Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance

About the City's adopted Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance (WELO)

On July 15, 2015, the State of California adopted the Model Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance in response to the California Department of Water Resources Executive Order No. B-29-15. The intent of the Model Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance is to promote efficient landscape in new developments and retrofitted landscapes by increasing water efficiency standards for new and retrofitted landscapes through more efficient irrigation systems, greywater usage, onsite storm water capture, and by limiting the portion of landscapes that can be covered in turf.

In response, staff worked with a landscape consulting firm to review the City’s existing landscape requirements and incorporate the provisions of Executive Order No. B-29-15. As a result, on August 8, 2017, the City Council adopted Ordinance No. 316 amending Chapter 16.07 (Landscape and Water Conservation Requirements) in its entirety. The following links are to the adopted ordinance, Municipal Code Chapter, corresponding application, and the City’s water conservation webpage.

Ordinance No. 386 - 2022 Update

Ordinance No. 316

Municipal Code Chapter 16.07

Landscape Plan Check Information and Application

Water Conservation Information

As part of the Executive Order, local agencies are required to annually report on items related to the implementation and enforcement of the local ordinance. The following links are to copies of the annual reports submitted by the City of Chino Hills.