the diversity of
ecological realities that exist between the various cities in Orange County.
In the spirit of local land use decision making, each city is able to adopt an
ordinance relevant to its particular situation.
c) Using the State Model as a starting point, the OC Model separates the
"what" from the "how," by creating a simple, clear model ordinance and a
separate guidelines document that can be easily updated, edited, or
augmented as a local agency sees fit for its particular situation.
2) To ensure as much simplicity, efficiency, and flexibility as possible.
a) The approach to protect local control also supports simplicity and
efficiency. While the State Model is over 40- pages, the OC model is 7-
pages, with a 23 -page guidelines companion document. The guidelines
document provides flexibility to cities and can be easily updated as
technologies and laws change.
b) The OC Model allows for self- certification, eliminating the need for
additional layers of government and review, minimizes the cost of
implementation, and yet allows cities to review in -house or out - source, if
the self- certification option is not desired.
c) Because the OC Model reflects the minimum "at least as effective"
requirements, it allows the flexibility to decide to implement more stringent
requirements, or to add reference to methods and programs relative to
their specific city in the guidelines document.
3) To provide for as much consistency among OC cities as possible.
a) The OC Model provides consistency across the county. If a majority of
OC cities adopt the OC Model, the negative impacts of many different
ordinances and requirements will be mitigated.
b) If a majority of OC cities adopt the OC Model, it will be easier to provide
training and updates to cities in the future as technologies change and
updated educational information becomes needed.
Orange County Approach
The approach taken by the Technical Drafting Committee was to separate the
policy issues and technical procedures into two documents; the OC Model
Ordinance and Guidelines respectively. This resulted in a succinct eleven page
ordinance supported by a 13 page guidelines document.
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The cornerstone of the OC Model Ordinance and Guidelines is a self- certification
process that will streamline the permitting process and reduce costs for
applicants and local agencies. The self- certification includes two steps. First,
the landscape designer will sign a Certification of Design, which includes their
license number and /or professional stamp, stating that the landscape design is in
conformance with the city ordinance and guidelines. The permit will not be
issued unless the Landscape Documentation Package is complete, including this
certification. Second, once construction of the landscape is complete, the
installation contractor or designer will sign the Landscape Installation Certificate
of Completion stating that the installation is complete and is in substantial
conformance with the original plan. Once the Landscape Installation Certificate
of Completion is accepted by the city, the permit will be completed.
The Landscape Documentation Package proposed in the OC Model will include
the following elements to be submitted by the project applicant for permit
issuance:
1)
Project Information Summary
Already required for applications.
2)
Water Efficient Landscape
Worksheet
3
Soil Management Plan
Elements 3, 4, and 5 may be combined
into one Plan submittal.
4 Landscape Design Plan
5) Irrigation Design Plan
6)
Grading Design Plan
Already required per the Gradin Code.
7)
Certification of Landscape Design
A component of the OC Model Self
Certification process
The Landscape Installation Certificate of Completion package will include:
1. Certification that the project was constructed per the approved plans;
2. Irrigation scheduling parameters used to set the controller;
3. Landscape and irrigation maintenance schedules;
4. An irrigation audit report or enrollment in the Municipal Water District of
Orange County Landscape Performance Program.
Implementation within Seal Beach
Presently, the City does not require building permits for residential or commercial
landscape installations or upgrades. The City does require plumbing permits for
landscape installations that have irrigation systems, but not all landscape
installations (especially residential installations) are required to have irrigation
systems.
Since the compliance threshold for residential properties will be 5,000 square
feet of landscaped area, staff believes that only a small number of residential
projects will be required to comply with this ordinance. However, the threshold
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for commercial properties, at a lower 2,500 square foot landscaped area, means
that most every commercial property within the City will be required to comply
with this ordinance when any new landscape installation is proposed, with the
exception of those projects that are exempt from all or part of the requirements of
this ordinance.
The Guidelines will be presented for adoption by resolution at the same time the
Ordinance is adopted.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
There is no direct fiscal impact upon the City by adopting this ordinance.
RECOMMENDATION:
It is respectfully requested that the City Council introduce and give first reading to
Ordinance No. 1588 th e Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance.
R W
Vince Mastrosimone
Director of Public Works
NOTED AND APPROVED:
David Carman
City Manager
Attachments:
A. Ordinance No. 1588
B. Guidelines
ORDINANCE NUMBER 1588
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF SEAL BEACH AMENDING
THE SEAL BEACH MUNICIPAL CODE BY ADDING THERETO
CHAPTER 9.70 REGARDING WATER EFFICIENT
LANDSCAPING
THE SEAL BEACH CITY COUNCIL DOES ORDAIN AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. The Seal Beach Municipal Code is hereby amended by adding
Chapter 9.70 thereto to read as follows:
"Chapter 9.70: Water Efficient Landscaping
9.70.005 Purpose
A. The State Legislature has found that:
1. the waters of the State are of limited supply and are subject
to ever increasing demands;
2. the continuation of California's economic prosperity is
dependent on the availability of adequate supplies of water for future uses;
3. it is the policy of the State to promote the conservation and
efficient use of water and to prevent the waste of this valuable resource;
4. landscapes are essential to the quality of life in California by
providing areas for active and passive recreation and as an enhancement to the
environment by cleaning air and water, preventing erosion, offering fire
protection, and replacing ecosystems lost to development;
5. landscape design, installation, maintenance, and
management can and should be water efficient; and
6. Article X, Section 2 of the California Constitution specifies
that the right to use water is limited to the amount reasonably required for the
beneficial use to be served, and the right does not and shall not extend to waste
or unreasonable method of use of water.
B. The City hereby finds that:
1. Orange County has an established, large reclaimed water
infrastructure system;
2. Allocation -based and tiered water rate structures allow public
agencies to document water use in landscapes;
3. Incentive -based water use efficiency programs have been
actively implemented within Orange County since before 1991;
4. current local design practices in new landscapes typically
achieve the State Model Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance water use goals;
5. all water services within the City are metered;
6. Orange County is a leader in researching and promoting the
use of smart automatic irrigation controllers with more than 4,500 installations as
of June 2009;
Ordinance Number 1588
7. all new irrigation controllers sold after 2012 within Orange
County will be smart controllers;
8. the average rainfall in Orange County is approximately 12
inches per year.
9. the City as the local water purveyor has implemented a
tiered rate billing program and endorses water waste prohibitions for all existing
metered landscaped areas throughout its service area, which includes a majority
of the City of Seal Beach.
10. that this council has determined, based upon the written and
oral testimony presented to it, that this Chapter is substantially equivalent to the
model ordinance prepared by the State of California.
C. Consistent with these findings, the purpose of this Chapter is to
establish an alternative model acceptable under AB 1881 as being at least as
effective as the State Model Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance in the context
of conditions in the City in order to:
1. promote the benefits of consistent landscape ordinances
with neighboring local and regional agencies;
2. promote the values and benefits of landscapes while
recognizing the need to invest water and other resources as efficiently as
possible;
3. establish a structure for planning, designing, installing, and
maintaining and managing water efficient landscapes in new construction and
rehabilitated projects;
4. establish provisions for water management practices and
water waste prevention for existing landscapes;
5. use water efficiently without waste by setting a Maximum
Applied Water Allowance as an upper limit for water use and reduce water use to
the lowest practical amount; and
6. encourage the use of economic incentives that promote the
efficient use of water, such as implementing a tiered -rate structure.
