HomeMy WebLinkAbout03 - Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance – Second Reading
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NEWPORT BEACH
City Council Staff Report
CITY OF
January 26, 2016
Agenda Item No. 3
ABSTRACT:
The second reading and adoption of Ordinance No. 2015-34, amending Chapter 14.17,
Water Efficient Landscaping, of the Newport Beach Municipal Code in its entirety.
RECOMMENDATION:
Conduct second reading and adopt Ordinance No. 2015-34, An Ordinance of the City
Council of the City of Newport Beach, California, Amending Chapter 14.17 of Title 14 of
the Newport Beach Municipal Code in its Entirety Pertaining to Regulations Required for
Water-Efficient Landscaping (PA2015-169).
FUNDING REQUIREMENTS:
There is no direct fiscal impact related to this item.
DISCUSSION:
On November 24, 2015, the City Council introduced and passed to second reading
Ordinance No. 2015-34 (Ordinance). The amendment to Chapter 14.17 of the Newport
Beach Municipal Code and the accompanying Design Standards comply with the
requirement that local jurisdictions adopt an ordinance “at least as effective as” the
State’s Model Ordinance for water efficient landscaping. The Ordinance requires the
use of plantings consistent with the local climate and modern irrigation technology to
ensure effective use of water.
TO: HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL
FROM: Kimberly Brandt, Community Development Director - 949-644-3232,
kbrandt@newportbeachca.gov
PREPARED BY: Gregg Ramirez, Senior Planner
PHONE: 949-644-3219, gramirez@newportbeachca.gov
TITLE: Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance – Second Reading
Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance – Second Reading
January 26, 2016
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ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW:
Staff recommends the City Council find this Ordinance exempt from the California
Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to Section 15307, Class 7 (Actions by
Regulatory Agencies for the Protection of Natural Resources) of the CEQA Guidelines,
California Code of Regulations, Title 14, Chapter 3. This class provides an exemption
for actions taken by regulatory agencies as authorized by state law or local ordinance
which assure the maintenance, restoration, or enhancement of a natural resource
where the regulatory process involves procedures for protection of the environment.
The adoption of this Ordinance will result in the enhancement and protection of water
resources in the City, and will not result in cumulative adverse environmental impacts. It
is therefore exempt from the provisions of CEQA.
NOTICING:
The agenda item has been noticed according to the Brown Act (72 hours in advance of
the meeting at which the City Council considers the item).
ATTACHMENTS:
Attachment A – Ordinance Amending Chapter 14.17
Attachment B – Design Standards
Attachment A
Ordinance No. 2015-34
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Attachment B
Design Standards (Updated)
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DESIGN STANDARDS
For Implementation of the
WATER EFFICIENT LANDSCAPE ORDINANCE
(MUNICIPAL CODE: CHAPTER 14.17)
February 2016
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
Section Page No.
1. Purpose and Applicability ......................................................................... 1
1.1 Purpose ......................................................................................... 1
1.2 Applicability .................................................................................... 1
2. Submittal Requirements for New Landscape Installations or Landscape
Rehabilitation Projects .............................................................................. 3
2.1 Elements of the Landscape Documentation Package ................... 4
2.2 Water Efficient Landscape Calculations and Alternatives .............. 4
2.3 Soil Management Report ............................................................... 7
2.4 Landscape Design Plan ................................................................. 8
2.5 Irrigation Design Plan................................................................... 12
2.6 Grading Design Plan .................................................................... 17
2.7 Certification of Completion…………………………………………. 18
2.8 Post-Installation Irrigation Scheduling .......................................... 19
2.9 Post-Installation Landscape and Irrigation Maintenance ............. 19
3. Provisions for Existing Landscapes ........................................................ 19
4. Public Education
Appendix A – Definitions ................................................................................... 21
Appendix B –Certification of Landscape Design. .............................................. 28
Appendix C – Water Efficient Landscape Worksheets ...................................... 29
Appendix D – Reference Evapotranspiration (ETo) Table ................................. 32
Appendix E – Example: Installation Certificate of Completion ........................... 33
Appendix F – Irrigation Plan Checklist ............................................................... 35
Appendix G – Inspection Affidavit ..................................................................... 36
Appendix H – Prescriptive Compliance Option 37
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1. Purpose and Applicability
1.1 Purpose
A. The primary purpose of these Water Efficient Landscape Design Standards
(Design Standards) is to provide procedural and design guidance for
project applicants proposing new landscape installation or rehabilitation
projects that are subject to the requirements of the Water Efficient
Landscape Ordinance (Chapter 14.17 of the Newport Beach Municipal
Code). 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. Newport Beach Fire Department regulations for Hazard Reduction
and Fuel Modification Zones.
