DEPARTMENT Water Enterprise AGENDA NO. 7
MEETING DATE April 14, 2026
AGENDA ITEM
Public Utilities Commission
City and County of San Francisco
Calendar: Regular Calendar
Project Manager: Julie Ortiz
Public Hearing to Adopt Rules and Regulations Restricting Potable Water Use for Irrigation of Nonfunctional Turf
Summary of Proposed
Commission Action:
Public hearing to consider and possible action to adopt new Rules and Regulations Restricting Potable Water Use for Irrigation of Nonfunctional Turf to align with Assembly Bill 1572; and authorize the General Manager in consultation with the City Attorney, to approve any non- substantive edits or minor corrections to the Rules and Regulations Restricting Potable Water Use for Irrigation of Nonfunctional Turf that are necessary or appropriate to facilitate implementation of Assembly Bill 1572.
Pursuant to San Francisco Charter Section 4.104(a)(1), a Notice of Public Hearing was posted at the San Francisco Main Library and on the SFPUC’s website.
Background: The San Francisco Public Utilities Commission (SFPUC) Water Enterprise regulates the installation and maintenance of landscape irrigation systems to promote water use efficiency and to reduce waste.
On May 25, 2010, by Resolution No. 10- 0214, the Commission adopted Section F of the Rules and Regulations Governing Water Service to Customers (Water Service Rules), which added regulations for installing and maintaining water -efficient landscapes and irrigation systems and reducing wasteful water use on irrigated landscapes in the SFPUC’s retail water service area. The Commission adopted Section F to comply with the state Water Conservation in Landscaping Act (Assembly Bill 1881) and the state’s Model Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance (MWELO).
Updates to the SFPUC’s Section F rules were last made in 2015 and 2022, by Resolution Nos. 15-0221 and 22-0170.
State Assembly Bill (AB) 1572, approved by the Governor in October 2023, amends Division 6 of the California Water Code to prohibit use of potable water for irrigation of nonfunctional turf located on public, commercial, industrial, and institutional properties, but excluding cemeteries , and on common areas of Agenda Title: Adopt Rules and Regulations Restricting Potable Water Use for Irrigation of Nonfunctional Turf to align with state law Commission Meeting Date: April 14, 2026
homeowners’ association properties, common interest
developments, and community service organizations or similar entities. Additionally, t he legislation also requires owners of covered irrigated properties of over 5,000 square feet to certify their compliance with the State Water Resources Control Board.
Further, the legislation authorizes a public water system, city, county, or city and county to enforce the provisions. Compliance is phased by property type:
• January 1, 2027, for properties owned by the Department of General Services
• January 1, 2027, for properties owned by local governments, local or regional public agencies, and public water systems, but excluding such property located within a disadvantaged community
• January 1, 2028, all commercial, industrial, and institutional properties
• January 1, 2029, for all common areas of properties of homeowners’ associations , common interest developments , and community service organizations or similar entities • January 1, 2031, for properties owned by local governments, local public agencies, and public water systems in a
disadvantaged community or the date upon which a state
funding source is made available to fund conversion of
nonfunctional turf on these properties to climate- appropriate landscapes, whichever is later
AB 1572 expanded upon temporary potable irrigation of
nonfunctional turf restrictions implemented through State Water Resources Control Board emergency regulations in effect during California’s 2020 drought. In response, the SFPUC also enacted a temporary ban on irrigation of nonfunctional turf by Resolution No. 22-0126. The SFPUC’s restriction was in effect until the General Manager lifted SFPUC’s local drought emergency in April 2023.
By January 1, 2027, public water systems must update their regulations, ordinances, and policies to align with AB 1572’s restrictions on potable water use for irrigation of nonfunctional turf.
SFPUC Analysis, Resources and Outreach
SFPUC analysis estimates about 4,500 acres of irrigated or irrigable (not currently irrigated) nonresidential landscapes in San Francisco and across retail service sites in San Mateo and Alameda counties. Of this, staff believe only a small percentage may have nonfunctional turf irrigated with potable water. The SFPUC has about 1,300 retail water service accounts for irrigation only (no indoor use) of commercial, industrial, and institutional Agenda Title: Adopt Rules and Regulations Restricting Potable Water Use for Irrigation of Nonfunctional Turf to align with state law Commission Meeting Date: April 14, 2026
properties and common areas of large homeowner associations .
Most of the SFPUC’s irrigation accounts serve public parks, schools, recreational and sport fields and other public use areas where turf is considered functional. Others serve cemeteries and golf courses irrigated with recycled water, both of which are exempt from the nonfunctional turf restriction. Most irrigated landscapes with 5,000 square feet or more are served by irrigation-only meters and for which the SFPUC provides monthly irrigation use reports.