9.65.010 Applicability.
A. All planting, irrigation, and landscape - related improvements
required by this Chapter shall apply to the following landscape projects:
1. new landscape installations or landscape rehabilitation
projects by public agencies or private non - residential developers, except for
cemeteries, with a landscaped area, including pools or other water features but
excluding hardscape, equal to or greater than 2,500 square feet, and which are
otherwise subject to a discretionary approval of a landscape plan, or which
otherwise require a ministerial permit for a landscape or water feature;
2. new landscape installations or landscape rehabilitation
projects by developers or property managers of single - family and multi - family
residential projects or complexes with a landscaped area, including pools or
other water features but excluding hardscape, equal to or greater than 2,500
square feet, and which are otherwise subject to a discretionary approval of a
landscape plan, or which otherwise require a ministerial permit for a landscape or
water feature;
PW -Ord #1588 -Water Efficient Landscape
Ordinance Number 1588
3. new landscape installation projects by individual
homeowners on single - family or multi - family residential lots with a total project
landscaped area, including pools or other water features but excluding
hardscape, equal to or greater than 5,000 square feet, and which are otherwise
subject to a discretionary approval of a landscape plan, or which otherwise
require a ministerial permit for a landscape or water feature;
4. sections 2.2, 2.8 and 2.9 of the Guidelines shall apply to new
landscape installations or landscape rehabilitation projects at cemeteries.
B. Section 3(b) of the Landscape Water Use Standards of this Chapter
shall apply to:
1. all landscaped areas installed after January 1, 2010 to which ,
Section 1.1(a) is applicable.
C. This Chapter does not apply to:
registered local, state, or federal historical sites;
2. ecological restoration projects that do not require a
permanent irrigation system;
3. plant collections, as part of botanical gardens and
arboretums open to the public.
9.65.015 Implementation Procedures
A. Prior to installation, a Landscape Documentation Package shall be
submitted to the City for review and approval of all landscape projects subject to
the provisions of this Chapter. Any Landscape Documentation Package
submitted to the City shall comply with the provisions of the Guidelines.
B. The Landscape Documentation Package shall include a
certification by a professional appropriately licensed in the State of California
stating that the landscape design and water use calculations have been prepared
by or under the supervision of the licensed professional and are certified to be in
compliance with the provisions of this Chapter and the Guidelines.
1. Landscape and irrigation plans shall be submitted to the City
for review and approval with appropriate water use calculations. Water use
calculations shall be consistent with calculations contained in the Guidelines and
shall be provided to the local water purveyor, under procedures determined by
the City.
2. Verification of compliance of the landscape installation with
the approved plans shall be obtained through a Certification of Completion in
conjunction with a Certificate of Use and Occupancy or Permit Final process, as
provided in the Guidelines.
9.65.20 Landscape Water Use Standards
A. For applicable landscape installation or rehabilitation projects
subject to Section 1.1(a) of this Chapter, the Estimated Applied Water Use
allowed for the landscaped area shall not exceed the MAWA calculated using an
ET adjustment factor of 0.7, except for special landscaped areas where the
MAWA is calculated using an ET adjustment factor of 1.0; or the design of the
landscaped area shall otherwise be shown to be equivalently water - efficient in a
manner acceptable to the City; as provided in the Guidelines.
PW - Ord 4 1588 - Water Efficient Landscape
Ordinance Number 1588
B. Irrigation of all landscaped areas shall be conducted in a manner
conforming to the rules and requirements, and shall be subject to penalties and
incentives for water conservation and water waste prevention as determined and
implemented by the local water purveyor or as mutually agreed by local water
purveyorand the City.
9.65.025 Third Party.
The City may enter into a contract with, a local agency or third party with lawful
authority, to implement, administer, and /or enforce any of the provisions of the
Chapter on behalf of the City.
9.65.030 Definitions.
The following definitions are applicable to this [chapter /division /title]:
1. Applied water: the portion of water supplied by the irrigation
system to the landscape.
2. Budget -based tiered -rate structure: tiered or block rates for
irrigation accounts charged by the retail water agency in which the block
definition for each customer is derived from lot size or irrigated area and the
evapotranspiration requirements of landscaping.
3. Ecological restoration project a project where the site is
intentionally altered to establish a defined, indigenous, historic ecosystem.
4. Estimated Applied Water Use the average annual total
amount of water estimated to be necessary to keep plants in a healthy state,
calculated as provided in the Guidelines. It is based on the reference
evapotranspiration rate, the size of the landscape area, plant water use factors,
and the relative irrigation efficiency of the irrigation system.
5. ET adiustment factor" or "ETAF is equal to the plant factor
divided by the irrigation efficiency factor for a landscape project, as described in
the Guidelines. The ETAF is calculated in the context of local reference
evapotranspiration, using site - specific plant factors and irrigation efficiency
factors that influence the amount of water that needs to be applied to the specific
landscaped area.
A combined plant mix with a site -wide average plant factor of
0.5 (indicating a moderate water need) and average irrigation efficiency of 0.71
produces an ET adjustment factor of (0.7) = (0.5/0.71), which is the standard of
water use efficiency generally required by this Chapter and the Guidelines,
except that the ETAF for a special landscape area shall not exceed 1.0.
6. Guidelines refers to the Guidelines for Implementation of
the Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance, as adopted by the City, which
describes procedures, calculations, and requirements for landscape projects
subject to this Chapter. The Guidelines shall be adopted by resolution and may
be amended from time to time.
7. Hardscapes: any durable material or feature (pervious and
non - pervious) installed in or around a landscaped area, such as pavements or
walls. Pools and other water features are considered part of the landscaped
area and not considered hardscapes for purposes of this Chapter.
8. Homeowner installed landscape any landscaping either
installed by a private individual for a single family residence or installed by a
licensed contractor hired by a homeowner. A homeowner, for purposes of this
Chapter, is a person who occupies the dwelling he or she owns. This definition
excludes speculative homes, which are not owner - occupied dwellings and which
P W - Ord # 1588 - Water Efficient Landscape
Ordinance Number 1588
are subject under this Chapter to the requirements applicable to developer -
installed residential landscape projects.
9. Irrigation efficiency 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 management practices. The minimum average irrigation
efficiency for purposes of this Chapter is 0.71. Greater irrigation efficiency can" be
expected from well designed and maintained systems.
10. Landscaped area all the planting areas, turf areas, and
water features in a landscape design plan subject to the Maximum Applied Water
Allowance and Estimated Applied Water Use calculations. The landscaped area
does not include footprints of buildings or structures, sidewalks, driveways,
parking lots, decks, patios, gravel or stone walks, other pervious or non - pervious
hardscapes, and other non - irrigated areas designated for non - development (e.g.,
open spaces and existing native vegetation).
11. Landscape contractor a person licensed by the State of
California to construct, maintain, repair, install, or subcontract the development of
landscape systems.
12. Landscape Documentation Package the documents
required to be provided to the City for review and approval of landscape design
projects, as described in the Guidelines.
13. Landscape project total area of landscape in a project, as
provided in the definition of "landscaped area," meeting the requirements under
Section 1.1 of this Chapter.
14. Local agency a city or county, including a charter city or
charter county, that is authorized by the City to implement, administer, and /or
enforce any of the provisions of this Chapter on behalf of the City. The local
agency may be responsible for the enforcement or delegation of enforcement of
this Chapter including, but not limited to, design review, plan check, issuance of
permits, and inspection of a landscape project.
15. Local water purveyor" means any entity, including a public
agency, city, county, or private water company that provides retail water service.
16. Maximum Applied Water Allowance or MAWA: the upper
limit of annual applied water for the established landscaped area as specified in
Section 2.2 of the Guidelines. It is based upon the area's reference
evapotranspiration, the ET Adjustment Factor, and the size of the landscaped
area. The Estimated Applied Water Use shall not exceed the Maximum Applied
Water Allowance.