4. Newport Beach Municipal Code: Title 14;
5. Newport Beach Zoning Code: Title 20
6. California Building Code;
7. Planned Community Texts, General Plan and General Plan Design
Criteria for Single and Two Unit Residential Development, Coastal
Land Use Plan
8. Any conditions of approval for a specific project
1.2 Applicability
A. The Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance and these Design Standards
apply to all of the following:
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1. New landscape projects with an aggregate landscape area equal to
or greater than 500 square feet, subject to discretionary approval or
which otherwise require a ministerial permit.
2. Rehabilitated landscape projects with an aggregate landscape area
equal to or greater than 2,500 square feet, subject to discretionary
approval or which otherwise require a ministerial permit.
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 H of the Design
Standards (Prescriptive Compliance Option);
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
H of the Design Standards.
5. New landscape installation projects or landscape rehabilitation
projects installed at cemeteries shall apply the following sections of
the Design Standards: Sections 2.2 (Water Efficient Landscape
Calculations and alternatives), 2.8 (Post-Installation Irrigation
Scheduling), and 2.9 (Post-Installation Landscape and Irrigation
Maintenance), but shall not require a Landscape Design Package
(Design Standards: Section 2.1).
B. The Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance and these Design Standards do
not apply to:
1. landscape rehabilitation projects that consist of replacement
plantings with equal or lower water needs and the irrigation system
is designed, operable and programmed to comply with the City’s
water conservation regulations;
2. registered local, state, or federal historical sites;
3. ecological restoration projects that do not require a permanent
irrigation system;
4. plant collections, as part of botanical gardens and arboretums open
to the public, and
5. landscape in Hazard Reduction and Fuel Modification Zones, where
applicable.
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2. Submittal Requirements for New Landscape Installation Projects or
Landscape Rehabilitation Projects
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 issuance by the City of
ministerial permits in conjunction with the landscape project, or prior to
discretionary review and/or approval of a project, 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 provided by the City (see appendices ):
1. Project Information, including, but not limited to, the following:
(a) date;
(b) project name;
(c) project address, parcel, and/or lot number(s);
(d) total landscape area (square feet) and rehabilitated
landscape area (if applicable);
(e) project type (e.g., new or rehabilitated landscape, public
agency or private development, developer or homeowner-
installed);
(f) water supply type (e.g., potable, recycled, or well) and
identification of the local retail water supplier if the project
applicant’s water supplier is not the City of Newport Beach
(i.e., Irvine Ranch Water District (IRWD) or Mesa Water
District (MWD);
(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;
(i) a Certification of Design (Appendix B), in accordance with
these Design Standards, that includes a licensed
professional’s professional stamp, as applicable, contact
information (including email and telephone number), license
number, date, and signature certifying the following
statement: “The design of this project complies with the
requirements of the City’s Water Efficient Landscape
Ordinance and Design Standards”; and
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(j) any other information the City deems relevant for
determining whether the landscape project complies with the
Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance and Design
Standards.
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) a hydrozone information table; and
(c) water budget calculations for the landscape project.
3. A soil management report or specifications, or specification
provision requiring soil testing, amendment recommendations and
implementation to be accomplished during installation and
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
for a landscape rehabilitation project.
2.2 Water Efficient Landscape Calculations and Alternatives
The project applicant shall provide the calculated Maximum Applied Water Allowance
(MAWA) and Estimated Applied Water Use (EAWU) for the landscape 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
(Appendix C) which contain information on the plant factor, irrigation method, irrigation
efficiency and area associated with each hydrozone. Calculations are then made to
show that the evapotranspiration adjustment factor (ETAF) for the landscape project
does not exceed a factor of 0.55 for residential areas and 0.45 for non-residential areas,
exclusive of Special Landscape Areas. The ETAF for a landscape project is based on
the plant factors and irrigation methods selected. The Maximum Applied Water
Allowance is calculated based on the maximum ETAF allowed (0.55 for residential
areas and 0.45 for non-residential areas) and expressed as annual gallons required.
The EAWU is calculated based on the plants used and irrigation method selected for
the landscape design.
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A. The EAWU allowable for the landscape area shall not exceed the MAWA.
The MAWA shall be calculated using an evapotranspiration adjustment
factor (ETAF) of 0.55 residential areas and 0.45 for non-residential areas
except for the portion of the MAWA applicable to any Special Landscape
Areas within the landscape project, which shall be calculated using an
ETAF of 1.0. Where the design of the landscape 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.
B. 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 C.
2. The EAWU shall be calculated using the Water Efficient Landscape
Worksheets and equation presented in Appendix C.
