2016-008 - Santa Ana Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance

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January 11, 2016 1.2 Applicability (A) The Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance and these Guidelines apply to all of the following landscape projects: (1) New landscape projects with an aggregate landscape area equal to or greater than 500 square feet, requiring a building or landscape permit, plan check or development review; (2) Rehabilitated landscape projects with an aggregate landscape area equal to or greater than 2,500 square feet, requiring a building or landscape permit, plan check or development review; (3) New or rehabilitated landscape projects with an aggregate landscape area of 2,500 square feet or less may comply with the performance requirements of this ordinance or conform to the prescriptive measures contained in Appendix A; (4) New or rehabilitated projects using treated or untreated graywater or rainwater capture on site, any lot or parcels within the project that has less than 2,500 square feet of landscape area and meets the lot or parcel's landscape water requirement (Estimated Total Water Use) entirely with the treated or untreated graywater or though stored rainwater capture on site is subject only to Appendix A Section (5). (B) The requirements of the Guidelines may be partially or wholly waived, at the discretion of the City or its designee, 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 local water purveyor 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.