17. New construction for the purposes of this Chapter, a new
building with a landscape or other new landscape such as a park, playground, or
greenbelt without an associated building.
18. Non - pervious: any surface or natural material that does not
allow for the passage of water through the material and into the underlying soil.
19. Pervious any surface or material that allows the passage of
water through the material and into the underlying soil.
20. Permit an authorizing document issued by local agencies
for new construction or rehabilitated landscape.
21 Plant factor or plant water use factor: is a factor, when
multiplied by ETo, that estimates the amount of water needed by plants. For
PW -Ord #1588 -Water Efficient Landscape
Ordinance Number 1588
purposes of this Chapter, the plant factor range for low water use plants is 0 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 Department of Water Resources 2000 publication
"Water Use Classification of Landscape Species."
22. Recycled water or reclaimed water: treated or recycled
waste water of a quality suitable for non - potable uses such as landscape
irrigation and water features. This water is not intended for human consumption.
23. Reference evapotranspiration or ETo: a standard
measurement of environmental parameters which affect the water use of plants.
ETo is given expressed in inches per day, month, or year as represented in
Appendix A of the Guidelines, 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.
24. Rehabilitated landscape any re- landscaping project that
meets the applicability criteria of Section 1.1(a), where the modified landscape
area is greater than 2,500 square feet, is 50% of the total landscape area, and
the modifications are planned to occur within one year.
25. Smart automatic irrigation controller: an automatic timing
device used to remotely control valves that operate an irrigation system and
which schedules irrigation events using either evapotranspiration (weather -
based) or soil moisture data.
26. Special landscape area: an area of the landscape dedicated
solely to edible plants such as orchards and vegetable gardens, areas irrigated
with recycled water, water features using recycled water, and areas dedicated to
active play such as parks, sports fields, golf courses, and where turf provides a
playing surface.
27. Turf: a ground cover surface of mowed grass. Annual
bluegrass, Kentucky bluegrass, Perennial ryegrass, Red fescue, and Tall fescue
are cool- season grasses. Bermudagrass, Kikuyugrass, Seashore Paspalum, St.
Augustinegrass, Zoysiagrass, and Buffalo grass are warm - season grasses.
28. Valve: a device used to control the flow of water in an
irrigation system.
29. Water feature: 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 landscaped area. Constructed wetlands used for on-
site wastewater treatment, habitat protection or storm water best management
practices that are not irrigated and used solely for water treatment or storm water
retention are not water features and, therefore, are not subject to the water
budget calculation."
Section 2. Exemption from California Environmental Quality Act
The City Council hereby determines that this Ordinance is exempt from review
under the California Environmental Quality Act ( "CEQA ") (California Public
Resources Code Section 21000 et seq.), because pursuant to State CEQA
Regulation 15307 (14 Cal. Code Regs., § 15307), this Ordinance is covered by
the CEQA Categorical Exemption for actions taken to assure the maintenance,
restoration, enhancement, or protection of a natural resource where the
regulatory process involves procedures for protection of the environment. The
PW - Ord #1588 -Water Efficient Landscape
Ordinance Number 1588
adoption of this Ordinance will result in the enhancement and protection of water
resources in the City, and will not result in cumulative adverse environment
impacts. It is therefore exempt from the provisions of CEQA. The City Council
hereby directs the City Manager or designee to prepare and file a Notice of
Exemption as soon as possible following adoption of this Ordinance.
Section 3. Severability.
The provisions of this Ordinance are severable, and the invalidity of any section,
paragraph, phrase, clause, or part of this Ordinance shall not affect the validity or
effectiveness of the remainder of this Ordinance.
Section 4. The City Clerk shall certify to the adoption of this Ordinance and
shall cause the same to be published in the manner prescribed by law.
PASSED, APPROVED AND ADOPTED by the City Council of the City of Seal
Beach at a regular meeting held on the day of 2010.
ATTEST:
Mayor
City Clerk
STATE OF CALIFORNIA }
COUNTY OF ORANGE } SS
CITY OF SEAL BEACH }
I, Linda Devine, City Clerk of the City of Seal Beach, do hereby certify that the
foregoing Ordinance was introduced for first reading at a regular meeting held on
the 14th day of December , 2009 and was passed, approved and adopted by
the City Council at a regular meeting held on the _day of 2010 by
the following vote:
AYES: Council Members:
NOES: Council Members:
ABSENT: Council Members:
ABSTAIN: Council Members:
And do hereby further certify that Ordinance Number 1588 has been
published pursuant to the Seal Beach City Charter and Resolution Number 2836.
City Clerk
PW - Ord #1588 - Water Efficient Landscape
R
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Section
Page Igo.
1 Purpose and Applicability .......................................................... ..............................1
1.1 Purpose ........................................................................... ..............................1
1.2 Applicability ...... ..............................: ............................. ..............................1
2. Submittal Requirements for New Landscape Installations or Landscape
Rehabilitation Projects ............................................................... ..................:...........2
2.1 Elements of the Landscape Documentation Package .... ..............................3
2.2 Water Efficient Landscape Calculations and Alternatives ..........................4
2.3 Soil Management Report ............................................... ..............................6
2.4 Landscape Design Plan .................................................. ..............................7
2.5 Irrigation Design Plan ................................................... .............................10
2.6 Grading Design Plan ..................................................... .............................14
2.7 Certification of Completion .......................................... .............................15
2.8 Post - Installation Irrigation Scheduling ......................... .............................15
2.9 Post - Installation Landscape and Irrigation Maintenance ...........................16
J. Provisions for Existing Landscapes .......................................... .............................16
Appendix A — Example Certification of Design .................. ............................... A -1
Appendix B — Water Efficient Landscape Worksheet ............. ............................B -1
Appendix C — Example Installation Certificate of Completion ...........................0 -1
AppendixD — Definitions .................................................... ............................... D -1
1183541 i Ord. #1588
1. Purpose and Applicability
1.1 Purpose
(a) The primary purpose of these Guidelines is to provide procedural and design
guidance for project applicants proposing landscape installation or rehabilitation
projects that are subject to the requirements of the Water Efficient Landscape
Ordinance. This document is also intended for use and reference by City staff in
reviewing and approving designs and verifying compliance with the Water
Efficient Landscape Ordinance. The general purpose of the Water Efficient
Landscape Ordinance is to promote the design, installation, and maintenance of
landscaping in a manner that conserves regional water resources by ensuring that
landscaping projects are not unduly water -needy and that irrigation systems are
appropriately implemented to minimize water waste.
(b) Other regulations affecting landscape design and maintenance practices are
potentially applicable and should be consulted for additional requirements. These
regulations include but may not be limited to:
(1) State of California Assembly Bill 1881;
(2) National Pollutant Discharge Elimination Permit for the Municipal
Separate Storm Sewer System;
(3) Orange County Fire Authority Regulations for Fuel Modification in the
Landscape;
(4) Chapter 9.37 et al of the City of Seal Beach Municipal Code dealing with
Water Conservation
(5) Zoning Code;
(6) Building Code;
(7) Specific Plans, Master Plans, General Plan, or similar land use and
planning documents; and
(8) Conditions of approval for a specific project
1.2 Applicability
(a) The Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance and these Guidelines apply to all of the
following landscape projects:
(1) New landscape installations or landscape rehabilitation projects by public
agencies or private non - residential developers with a landscaped area,
including pools or other water features but excluding hardscape, equal to
or greater than 2,500 square feet, and which are otherwise subject to a
1183541 1 Ord. #1588
discretionary approval of a landscape plan or which otherwise require a
ministerial permit for a landscape or water feature.