3. For the calculation of the MAWA and EAWU, a project applicant
shall use the ETo values from the closest location listed the
Reference Evapotranspiration Table in Appendix D. For
geographic areas not covered in Appendix D, data from other
cities or zip codes located nearby in the same reference
evapotranspiration zone may be used.
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 from horticultural researchers with academic
institutions or professional associations 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, 0.1 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.
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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 Landscape
Areas (SLA) shall be set at 1.0. For calculation of the EAWU, the
ETAF for SLA shall be calculated as the SLA plant factor divided by
the SLA irrigation efficiency factor.
9. Irrigation efficiency (IE) of the irrigation heads used within each
hydrozone shall be assumed to be as follows, unless otherwise
indicated by the irrigation equipment manufacturer’s specifications
or demonstrated by the project applicant:
Irrigation Method DULQ DULH* EU IE**
Spray nozzles 65% 79% 71%
High efficiency spray
nozzles 70% 82% 73%
Multi stream/Multi
trajectory rotary (MSMT)
nozzles
75% 85% 76%
Stream rotor nozzle 70% 82% 73%
Microspray 75% 85% 76%
Bubblers 85% 77%
Drip emitter 90% 81%
Subsurface drip 90% 81%
*DULH = .386 + (.614)(DULQ)
** IE (spray) = (DULH)(IME)
** IE (drip) = Emission uniformity (EU)(IME)
C. 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 C. The reference
evapotranspiration (ETo) values used in this calculation are
from the Reference Evapotranspiration Table in Appendix D
and 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.
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2.3 Soil Management Report
A. All planted landscape areas are required to have friable soil to
maximize retention and infiltration. On engineered slopes, only
amended planting holes need meet this requirement.
B. 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. In projects with multiple landscape installations (i.e. production
home developments or common interest developments that are
installing landscaping) a soil sampling rate of 1 in 7 lots or
approximately 15% will satisfy this requirement; evenly disbursed
throughout the development. Large landscape projects shall
sample at a rate equivalent to 1 in 7 lots or approximately 15%
landscape area. The project applicant, or his/her designee, shall
comply with one of the following:
(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
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(b) if significant mass grading is planned, the soil analysis report
shall be submitted to the City as part of the Certification of
Completion (Appendix E).
(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 (Appendix E).
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. 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 landscape area provided
the EAWU in the landscape area does not exceed the
MAWA. Methods to achieve water efficiency shall include
one or more of the following:
1. protection and preservation of non-invasive water-
conserving plant, tree and turf species;
2. selection of water-conserving plant, tree and turf species;
3. selection of plants based on local climate stability
disease and pest resistance;
4. selection of trees based on applicable City tree
ordinances and size and maturity as appropriate for the
planting area; 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 Design Standards.
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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
1. use the Sunset Western Climate Zone System, or equivalent
generally accepted models 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) to allow
for adequate soil volume for healthy root growth; 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. High water 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 Special Fire Protection Areas shall
address fire safety and prevention. Landscaping in Hazard Reduction and
Fuel Modification Zones shall comply with requirements of the Newport
Beach Fire Department, where applicable. Design, installation and
maintenance of Hazard Reduction and Fuel Modification Zones shall be
subject to review and approval by the Newport Beach Fire Department
prior to installation. When conflicts between water conservation and fire
safety design elements exist, the fire safety requirements shall have
priority. (Reference: Newport Beach fire Prevention Guidelines, G.01 and
G.02)
G. The use of invasive plant species and/or noxious plant species , such as
those listed by the California Invasive Plant Council is strongly
discouraged.
H. 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
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(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. Soil Preparation Mulch and Amendments
(a) Prior to planting of any materials, compacted soils 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 the
recommendations of the soil report and what is appropriate
for plants selected.
(c) For landscape installations, compost at a rate of a minimum
of four cubic yards per 1,000 square feet of permeable area
shall be incorporated to a depth of six inches into the soil.
Soils with greater than 6% organic matter in the top 6 inches
of soil are exempt from adding compost and tilling.
(d) A minimum two, three inch (3″) layers 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. To
provide habitat for beneficial insects and other wildlife, up to
5% of the landscape are 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 such as those detailed
in the USDA/USAID Low Volume Roads Engineering Best
Management Practices Field Guide.
(f) The mulching portion of the seed/mulch slurry in hydro-
seeded applications shall meet the mulching requirement.
(g) Organic mulch materials made from recycled or post-
consumer shall take precedence over inorganic materials or
virgin forest products unless the recycled post-consumer
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organic products are not locally available. Organic mulches
are not required where prohibited by local fuel Modification
Plan Guidelines or other applicable local ordinances.
