Water-Efficiency Requirements
Planning
The State of California required all cities and counties to adopt waterefficiency requirements in 2010 for new homes and landscapes. While
ordinances vary from place to place, most provide exemptions for
homeowner-installed gardens less than 5,000 square feet. The ordinances
limit irrigation to 80 percent of the water use of cool-season turf. To be
sure you meet this requirement, limit high-water-use plants to 10 percent
or less of all the plants in your garden.
Building Permits
Contact the planning department of your city (or the county) and
ask if a permit is needed for your garden renovation.
Aeonium arboreum
'Zwartkop,' black rose
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