(2) New landscape installations or landscape rehabilitation projects by
developers or property managers of single - family and multi - family
residential projects or complexes with a landscaped area, including pools
or other water features but excluding hardscape, equal to or greater than
2,500 square feet, and which are otherwise subject to a discretionary
approval of a landscape plan or which otherwise require a ministerial
permit for a landscape or water feature
(3) New landscape installation projects by individual homeowners on single -
family or multi - family residential lots with a project landscaped area,
including pools or other water features but excluding hardscape, equal to
or greater than 5,000 square feet, and which are otherwise subject to a
discretionary approval of a landscape plan or which otherwise require a
ministerial permit for a landscape or water feature.
(b) A landscape rehabilitation project is subject to the requirements of the Ordinance
and these Guidelines where (i) the modified landscaped area is greater than 2,500
square feet and represents at least 50% of the total landscaped area; and (ii) the
modifications are planned to occur within one year. The requirements of the
Guidelines may be partially or wholly waived, at the discretion of the City, for
landscape rehabilitation projects that are limited to replacement plantings with
equal or lower water needs and where the irrigation system is found to be
designed, operable and programmed consistent with minimizing water waste in
accordance with City conservation regulations.
(c) Unless otherwise determined by the City, the Water Efficient Landscape
Ordinance and these Guidelines do not apply to:
(1) registered local, state, or federal historical sites;
(2) ecological restoration projects that do not require a permanent irrigation
system;
(3) mined -land reclamation projects that do not require a permanent irrigation
system; or
(4) plant collections, as part of botanical gardens and arboretums open to the
public.
2. Submittal Requirements for New Landscape Installations or Landscape Rehabilitation
Projects
(a) Discretionary approval is typically required for landscape projects that are subject
to site plan reviews, use permits or where a variance from a local building code is
requested, or other procedural processes apply such that standard or special
1183541 2 Ord. #1588
conditions of approval may be required by the City. Discretionary projects with
conditions of approval may be approved administratively by city staff, or acted on
formally by the Planning Commission, City Council, or other jurisdictional
authority. A typical standard condition of approval reads:
"Landscaping for the project shall be designed to comply
with the City's Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance and
with the Guidelines for Implementation of the Water
Efficient Landscape Ordinance."
Landscape or water features that typically require a ministerial permit, (i.e., a
building, plumbing, electrical, or other similar permit), thereby triggering
compliance with the Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance requirements
independently of the need for discretionary approval include, but are not limited
to, swimming pools, , ponds and certain hardscape features.
2.1 Elements of the Landscape Documentation Package
(a) A Landscape Documentation Package is required to be submitted by the project
applicant for review and approval prior to the issuance of ministerial permits for
landscape or water features by the City, and prior to start of construction. Unless
otherwise directed by the City, the Landscape Documentation Package shall
include the following elements either on plan sheets or supplemental pages as
directed by the City:
(1) Project Information, including, but not limited to, the following:
(a) date;
(b) project naive;
(c) project address, parcel, and /or lot number(s);
(d) total landscaped area (square feet) and rehabilitated landscaped
area (if applicable);
(e) project type (e.g., new, rehabilitated, public, private, cemetery,
homeowner - installed);
(f) water supply type (e.g., potable, recycled, or well) and
identification of the local retail water purveyor if the project
applicant is not served by a private well;
(g) checklist or index of all documents in the Landscape
Documentation Package;
(h) project contacts, including contact information for the project
applicant and property owner;
1183541 3 Ord. #1588
(i) a Certification of Design in accordance with Exhibit A of these
Guidelines that includes a landscape professional's professional
stamp, as applicable, signature, contact information (including
email and telephone number), license number, and date, certifying
the statement that "The design of this project complies with the
requirements of the City's Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance"
and shall bear the signature of the landscape professional as
required by law; and
(j) any other information the City deems relevant for determining
whether the landscape project complies with the Water Efficient
Landscape Ordinance and these Guidelines.
(2) Maximum Applied Water Allowance (MAWA) and Estimated Applied
Water Use (EAWU) expressed as annual totals including, but not limited
to, the following:
(a) a Water Efficient Landscape Worksheet for the landscape project;
(b) hydrozone information table for the landscape project.
(3) A soil management report or specifications, or specification provision
requiring soil testing and amendment recommendations and
implementation to be accomplished during construction of the landscape
project.
(4) A landscape design plan for the landscape project.
(5) An irrigation design plan for the landscape project.
(6) A grading design plan, unless grading information is included in the
landscape design plan for the landscape project or unless the landscape
project is limited to replacement planting and/or irrigation to rehabilitate
an existing landscaped area.
2.2 Water Efficient Landscape Calculations and Alternatives
(a) The project applicant shall provide the calculated Maximum Applied Water
Allowance (MAWA) and Estimated Applied Water Use (EAWU) for the
landscaped area as part of the Landscape Documentation Package submittal to the
City. The MAWA and EAWU shall be calculated based on completing the Water
Efficient Landscape Worksheets (in accordance with the sample worksheets in
Appendix B).
(b) The EAWU allowable for the landscaped area shall not exceed the MAWA. The
MAWA shall be calculated using an evapotranspiration adjustment factor (ETAF)
of 0.7 except for the portion of the MAWA applicable to any special landscaped
areas within the landscape project, which shall be calculated using an ETAF of
1183541 4 Ord. #1588
1.0. Where the design of the landscaped area can otherwise be shown to be
equivalently water - efficient, the project applicant may submit alternative or
abbreviated information supporting the demonstration that the annual EAWU is
less than the MAWA, at the discretion of and for the review and approval of the
City.
(c) Water budget calculations shall adhere to the following requirements:
(1) The MAWA shall be calculated using the Water Efficient Landscape
Worksheets and equation presented in Appendix B on page B -1. The
example calculation on page B -1 is a hypothetical example to demonstrate
proper use of the equation.
(2) The EAWU shall be calculated using the Water Efficient Landscape
Worksheets and equation presented in Appendix B on page B -2. The
example calculation on page B -2 is a hypothetical example.
(3) For the calculation of the MAWA and EAWU, a project applicant shall
use the ETo values, as found in the CIMIS Reference Evapotranspiration
Zones Map, Department of Water Resources, 1999.
http: / /wwwcimis .water.ca.gov /cimis /pdf /etomap l .pdf
(4) For calculation of the EAWU, the plant water use factor shall be
determined as appropriate to the project location from the Water Use
Efficiency of Landscape Species ( WUCOLS) Species Evaluation List.
The plant factor is 0.1 for very low water use plants, 0.2 to 0.3 for low
water use plants, 0.4 to 0.6 for moderate water use plants, and 0.7 to 1.0
for high water use plants.
(5) For calculating the EAWU, the plant water use factor shall be determined
for each valve hydrozone based on the highest- water -use plant species
within the zone. The plant factor for each hydrozone may be required to
be further refined as a "landscape coefficient," according to protocols
defined in detail in the WUCOLS document, to reflect planting density
and microclimate effects on water need at the option of the project
applicant or the City.
(6) For calculation of the EAWU, the area of a water feature shall be defined
as a high water use hydrozone with a plant factor of 1.0.
(7) For calculation of the EAWU, a temporarily irrigated hydrozone area,
such as an area of highly drought - tolerant native plants that are not
intended to be irrigated after they are fully established, shall be defined as
a very low water use hydrozone with a plant factor of 0.1.
(8) For calculation of the MAWA, the ETAF for special landscaped areas
shall be set at 1.0. For calculation of the EAWU, the ETAF for special
1183541 5 Ord. #1588
landscaped areas shall be calculated as the special landscaped area (SLA)
plant factor divided by the SLA irrigation efficiency factor.