I. The Landscape Design Plan, at a minimum, shall be drawn to scale and
accurately and clearly:
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 landscape 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, and 24-hour retention or
infiltration capacity of any applicable storm water best management
practices that encourage on-site retention and infiltration of storm
water. Project applicants shall refer to the City or regional Water
Quality Control Board for information on any applicable stormwater
technical requirements. Storm water best management practices
are encouraged in the landscape design plan.
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 Design Standards
and have applied them for the efficient use of water in the
landscape design plan;” and
13. bear the signature and/or official stamp of a California-licensed
professional.
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2.5 Irrigation Design Plan
A. This section applies to landscape 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, a nd
maintenance. An irrigation design plan meeting the following design criteria
shall be submitted as part of the Landscape Documentation Package.
1. System
(a) Landscape water meters, defined as either a dedicated
water service meter or private sub meter, shall be installed
for all non-residential irrigated landscapes of 1,000 sq. ft. but
not more than 5,000 sq. ft. (the level at which Water Code
535 applies) and residential irrigated landscapes of 5,000 sq.
ft. or greater. A landscape water meter may be either:
1. A customer service meter dedicated to landscape use
provided by the local water purveyor; or
2. A privately owned meter or sub meter.
(b) Automatic irrigation controllers utilizing either
evapotranspiration or soil moisture sensor data with non-
volatile memory shall be required for irrigation scheduling in
all irrigation systems recommending U.S. EPA WaterSense
labeled devices as applicable.
(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.
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
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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.
Irrigation should be avoided during windy or freezing
weather or during rain.
(e) 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.
(f) A master shutoff valve shall be as close as possible to the
point of connection and is required on all projects, with the
exception for 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 shut down features.
(g) High flow sensors that detect and report high flow conditions
created by system damage or malfunction are recommended
required for all non-residential landscapes and residential
landscapes of 5,000 square feet or larger. The flow sensor
must be in combination with a master shut-off valve.
(h) Manual Isolation valves (such as a gate valve, ball valve, or
butterfly valve) shall be required downstream of 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.
(i) 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.
(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.
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(l) 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 ASBE/ICC 802-2014.
(m) Average irrigation efficiency for the project shall be
determined in accordance with the EAWU calculation sheet
in Appendix C. 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 as listed in
Section 2.2.C(9).
(n) It is highly recommended that the project applicant inquire
with the City or the applicant’s water supplier about peak
water operating demands (on the water supply system) or
water restrictions that may impact the effectiveness of the
irrigation system.
(o) In mulched planting areas, the use of low volume irrigation is
(drip or low volume overhead irrigation) required to maximize
water infiltration into the root zone; with the exception of
areas with fuel modification requirements and/or those that
require plant establishment to comply with the Newport
Beach Municipal Code Chapter 15.10 (Excavation and
Grading.
(p) Sprinkler heads and other emission devices shall have
matched precipitation rates, unless otherwise directed by the
manufacturer’s recommendations.
(q) Head to head coverage is recommended. However, sprinkler
spacing shall be designed to achieve the highest possible
distribution uniformity using the manufacturer’s
recommendations.
(r) Swing joint components are required on all sprinklers subject
to damage that are adjacent to hardscapes or in high traffic
areas.
(s) Check valves or anti-drain valves are required on all
sprinkler heads where low point drainage could occur.
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(t) Areas less than ten (10) feet in width in any direction shall be
irrigated with subsurface irrigation or other means that
produces no runoff or overspray.
(u) 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 landscape 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)(i) 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 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.
(c) Where feasible, trees shall be placed on separate valves
from shrubs, groundcovers, and turf to facilitate the
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appropriate irrigation of trees. The mature size and extent of
the root zone shall be considered when designing irrigation
for the tree.
(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 accurately
and clearly identify:
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;
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
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them accordingly for the efficient use of water in the
irrigation design plan;” and
7. the signature and/or stamp of a California-licensed
professional.
[Note: Authority Cited: Section 65595, Government Code.
Reference: Section 65596, Government Code.]
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 landscape 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 landscape area. All grading projects
shall comply with Newport Beach Municipal Code Chapter 15.10
(Excavation and Grading Code).
B. The project applicant shall submit a landscape grading plan that indicates
finished configurations and elevations of the landscape 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 landscape areas.
D. The Grading Design Plan shall contain the following statement: “I have
complied with the criteria of the Newport Beach Water Efficient Landscape
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Ordinance and Design Standards and have applied them accordingly for
the efficient use of water in the grading design plan” and shall bear the
signature and/or stamp of the licensed professional, as required by law.
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 in conjunction with the landscape project are issued,
and/or the landscape plan for those projects subject to discretionary review
have been approved.