(9) Irrigation efficiency shall be calculated using the worksheet and equation
presented in Appendix B on page B -2.
(d) The Maximum Applied Water Allowance shall adhere to the following
requirements:
(1) The Maximum Applied Water Allowance shall be calculated using the
equation presented in Appendix B. The example calculation in Appendix
B is hypothetical to demonstrate proper use of the equation and does not
represent an existing and /or planned landscape project. These calculations
are for planning purposes only. For actual irrigation scheduling, automatic
irrigation controllers are required and shall use current ETo data, such as
from the California Irrigation Management Information System (CIMIS),
other equivalent data, or soil moisture sensor data.
2.3 Soil 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 certified agronomic soils 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 may include, but is not limited to:
1. soil texture;
2. infiltration rate determined by laboratory test or soil texture
infiltration rate table;
3. pH;
4. total soluble salts;
5. sodium;
6. percent organic matter; and
7. recommendations.
(2) The project applicant, or his/her designee, shall comply with one of the
following:
1183541 6 Ord. #1588
(a) if significant mass grading is not planned, the soil analysis report
shall be submitted to the City as part of the Landscape
Documentation Package; or
(b) If significant mass grading is planned, the soil analysis report shall
be submitted to the City as part of the Certification of Completion.
(c) The soil analysis report shall be made available, in a timely
manner, to the professionals preparing the landscape design plans
and irrigation design plans in order to make any necessary
adjustments to the design plans.
(d) The project applicant, or his/her designee, shall submit
documentation verifying implementation of soil analysis report
recommendations to the City with the Certification of Completion.
2.4 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. At the 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 landscaped area provided the
EAWU in the landscaped area does not exceed the MAWA. To
encourage the efficient use of water, the following is highly
recommended:
1. protection and preservation of non - invasive water - conserving
plant species and water - conserving turf;
2. selection of water - conserving plant species and water -
conserving turf,
3. selection of plants based on disease and pest resistance;
4. selection of trees based on applicable City and local tree
ordinances or tree shading guidelines; and
5. selection of plants from local and regional landscape program
plant lists.
(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
2.5(a)(2)(D) of these Guidelines.
1183541 7 Ord. #1588
(c) Plants shall be selected and planted appropriately based upon their adaptability to
the climatic, geologic, and topographical conditions of the project site. To
encourage the efficient use of water, the following is highly recommended for
inclusion in the landscape design plan:
(1) 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;
(2) 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, and power lines); and
(3) consider the solar orientation for plant placement to maximize summer
shade and winter solar gain.
(d) Turf is discouraged on slopes greater than 25% where the toe of the slope is
adjacent to an impermeable hardscape and where 25% means 1 foot of vertical
elevation change for every 4 feet of horizontal length (rise divided by run x 100 =
slope percent).
(e) A landscape design plan for projects in fire -prone areas and fuel modification
zones shall comply with requirements of the local Fire Authority, where
applicable. When conflicts between water conservation and fire safety design
elements exist, the fire safety requirements shall have priority.
(f) The use of invasive plant species and /or noxious plant species is strongly
discouraged.
(g) 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 water efficient plant species as a group.
(1) Water Features
(a) Recirculating water systems shall be used for water features.
(b) Where available and consistent with public health guidelines,
recycled water shall be used as a source for decorative water
features.
(c) The 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.
(2) Mulch and Amendments
1183541 8 Ord. #1588
(a) A minimum two inch (2 ") 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.
(b) Stabilizing mulching products shall be used on slopes.
(c) The mulching portion of the seed/mulch slurry in hydro- seeded
applications shall meet the mulching requirement.
(d) Soil amendments shall be incorporated according to
recommendations of the soil report and what is appropriate for the
plants selected (see Section 2.3 of these Guidelines).
(h)
The landscape design plan, at a minimum, shall:
(1) delineate and label each hydrozone by number, letter, or other method;
(2) identify each hydrozone as low, moderate, high water, or mixed water use.
Temporarily irrigated areas of the landscaped area shall be included in the
low water use hydrozone for the water budget calculation;
(3) identify recreational areas;
(4) identify areas permanently and solely dedicated to edible plants;
(5) identify areas irrigated with recycled water;
(6) identify type of mulch and application depth;
(7) identify soil amendments, type, and quantity;
(8) identify type and surface area of water features;
(9) identify hardscapes (pervious and non - pervious);
(10) identify location and installation details of any applicable storm water best
management practices that encourage on -site retention and infiltration of
storm water. Storm water best management practices are encouraged in
the landscape design plan and examples include, but are not limited to:
(a) infiltration beds, swales, and basins that allow water to collect and
soak into the ground;
(b) constructed wetlands and retention ponds that retain water, handle
excess flow, and filter pollutants; and
(c) pervious or porous surfaces (e.g., permeable pavers or blocks,
pervious or porous concrete, etc.) that minimize runoff.
1183541 9 Ord. 41588
(11) identify any applicable rain harvesting or catchment technologies (e.g.,
rain gardens, cisterns, etc.);
(12) contain the following statement: "I have complied with the criteria of the
Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance and applied them for the efficient
use of water in the landscape design plan;" and
(13) bear the signature of a California- licensed landscape professional.
2.5 Irrigation Design Plan
(a) 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. An irrigation design plan
meeting the following design criteria shall be submitted as part of the Landscape
Documentation Package.
(1) System
(a) Dedicated landscape water meters are highly recommended on
landscaped areas smaller than 5,000 square feet to facilitate water
management.
(b) Automatic irrigation controllers utilizing either evapotranspiration
or soil moisture sensor data shall be required for irrigation
scheduling in all irrigation systems.
(c) The irrigation system shall be designed to ensure that the dynamic
pressure at each emission device is within the manufacturer's
recommended pressure range for optimal performance.
1. 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.
2. 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
1183541 10 Ord. #1588
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 City code (i.e., public health)
for additional backflow prevention requirements.
(g) High flow sensors that detect and report high flow conditions
created by system damage or malfunction are recommended.
(h) 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.
(i) Relevant information from the soil management plan, such as soil
type and infiltration rate, shall be utilized when designing
irrigation systems.
(j) The design of the irrigation system shall conform to the
hydrozones of the landscape design plan.
(k) Average irrigation efficiency for the project shall be determined in
accordance with the EAWU calculation sheet in Appendix B.
Unless otherwise indicated by the irrigation equipment
manufacturer's specifications or demonstrated by the project
applicant, the irrigation efficiency of the irrigation heads used
within each hydrozone shall be assumed to be:
Pop -up stream rotator heads = 75%
Stream rotor heads = 75%
Microspray = 75%
Bubbler = 80%
Drip emitter = 85%
Subsurface irrigation = 90%
(1) It is highly recommended that the project applicant inquire with the
City about peak water operating demands (on the water supply
system) or water restrictions that may impact the effectiveness of
the irrigation system.
1183541 11 Ord. #1588
(m) In mulched planting areas, the use of low volume irrigation is
required to maximize water infiltration into the root zone.
(n) Sprinkler heads and other emission devices shall have matched
precipitation rates, unless otherwise directed by the manufacturer's
recommendations.
(o) Head to head coverage is recommended. However, sprinkler
spacing shall be designed to achieve the highest possible
distribution uniformity using the manufacturer's recommendations.
(p) Swing joints or other riser - protection components are required on
all risers subject to damage that are adjacent to high traffic areas.
(q) Check valves or anti -drain valves are required for all irrigation
systems.
(r) Narrow or irregularly shaped areas, including turf, less than eight
(8) feet in width in any direction shall be irrigated with subsurface
irrigation or a low volume irrigation system.
(s) 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:
1. the landscaped area is adjacent to permeable surfacing and no
runoff occurs; or
2. the adjacent non - permeable surfaces are designed and
constructed to drain entirely to landscaping; or
3. the irrigation designer for the landscape project specifies an
alternative design or technology, as part of the Landscape
Documentation Package, and clearly demonstrates strict
adherence to the irrigation system design criteria in Section 2.5
(a)(1)(H) hereof. Prevention of overspray and runoff must be
confirmed during an irrigation audit.
4. Slopes greater than 25% shall not be irrigated with an irrigation
system with a precipitation rate exceeding 0.75 inches per
hour. This restriction may be modified if the landscape
designer of the landscape project specifies an alternative design
or technology, as part of the Landscape Documentation
Package, and clearly demonstrates no runoff or erosion will
1183541 12 Ord. #1588
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.
(e) Where feasible, trees shall be placed on separate valves from
shrubs, groundcovers, and turf.
(d) Individual hydrozones that mix plants of moderate and low water
use or moderate and high water use may be allowed if:
1. the plant factor calculation is based on the proportions of the
respective plant water uses and their respective plant factors; or
2. the plant factor of the higher water using plant is used for the
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.
(g) The irrigation design plan, at a minimum, shall contain:
1. the location and size of separate water meters for landscape;
2. the 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;
1183541 13 Ord. #1588
5. irrigation schedule parameters necessary to program smart
timers specified in the landscape design;
6. the following statement: "I have complied with the criteria of
the Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance and applied them
accordingly for the efficient use of water in the irrigation
design plan;" and
7. the signature of a California- licensed landscape professional.
2.6 Grading Design Plan
(a) For the efficient use of water, grading of a landscape project site shall be designed
to minimize soil erosion, runoff, and water waste. Finished grading configuration
of the landscaped area, including pads, slopes, drainage, post - construction erosion
control, and storm water control Best Management Practices, as applicable, shall
be shown on the Landscape Plan unless this information is fully included in
separate Grading Plans for the project, or unless the project is limited to
replacement planting and /or irrigation to rehabilitate an existing landscaped area.
(b) The project applicant shall submit a landscape grading plan that indicates finished
configurations and elevations of the landscaped area including:
(1) height of graded slopes;
(2) drainage patterns;
(3) pad elevations;
(4) finish grade; and
(5) storm water retention improvements, if applicable.
(c) To prevent excessive erosion and runoff, it is highly recommended that the
project applicant:
(1) grade so that all irrigation and normal rainfall remains within property
lines and does not drain on to non - permeable hardscapes;
(2) avoid disruption of natural drainage patterns and undisturbed soil; and
(3) avoid soil compaction in landscaped areas.
(d) 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 the
landscape professional, as required by law.
1183541 14 Ord. #1588
2.7 Certification of Completion
(a) Landscape project installation shall not proceed until the Landscape
Documentation Package has been approved by the City and any ministerial
permits required are issued.
(b) The project applicant shall notify the City at the beginning of the installation work
and at intervals, as necessary, for the duration of the landscape project work to
schedule all required inspections.
(c) Certification of Completion of the landscape project shall be obtained through a
Certificate of Use and Occupancy or a Permit Final. The requirements for the
Final Inspection and Permit Closure include submittal of:
(1) A Landscape Installation Certificate of Completion in the form included as
Appendix C of these Guidelines, which shall include: (i) certification by a
landscape professional that the landscape project has been installed per the
approved Landscape Documentation Package; and (ii) the following
statement: "The landscaping has been installed in substantial conformance
to the design plans, and complies with the provisions of the Water
Efficient Landscape Ordinance for the efficient use of water in the
landscape."
(2) Documentation of the irrigation scheduling parameters used to set the
controller(s);
(3) An irrigation audit report from a certified irrigation auditor,
documentation of enrollment in regional or local water purveyor 's water
conservation programs, and /or documentation that the MAWA and
EAWU information for the landscape project has been submitted to the
local water purveyor, may be required at the option of the City.
2.8 Post - Installation 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 in accordance with the local water
purveyor's Water Conservation Ordinance. Operation of the irrigation
system outside the normal watering window is allowed for auditing and
system maintenance.
1183541 15 Ord. #1588
2.9 Post - Installation Landscape and Irrigation Maintenance
Landscapes shall be maintained to ensure water use efficiency in accordance with Section
9.37 et al.
Provisions for Existing Landscapes
(a) Irrigation of all landscaped areas shall be conducted in a manner conforming to
the rules and requirements and shall be subject to penalties and incentives for
water conservation and water waste prevention, as determined and implemented
by the local water purveyor .
(b) The City and /or the regional or local water purveyor may administer programs
such as irrigation water use analyses, irrigation surveys and/or irrigation audits,
tiered water rate structures, water budgeting by parcel, or other approaches to
achieve landscape water use efficiency community -wide to a level equivalent to
or less than would be achieved by applying a MAWA calculated with an ETAF of
0.8 to all landscaped areas in the City over one acre in size.
(c) The architectural guidelines of a common interest development, including
apartments, 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.
1183541 16 Ord. #1588
Appendix A
CERTIFICATION OF LANDSCAPE DESIGN
I hereby certify that:
(1) I am a professional appropriately licensed in the State of California to provide
professional landscape design services.
(2) The landscape design and water use calculations for the property located at
(provide street address or parcel number(s)) were prepared by me or under my supervision.
(3) The landscape design and water use calculations for the identified property comply with
the requirements of the City of Seal Beach Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance (Municipal
Code Sections ) and the City of Seal Beach Guidelines for
Implementation of the City of Seal Beach Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance.
(4) The information I have provided in this Certificate of Landscape Design is true and
correct and is hereby submitted in compliance with the City of Seal Beach Guidelines for
Implementation of the City of Seal Beach Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance.
Print Name
Signature
Date
License Number
Address
Telephone
Landscape Design Professional's Stamp
E -mail Address
A -1
Appendix B
EXAMPLE WATER EFFICIENT LANDSCAPE WORKSHEET
This worksheet is filled nut by the nrnirrt annlirant fnr earh Pnint of C nnnertinn Pleaar rmmnimt all —fn— of rhr —r4-h —t
Point of Connection # 1
Maximum Applied Water Allowance MAWA
Total MAWA = ETo x 0.7 x LA in S . Ft. x 0.62 + ETo x 1.0 x SLA in S . Ft. x 0.62) = Gallons per year for LA +SLA
where:
MAWA = Maximum Applied Water Allowance (gallons per year)
ETo = Reference Evapotranspiration Appendix C (inches per year)
0.7 = Evapotranspiration Adjustment Factor (ETAF)
1.0 = ETAF for Special Landscaped Area
LA = Landscaped Area (square feet)
0.62 = Conversion factor (to gallons per square foot)
SLA = Special Landscaped Area (square feet)
Example Calculation: a hypothetical landscape project in Santa Ana, CA with an irrigated landscaped area of 40,000 square feet with 10,000 square feet
of Special Landscaped Area. To calculate MAWA, the annual reference evapotranspiration value for Santa Ana is 48.2 inches as listed in the Reference
Evapotranspiration Table in Appendix C.