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 the permit finaling process. 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 E of these Design Standards, which shall
include: (i) certification by a licensed 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.”
(a) Where there have been significant changes (as deemed by
the City) made in the field during construction, these “as-
built” or record drawings shall be included with the
certificate.
(b) A diagram of the irrigation plan showing hydrozones shall be
kept with the irrigation controller for subsequent
management purposes.
2. Documentation of the irrigation scheduling parameters used to set
the controller(s);
3. An irrigation audit report from a local agency landscape irrigation
auditor or third party certified landscape irrigation auditor, or
documentation of enrollment in a regional or local water supplier’s
water conservation program, and documentation that the MAWA
and EAWU information for the landscape project has been
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submitted to the City and/or the local water supplier. Example
Inspection Affidavit is included as Appendix G.
(a) Landscape audits shall not be conducted by the person who
designed or installed the landscape.
(b) In large projects or projects with multiple landscape
installations (i.e. production home developments or common
interest developments) an auditing rate of 1 in 7 lots or
approximately 15% will satisfy this requirement.
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
City’s Water Conservation (Municipal Code: Chapter 14.16)
Ordinance. Operation of the irrigation system outside the normal
watering window is allowed for auditing and system maintenance.
2.9 Post-Installation Landscape and Irrigation Maintenance
A. Landscapes shall be maintained to ensure water use efficiency in
accordance with the City’s Municipal Code: Title 14.
3. Provisions for Existing Landscapes
A. Irrigation of all landscape 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 City and/or the applicant’s water
supplier.
B. The City and/or the regional or local water supplier 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 landscape areas in the City
over one acre in size.
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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.
4. Public Education
Publications. 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.
Model Homes. All model homes that are landscaped shall use signs and written
information to demonstrate the principles of water efficient landscapes as
described.
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 the local ordinance; specify who
designed and installed the site water efficient landscape; and
demonstrate low water use approaches to landscaping such as
using appropriate plants, alternative water sources, or rainwater
catchment systems.
2. Information shall be provided about designing, installing, managing,
and maintaining water efficient landscapes.
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Appendix A
Definitions
The terms used in these Design Standards have the meaning set forth below:
Aggregate Landscape Areas: pertains to the areas undergoing development as one
project or for production home neighborhoods, or other situations where multiple parcel
are undergoing development as one project, but will eventually be individually owned.
Applied water: the portion of water supplied by the irrigation system to the landscape.
Backflow prevention device: a safety device used to prevent pollution or
contamination of the water supply due to the reverse flow of water from the irrigation
system.
Check valve” or “anti-drain valve: 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.
Certificate of Completion: the certificate included as Exhibit E hereof that must be
submitted to the City pursuant to Section 2.7.C(1) of these Design Standards.
Certification of Design: the certification included as Exhibit B of these Design
Standards that must be included in the Landscape Documentation Package pursuant to
Section 2.1 of these Guidelines.
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 US Environmental Protection Agency’s WaterSense
irrigation auditor certification program and Irrigation Association’s Certified Landscape
Irrigation Auditor program.
City: the City of Newport Beach, CA.
Common interest developments: community apartment projects, condominium
projects, planned developments, and stock cooperatives per Civil Code Section 13.
Design standards: refers to these Design Standards for Implementation of the Water
Efficient Landscape Ordinance, which describe procedures, calculations, and
requirements for landscape projects subject to MBMC Chapter 14.17.
Discretionary approval: is typically required for landscape projects that are subject to
site plan reviews, or where a variance from a local building or zoning code is requested,
or other procedural processes apply such that standard or special 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
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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 Design Standards for Implementation of the Water Efficient Landscape
Ordinance.”
Distribution Uniformity or “DU”: is a measure of how uniformly an irrigation head
applies water to a specific target area and theoretically ranges f rom zero to 100 percent.
Drip irrigation: 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.
Ecological restoration project: a project where the site is intentionally altered to
establish a defined, indigenous, historic ecosystem.
Emitter: a drip irrigation emission device that delivers water slowly from the system to
the soil.
Estimated Applied Water Use or EAWU: 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 landscape area, plant water use factors, and the
irrigation efficiency within each hydrozone. (Water Efficient Landscape Worksheet:
Appendix C
Evapotranspiration adjustment factor or ETAF: of 0.55 (fifty-five (55) percent) for
residential areas and 0.45 (forty-five (45) percent) for non-residential 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 (non-rehabilitated) Special Landscape
Area shall not exceed 1.0 (one hundred (100) percent). The ETAF for existing non-
rehabilitated landscapes is 0.8 (eighty (80) percent).