ETo
ETAF
LA or SLA (ft)
Conversion
MAWA Gallons Per Year
MAWA for LA =
48.2
x
0.7
x
40,000
x
0.62
=
836,752
MAWA for SLA =
48.2
x
1.0
x
10,000
x
0.62
=
298,840
Total MAWA =
50,000
1,135,592 Gallons per year for LA +SLA
NX
Estimated Applied Water Use
EAWU = ETo x KL x LA x 0.62 - IE =Gallons peryear
where:
K = K x K x K,
EAWU = Estimated Applied Water Use (gallons per year)
ETo = Reference Evapotranspiration Appendix C (inches per year)
K = species factor (range = 0.1 -0.9) (see WUCOLS list for values)
K = Landscape Coefficient
K = density factor (range = 0.5 -1.3) (see WUCOLS for density value ranges)
LA = Landscaped Area (square feet)
K, = microclimate factor (range = 0.5 -1.4) (see WUCOLS)
0.62 = Conversion factor (to gallons per square foot)
IE = Irrigation Efficiency = IME x DU (See definition in Appendix D
WUCOLS - www.owue.water.ca.gov /does /wucOls00.pdf
for example IE percentages)
IME = Irrigation Management Efficiency (90 %)
DU = Distribution Uniformity of irrigation head
Example Calculation:
ETo
KL
LA
Conversion
1E
EAWU (Gallons per ear)
Special Landscaped Area
48.2
x
1.00
x
10,000
x
0.62
-
0.75
=
398,453
Cool Season Turf
48.2
x
1.00
x
0
x
0.62
-
0.71
=
0
Warm Season Turf
48.2
x
0.65
x
0
x
0.62
-
0.71
=
0
High Water Using Shrub
48.2
x
0.70
x
0
x
0.62
-
0.71
=
0
Medium Water Using Shrub
48.2
x
0.50
x
15,000
x
0.62
-
0.65
=
344,815
Low Water Using Shrub
48.2
x
0.30
x
25,000
x
0.62
-
0.75
=
298,840
Very Low Water Using Shrub
48.2
x
0.20
x
0
x
0.62
-
0.71
=
0
Other
48.2
x
0.50
x
0
x
0.62
-
0.71
=
0
Other
48.2 1
x
0.50
1 x
0
x
0.62
-
0.71
=
0
Total EAWU =
50,000
1,042,109 Gallons per year
Compare EAWU with MAWA.
The EAWU (1,042,109 gallons per year) is less than MAWA (1,135,592 gallons per year). For this example, the water budget complies with the
MAWA.
IM
List sprinkler heads, microspray, and drip emitters here along with average precipitation rate and Distribution Uniformity of Irrigation Head.
Sprinkler Head Tyl2es
Average Precil2itation Rate
Distribution Uniformity of lrri ation Head
Dri
Micros pra
Bubbler
Low precipitation rotating nozzles
Stream rotors
WATER EFFICIENT LANDSCAPE WORKSHEET
This worksheet is filled out by the project applicant for each Point of Connection. Please complete all sections of the worksheet.
Point of Connection #
Maximum Applied Water Allowance MAWA
Total MAWA = ETo x 0.7 x LA in S . Ft. x 0.62) + ETo x 1.0 x SLA in S . Ft. x 0.62) Gallons per year for LA +SLA
where:
MAWA = Maximum Applied Water Allowance (gallons per year)
ETo = Reference Evapotranspiration Appendix C (inches per year)
0.7 = Evapotranspiration Adjustment Factor (ETAF)
1.0 = ETAF for Special Landscaped Area
LA = Landscaped Area (square feet)
0.62 = Conversion factor (to gallons per square foot)
SLA = Special Landscaped Area (square feet)
MAWA Calculation:
ETo
ETAF
LA or SLA (ft)
Conversion
MAWA (Gallons Per Year
MAWA for LA =
x
0.7
x
x
0.62
=
MAWA for SLA =
x
1.0
x
x
0.62
=
Total MAWA =
Estimated Applied Water Use
EAWU = ETo x KL x LA x 0.62 =1E = Gallons per year
where:
EAWU = Estimated Applied Water Use (gallons per year)
ETo = Reference Evapotranspiration Appendix C (inches per year)
K = Landscape Coefficient
LA = Landscaped Area (square feet)
0.62 = Conversion factor (to gallons per square foot)
IE = Irrigation Efficiency = IME x DU
IME = Irrigation Management Efficiency (90 %)
DU = Distribution Uniformity of irrigation head
K = K x K x K,,,.
K S = species factor (range = 0.1 -0.9) (see WUCOLS list for values)
K d = density factor (range = 0.5 -1.3) (see WUCOLS for density value ranges)
K,,,,, = microclimate factor (range = 0.5 -1.4) (see WUCOLS)
WUCOLS — www.owue.water.ca.gov /does /wucols00.pdf
EAWU Calculation:
ETo
KL
LA
Conversion
1E
EAWU Gallons Per Year
Special Landscaped Area
x
x
x
0.62
Cool Season Turf
x
x
x
0.62
Warm Season Turf
x
x
x
0.62
High Water Using Shrub
x
x
x
0.62
Medium Water Using Shrub
x
x
x
0.62
Low Water Using Shrub
x
x
x
0.62
Very Low Water Using Shrubs
x
x
x
0.62
X
x
x
0.62
X
x
x
1 0.62
X
x
x
0.62
_
X
x
x
0.62
X
x
x
0.62
X
x
x
0.62
_
Other
x
x
x 1
0.62
Total EAWU =
List sprinkler heads, microspray, and drip emitters here along with average precipitation rate and Distribution Uniformity of Irrigation Head.
Sprinkler Head Tyl2es
Avera a Precipitation Rate
Distribution Uniformity of Irrigation Head
Dri
Micros pra
Bubbler
Low precipitation rotating nozzles
Stream rotors
I
Appendix C
LANDSCAPE INSTALLATION CERTIFICATE OF COMPLETION
I hereby certify that:
(1) I am a professional appropriately licensed in the State of California to provide
professional landscape design services.
(2) The landscape project for the property located at
(provide
street address or parcel number(s)) was installed by me or under my supervision.
(3) The landscaping for the identified property has been installed in substantial
conformance with the approved Landscape Documentation Package and complies with
the requirements of the City of Seal Beach Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance
(Municipal Code Sections ) and the City of Seal Beach
Guidelines for Implementation of the City of Seal Beach Water Efficient Landscape
Ordinance for the efficient use of water in the landscape.
(4) The information I have provided in this Landscape Installation Certificate of
Completion is true and correct and is hereby submitted in compliance with the City of
Seal Beach Guidelines for Implementation of the City of Seal Beach Water Efficient
Landscape Ordinance.
Print Name
Signature
Date
License Number
Address
Telephone
Landscape Design Professional's Stamp
(If Appropriate)
E -mail Address
C -1
Appendix D
Definitions
The terms used in these Guidelines have the meaning set forth below:
"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.
"Conversion factor" means the number that converts acre - inches per acre per, year to
gallons per square foot per year.
"Check valve" or "anti -drain 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.
"Certified Landscape Irrigation Auditor" means any person with the demonstrated
licensure and /or certification that demonstrates the professional ability to audit the
standards established in these Guidelines and in the Water Efficiency Landscape
Ordinance.
"Certification of Design" means the certification included as Exhibit E of these
Guidelines that must be included in the Landscape Documentation Package pursuant to
Section 2.1 of these Guidelines.
"City" means the City of Seal Beach or its authorized designee.
"Common interest developments" means community apartment projects, condominium
projects, planned developments, and stock cooperatives per Civil Code Section 1351
"Distribution Uniformity" or "DU" is a measure of how uniformly an irrigation head
applies water to a specific target area and theoretically ranges form zero to 100 percent.
"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.
"Emitter" means a drip irrigation emission device that delivers water slowly from the
system to the soil.
"Estimated Applied Water Use" or "EAWU" means the annual total amount of water
estimated to keep plants in a healthy state. It is based on factors such as reference
evapotranspiration rate, the size of the landscaped area, plant water use factors, and the
irrigation efficiency within each hydrozone.
"Evapotranspiration adjustment factor" or "ETAF" is as defined in these Guidelines
and the Water Efficiency Landscape Ordinance and City practices.
"Evapotranspiration rate" means the quantity of water evaporated from adjacent soil
and other surfaces and transpired by plants during a specified time.
"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.
"Hardscapes" means any durable material or feature (pervious and non - pervious)
installed in or around a landscaped area, such as pavements or walls. Pools and other
water features are considered part of the landscaped area and not considered hardscapes
for purposes of these Guidelines.
" Hydrozone" means a portion of the landscaped area having plants with similar water
needs and typically irrigated by one valve /controller station. A hydrozone may be
irrigated or non - irrigated.
"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 plants species" or "noxious" means species of plants not historically found
in California that spread outside cultivated areas and can damage environmental or
economic resources. Invasive plant species may be regulated by county agricultural
agencies as noxious species.
"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 or emission uniformity, reporting overspray or runoff that causes overland
flow, and preparation of an irrigation schedule.
"Irrigation Management Efficiency" or "IME" means the measurement used to
calculate the irrigation efficiency of the irrigation system for a landscaped project. A
90% IME can be achieved by using evaportranspiration controllers, soil moisture sensors,
and other methods that will adjust irrigation run times to meet plant water needs.
"Irrigation efficiency" or "IE" means the measurement of the amount of water
beneficially used divided by the amount of water applied to a landscaped area. Irrigation
efficiency is derived from measurements and estimates of irrigation system
characteristics and management practices. The minimum average irrigation efficiency for
purposes of these Guidelines is 0.71. Greater irrigation efficiency can be expected from
well designed and maintained systems. The following irrigation efficiency may be
obtained for the listed irrigation heads with an IME of 90 %:
a. Pop -up stream rotator heads = 75%
b. Stream rotor heads = 75%
C. Microspray = 75%
d. Bubbler = 80%
e. Drip emitter = 85%
f. Subsurface irrigation = 90%
"Landscape coefficient" (K ) is the product of a plant factor multiplied by a density
factor and a microclimate factor. The landscape coefficient is derived to estimate water
loss from irrigated landscaped areas and special landscaped areas.
"Landscape Documentation Package" means the package of documents that a project
applicant is required to submit to the City pursuant to Section 2.1 of these Guidelines.
"Landscape Installation Certificate of Completion" means the certificate included as
Exhibit F of these Guidelines that must be submitted to the City pursuant to Section
23(a)(1) of hereof.
"Landscape professional" means a licensed landscape architect, licensed landscape
contractor, or any other person authorized to design a landscape pursuant to Sections
5500.1, 5615, 5641, 5641.1, 5641.2, 5641.3, 5641.4, 5641.5, 5641.6, 6701, 7027.5 of the
California Business and Professions Code, Section 832.27 of Title16 of the California
Code of Regulations, and Section 6721 of the California Food and Agriculture Code.
"Landscaped area" means all the planting areas, turf areas, and water features in a
landscape design plan subject to the Maximum Applied Water Allowance and Estimated
Applied Water Use calculations. The landscaped area does not include footprints of
buildings or structures, sidewalks, driveways, parking lots, decks, patios, gravel or stone
walks, other pervious or non - pervious hardscapes, and other non - irrigated areas
designated for non - development (e.g., open spaces and existing native vegetation).
"Lateral line" means the water delivery pipeline that supplies water to the emitters or
sprinklers from the valve.
"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.
"Main line" means the pressurized pipeline that delivers water from the water source to
the valve or outlet.
"Maximum Applied Water Allowance" or "MAWA" means the upper limit of annual
applied water for the established landscaped area, as specified in Section 2.2 of these
Guidelines. It is based upon the area's reference evapotranspiration, the ETAF, and the
size of the landscaped area. The Estimated Applied Water Use shall not exceed the
Maximum Applied Water Allowance.
"Microclimate" means the climate of a small, specific area that may contrast with the
climate of the overall landscaped area due to factors such as wind, sun exposure, plant
density, or proximity to reflective surfaces.
"Mulch" means any organic material such as leaves, bark, straw or compost, or inorganic
mineral materials such as rocks, gravel, or decomposed granite left loose and applied to
the soil surface for the beneficial purposes of reducing evaporation, suppressing weeds,
moderating soil temperature, and preventing soil erosion.
"Non- pervious" means any surface or natural material that does not allow for the
passage of water through the material and into the underlying soil.
"Operating pressure" means the pressure at which the parts of an irrigation system of
sprinklers are designed to operate at by the manufacturer
"Overspray" means the irrigation water which is delivered beyond the target area.
"Person" means any natural person, firm, joint venture, joint stock company,
partnership, public or private association, club, company, corporation, business trust,
organization, public or private agency, government agency or institution, school district,
college, university, any other user of water provided by the Cityor the local water
purveyor, or the manager, lessee, agent, servant, officer, or employee of any of them or
any other entity which is recognized by law as the subject of rights or duties.
"Pervious" means any surface or material that allows the passage of water through the
material and into the underlying soil.
"Plant factor" or "plant water use factor" is a factor, when multiplied by ETo, that
estimates the amount of water needed by plants. For purposes of this Water Efficient
Landscape Ordinance, the plant factor range for low water use plants is 0 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 these Guidelines are derived from
the Department of Water Resources 2000 publication "Water Use Classification of
Landscape Species."
"Precipitation rate" means the rate of application of water measured in inches per hour.
"Project applicant" means the person submitting a Landscape Documentation Package
required under Section 2.1 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.
"Property owner" or "owner" means the record owner of real property as shown on the
most recently issued equalized assessment roll.
"Reference evapotranspiration" or "ETo" means a standard measurement of
environmental parameters which affect the water use of plants. ETo is given expressed in
inches per day, month, or year as represented in Appendix C of these Guidelines, 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.
"Recycled water" or "reclaimed water" means treated or recycled waste water of a
quality suitable for non - potable uses such as landscape irrigation and water features. This
water is not intended for human consumption.
"Runoff" means water which is not absorbed by the soil or landscape to which it is
applied and flows from the landscaped 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.
"Special Landscaped Areas" or "SLA" means an area of the landscape dedicated solely
to edible plants such as orchards and vegetable gardens, areas irrigated with recycled
water, water features using recycled water, and areas dedicated to active play such as
parks, sports fields, golf courses, and where turf provides a playing surface.
"Sprinkler 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 by a set of valves that operate
simultaneously.
"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. Annual bluegrass, Kentucky
bluegrass, Perennial ryegrass, Red fescue, and Tall fescue are cool- season grasses.
Bermudagrass, Kikuyugrass, Seashore Paspalum, St. Augustinegrass, Zoysiagrass, and
Buffalo grass are warm- season grasses.
"Valve" means a device used to control the flow of water in an irrigation system
"Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance" means Ordinance No. 1588, adopted by the
City Council on , 2010, and codified in the Municipal Code in Title 9:
Public Property, Public Works, and Building Regulations - Chapter 9.70: Water Efficient
Landscaping.
"Water Efficient Landscape Worksheets" means the worksheets required to be
completed pursuant to Section 2.2 of these Guidelines and which are included in
Appendix B hereof.
"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 landscaped area.
Constructed wetlands used for on -site wastewater treatment, habitat protection, or storm
water best management practices that are not irrigated and used solely for water treatment
or storm water retention are not water features and, therefore, are not subject to the water
budget calculation.
"Watering window" means the time of day irrigation is allowed.
"WUCOLS" means the Water Use Classification of Landscape published by the
University of California Cooperative Extension, the Department of Water Resources, and
the Bureau of Reclamation, 2000. www.owue.water.ca.gov /docs /wucols00