Evapotranspiration rate: the quantity of water evaporated from adjacent soil and other
surfaces and transpired by plants during a specified time.
Flow rate: 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.
Graywater: means a system intreated 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 unhealthy
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 as per the Health and Safety Code (Section 17922.12). Graywater
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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.
Hardscapes: any durable material or feature (pervious and non-pervious) installed in or
around a landscape area, such as pavements or walls. Pools and other water features
are considered part of the landscape area and not considered hardscapes for purposes
of these Design Standards.
Hydrozone: a portion of the landscape 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: 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: 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: 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: 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: the measurement of the amount of water beneficially
used divided by the amount of water applied to a landscape 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
Design Standards is 0.75 (seventy-five (75) percent) for overhead spray devices and
0.81 (eighty-one (81) percent) for drip systems with an overall irrigation efficiency of 71
(seventy-one (71) percent). Greater irrigation efficiency can be expected from well
designed and maintained systems.
Landscape coefficient (KL): 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 landscape areas and special landscape areas.
Landscape Documentation Package: the package of documents that a project
applicant is required to submit to the City pursuant to Section 2.1 of these Design
Standards.
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Landscape rehabilitation project: any re-landscaping project that meets the criteria of
Section 14.17.020 (Applicability), where the modified landscape area is greater than 2,500
square feet.
Landscape area: all the planting areas, turf areas, and water features (including pools,
ponds, fountains, etc.) in a Landscape Design Plan which are subject to, and must be
included in, the Maximum Applied Water Allowance and Estimated Applied Water Use
calculations. The landscape 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: the water delivery pipeline that supplies water to the emitters or sprinklers
from the valve.
Licensed professional: a licensed landscape architect, California licensed landscape
contractor, architect, civil engineer, or any other person authorized to design or
construct 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.
Low volume irrigation: 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 volume overhead irrigation: means aboveground irrigation heads with an upper
flow limit of 0.5 GPM.
Main line: the pressurized pipeline that delivers water from the water source to the
valve or outlet.
Manual Isolation Valve: a valve such as a gate valve, ball valve, or butterfly valve
installed downstream of the point of connection of the water supply to shutdown water
flow through mainline piping for routine maintenance and emergency repair.
Master shut-off valve: an electronic valve such as a solenoid valve installed as close
as possible to the point of connection and is used in conjunction with a flow sensor and
flow monitoring controller technology to automatically shutdown system wide water flow
in the event of high flow conditions such as mainline pipe break.
Maximum Applied Water Allowance or MAWA: the upper limit of annual applied
water for the established landscape area, as specified in Section 2.2 of these Design
Standards. It is based upon the area’s reference evapotranspiration, the ETAF, and the
size of the landscape area. The Estimated Applied Water Use shall not exceed the
Maximum Applied Water Allowance. (Water Efficient Landscape Worksheet: Appendix
C
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Microclimate: 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, or
proximity to reflective surfaces.
Ministerial Permit: an authorizing document issued by the City of Newport Beach
Building Department in conjunction with a landscape project and which may include, but is
not limited to: grading, pools, spas, fountains, ponds, retaining walls, fences and walls,
shade structures, barbecues, outdoor fireplaces, grading, etc.
Mulch: 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.
New landscape installation project: a landscape installed in conjunction with new
development, whether or not the new development includes construction of new
building(s). (e.g. parks, playgrounds, and greenbelts).
Non-pervious: any surface or natural material that does not allow for the passage of
water through the material and into the underlying soil.
Operating pressure: the pressure at which the parts of an irrigation system of
sprinklers are designed to operate at by the manufacturer
Overspray: 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 City or the local water
supplier, 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: 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, which
estimates the amount of water needed by plants. For purposes of this chapter, the plant
factor range for very low water use plants is zero (0) to 0.1 (ten (10) percent); the plant
factor range for low water use plants is zero (0) to 0.3 (thirty (30) percent); the plant
factor range for moderate water use plants is 0.4 (forty (40) percent) to 0.6 (sixty (60)
percent); and the plant factor range for high water use plants is 0.7 (seventy (70)
percent) to 1.0 (one hundred (100) percent). Plant factors cited in this chapter are
derived from the Department of Water Resources 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).
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Precipitation rate: the rate of application of water measured in inches per hour.
Project applicant: 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: the record owner of real property as shown on the most
recently issued equalized assessment roll.
Recycled water or reclaimed water: Wastewater which, as a result of treatment, is
suitable for non-potable uses not intended for human consumption such as landscape
irrigation and water features.
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 D of these Design Standards, 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.
Runoff: 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 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 with non-volatile
memory shall be required for irrigation scheduling in all irrigation systems,
recommending U.S. EPA WaterSense labeled devices as applicable.
Special Landscape Areas or SLA: 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. These areas may
have an ET adjustment factor (ETAF) to 1.0 (100%).
Sprinkler head: a device which delivers water through a nozzle.
Static water pressure: the pipeline or municipal water supply pressure when water is
not flowing.
Station: an area served by one valve or by a set of valves that operate simultaneously.
Swing joint: 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.
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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.
Valve: a device used to control the flow of water in an irrigation system
Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance: Newport Beach Municipal Code Chapter
14.17.
Water Efficient Landscape Worksheets: means the worksheets required to be
completed pursuant to Section 2.2 of these Design Standards and which are included in
Appendix C hereof.
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 landscape
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: the time of day irrigation is allowed.
WUCOLS: 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
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Appendix B
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 Water
Efficient Landscape Ordinance (Municipal Code Sections
) and the City of Guidelines for Implementation of the
City of 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
Guidelines for Implementation of the City of Water Efficient Landscape
Ordinance.
Print Name Date
Signature License Number
Address
Telephone E-mail Address
Landscape Design Professional’s Stamp
(If applicable)
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Appendix C
WATER EFFICIENT LANDSCAPE WORKSHEET
This worksheet is filled out by the project applicant and it is a required item of the Landscape Documentation Package.
Reference Evapotranspiration (ETo)a:
_____
Landscape Area Sector Type
(select one):
[ ] Residential
[ ] Non-Residential
Hydrozone
#/Planting
Description Location
Plant
Factorb
(PF)
Irrigation
Methodc
Irrigation
Efficiencyc
(IE)
ETAF
(PF/IE)
Landscape
Area (sq-ft)
ETAF x
Area
Estimated
Total Water
Used
(ETWU)
Regular Landscape Area
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
Average Total Total
Average ETAF for Regular
Landscape Arease (circle one):
In
Compliance
Not In
Compliance
Special Landscape Area
SLA-
1
3-45
30
SLA-
2
SLA-
3
SLA-
4
SLA-
5
Totals
Total Landscape Area
Site wide ETAF
ETWU Total
Maximum Allowed Water Allowance (MAWA)f
WORKSHEET INFORMATION & EQUATIONS
a Local monthly evapotranspiration rates are listed in Appendix D.
b The following table can be used for common plant factors:
c 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. The following irrigation
efficiency may be obtained for the listed irrigation heads with an Irrigation Management Efficiency of 90%:
Plant Factor PF
Very low water use plant 0.1
Low water use plant 0.2
Medium water use plant 0.5
High water use plant 0.8
Lawn 0.8
Pool, spa, or other water
feature 1.0
Irrigation Method IE
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d Estimated Total Water Use (ETWU) is the annual gallons required
ETWU = (ETo) x (0.62) x (ETAF x Area)
where, ETo = annual evapotranspiration rate in inches per year
0.62 = factor used to convert inches per year to gallons per square foot
ETAF = plant factor ÷ irrigation efficiency
e Average ETAF for Regular Landscape Areas must be 0.55 or below for residential areas, and 0.45 or below for
nonresidential areas.
f Maximum Allowed Water Allowance (MAWA) is the annual gallons allowed
MAWA = (ETo) x (0.62) x [(ETAF x LA) + ((1-ETAF) x SLA)]
where, ETo = annual evapotranspiration rate in inches per year
0.62 = factor used to convert inches per year to gallons per square foot
ETAF = plant factor ÷ irrigation efficiency
LA = total (site wide) landscape area in square feet
SLA = total special landscape area
Spray nozzles 71%
High efficiency spray
nozzles 73%
Multi stream/Multi trajectory
rotary (MSMT) nozzles 76%
Stream rotor nozzle 73%
Microspray 76%
Bubblers 77%
Drip emitter 81%
Subsurface drip 81%
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Appendix D
Reference Evapotranspiration (ETo) Table
City Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Annual Total
(inches per year)
Balboa 2.6 2.4 3.4 4.2 4.9 4.5 5.1 5.1 4.4 3.3 2.5 2.0 44.4
Balboa Island 2.6 2.4 3.4 4.2 4.9 4.6 5.2 5.2 4.5 3.3 2.5 2.0 44.7
Corona Del
Mar
2.6 2.5 3.4 4.2 4.9 4.6 5.2 5.2 4.5 3.3 2.5 2.0 44.9
Lido Isle 2.6 2.4 3.4 4.2 4.9 4.6 5.1 5.1 4.4 3.3 2.5 2.0 44.4
Newport
Beach
2.6 2.5 3.5 4.2 5.0 4.7 5.3 5.3 4.5 3.3 2.5 2.0 45.4
* The values in this table were derived from California Irrigation Management Information System (CIMIS) Spatial CIMIS data b y
zip code. Cities with multiple zip codes present monthly averages.
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Appendix E
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 Newport Beach Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance
(Municipal Code Section 14.17) and the City of Newport Beach Standards for
Implementation of the City of Newport Beach Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance for
the efficient use of water in the landscape.
(4) The following elements are attached hereto:
a. Irrigation scheduling parameters used to set the controller;
b. Landscape and irrigation maintenance schedule;
c. Irrigation audit report; and
d. Soil analysis report, if not submitted with Landscape Documentation Package,
and documentation verifying implementation of the soil report
recommendations.
(5) The site installation complies with the following:
a. The required irrigation system has been installed according to approved plans
and specifications and if applicable, any prior approved irrigation system
alternatives.
_____ Yes ____ No
b. Sprinklers comply with ASABE/ICC 802-2014 Landscape Irrigation Sprinkler &
Emitter Standard.
_____ Yes ____ No
(6) 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
Newport Beach Design Standards for Implementation of the City of Newport Beach
Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance.
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Print Name Date
Signature License Number
Address
Telephone E-mail Address
Landscape Design Professional’s Stamp
(If Appropriate)
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Appendix F
IRRIGATION PLAN CHECKLIST
Please complete the following checklist by checking all appropriate categories under
APPLICANT column, indicating compliance with these content requirements. All
submitted plans shall contain the following information:
LANDSCAPE PLAN NUMBER: -
__________________________________________________
NAME OF PROJECT: -
________________________________________________________________________________________
Applicant Planner
[ ] 1. Prevailing winds [ ]
[ ] 2. Slope aspect and degree of slope [ ]
[ ] 3. Soil type and infiltration rate [ ]
[ ] 4. Vegetation type [ ]
[ ] 5. Microclimates [ ]
[ ] 6. Expansive or hazardous soil conditions [ ]
[ ] 7. Water harvesting potential [ ]
[ ] 8. Available water supply, including non-potable and recycled water [ ]
All pertinent system information is indicated, including:
[ ] 9. Irrigation zones substantially corresponding to hydrozones on the
landscape plan and labeled by precipitation rates and method of
application
[ ]
[ ] 10. Water meters [ ]
[ ] 11. Tap-in location [ ]
[ ] 12. Static water pressure at the point of connection [ ]
[ ] 13. System controller [ ]
[ ] 14. Rain sensor/shut-off device [ ]
[ ] 15. Backflow preventers [ ]
[ ] 16. Shut-off valves and zone control valves [ ]
[ ] 17. Main line and lateral piping [ ]
[ ] 18. Sprinkler heads [ ]
[ ] 19. Bubblers and drip irrigation tubing runs [ ]
[ ] 20. Type and size of main irrigation system components [ ]
[ ] 21. Total required operating pressure for each control valve/zone [ ]
[ ] 22. Graphic depiction of the locations of irrigation system components [ ]
[ ] 23. Total required operating pressure for each control valve/zone [ ]
[ ] 24. Any supplemental stormwater and/or runoff harvesting [ ]
System design is in conformance with the following standards:
[ ] 25. Certification of Professional Qualifications, attached [ ]
[ ] 26. Pedestrian surfaces located on plan [ ]
[ ] 27. Equipment installed flush with grade for safety [ ]
[ ] 28. Compliance with local codes [ ]
[ ] 29. Overspray onto impervious areas minimized [ ]
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Appendix G:
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Appendix H
PRESCRIPTIVE COMPLIANCE OPTION
(A) This appendix contains prescriptive requirements which may be
used as a compliance option to the Ordinance.
(B) Compliance with the following items is mandatory and must be
documented in 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
to the MWELO”
(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
contra-indicated 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
plan factor 0.3) for 75% of the plant area excluding edibles and
areas using recycled water; For non-residential areas, install climate
adapted plants that require occasional, little or no summer water
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(average WUCOLS plan factor 0.3) for 100% of the plant area
excluding edibles and areas using recycled water;
(b) A minimum three inch (3”) 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.
(4) Turf shall comply with all of the following:
(a) Turf shall not exceed 25% of the landscape area in
residential areas, and turf shall not be planted in non-residential
areas
(b) Turf shall not be planted on sloped areas which exceed a
slope of 1 foot vertical elevation change for every 4 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 sub-surface
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
(b) Irrigation controllers shall be of a type which 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
manufacturers 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/ICC802-2014. “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.
(C) At the time of final inspection, the permit applicant must provide the
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owner of the property with a certificate of completion, certificate of
installation, irrigation schedule and a schedule of landscape and
irrigation maintenance.
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