Staff continue to map, measure, and analyze non- residential irrigated landscape areas and will use these efforts to help guide outreach to properties with turf. The SFPUC encourages
properties to assess if they have any potentially nonfunctional turf before compliance deadlines and, if so, to replace it with climate appropriate, low water use plants or nonpotable irrigation. The SFPUC provides landscape and irrigation resources, including free landscape and irrigation assessments to help determine if turf is potentially nonfunctional, grants for turf and water -saving irrigation system retrofits, grants for onsite reuse, and other assistance. See www.sfpuc.gov/savewater for more information.
The SFPUC is using multiple means to inform affected customers, properties, and related interest groups about the nonfunctional turf irrigation restrictions and SFPUC conservation assistance programs. Outreach efforts include messages in monthly water use reports to City departments with water service accounts, monthly landscape water use reports to irrigation customers, and direct notices to all commercial, industrial, and institutional customers among the top 20 percent for water use.
Description of
Proposed Rules and
Regulations:
The proposed Rules and Regulations Restricting Potable Water Use for Irrigation of Nonfunctional Turf (Rules and Regulations) would add Rule 17 to Section F of the Water Service Rules to comply with AB 1572. The updated Water Service Rules will be posted on SFPUC’s website at Water Efficient Irrigation Rules and Regulations.
The Rules and Regulations would prohibit the use of potable water for irrigating nonfunctional turf in accordance with the following schedule:
• January 1, 2027, for properties owned by the
Department of General Services
• January 1, 2027, for properties owned by local
governments, the state and local governments, local or
regional public agencies, and public water systems, but excluding such property located within a disadvantaged
Agenda Title: Adopt Rules and Regulations Restricting Potable Water Use for Irrigation of Nonfunctional Turf to align with state law Commission Meeting Date: April 14, 2026
community
• January 1, 2028, for all commercial, industrial, and
institutional properties
• January 1, 2029, for all common areas of properties of homeowners associations , common interest
developments, and community service organizations or
similar entities.
• January 1, 2031, for properties owned by local
governments, local public agencies, and public water
systems in a disadvantaged community or the date upon
which a state funding source is made available to fund
conversion of nonfunctional turf on these properties to climate-appropriate landscapes, whichever is later
In addition, as required by AB 1572, the Rules and Regulations require commercial, industrial, and institutional property owners, homeowners associations , common interest developments , and community service organizations with more than 5,000 square feet of irrigated area to certify compliance with AB 1572 to the State Water Resources Control Board. Commercial, industrial, and residential property owners must submit certifications beginning June 30, 2030, and every three years thereafter through 2039.
Homeowners associations , common interest developments , and community service organizations must submit certifications beginning June 30, 2031, and every three years thereafter through 2040.
The Rules and Regulations also authorize the SFPUC to conduct enforcement and issue penalties for noncompliance with the Rules and Regulations and AB 1572.
Schedule: If the Commission approves this action, the proposed new Rules and Regulations Restricting Potable Water Use for Irrigation of Nonfunctional Turf will become effective April 1, 2026.
Environmental Review: On May 12, 2010, the Water Efficient Irrigation Rules and Regulations (Section F of the Water Service Rules) was
determined to be categorically exempt from environmental review under the California Environmental Quality Act Guidelines Section 15308, Class 8 (Actions by Regulatory Agencies for Protection of the Environment). The exemption can be found here:
https://sfpuc.sharefile.com/d-
s30fa6514226c44d8ae57d20474dcfb6e
The addition of Rule 17 to comply with AB 1572 is consistent with the evaluation of the Rules and Regulations for water efficient irrigation in the exemption determination.
Agenda Title: Adopt Rules and Regulations Restricting Potable Water Use for Irrigation of Nonfunctional Turf to align with state law Commission Meeting Date: April 14, 2026
Attachments: 1. SFPUC Rules and Regulations, Section F: Water Efficient Irrigation
PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION
City and County of San Francisco
RESOLUTION NO.
WHEREAS, The San Francisco Public Utilities Commission (SFPUC)’s mission is to provide its water customers with high-quality, efficient, and reliable water services in a manner that is inclusive of environmental and community interests and that sustains the resources entrusted to its care; and
WHEREAS, San Francisco’s potable water supply is a vital public resource that faces ever increasing demands, and landscape maintenance and irrigation can and should be water efficient; and
WHEREAS, On May 25, 2010, by Resolution No. 10- 214, the Commission adopted Section F of the SFPUC Rules and Regulations Governing Water Service to Customers (Water Service Rules) , establishing Water Efficient Irrigation Rules and Regulations that promote the values and benefits of landscapes while recognizing the need to use water efficiently and to avoid water waste; and
WHEREAS, On October 27, 2015, by Resolution No. 15- 0221, and on September 27, 2022, by Resolution No. 22-0170, the Commission updated the Water Service Rules to comply with state law; and
WHEREAS, On June 28, 2022, by Resolution No. 22-0126, the SFPUC enacted a temporary prohibition on irrigation of nonfunctional turf as a Waste of Water Rule in response to drought and to comply with the State Water Resources Control Board (State Water Board) emergency regulation Resolution No. 2022-0018; and
WHEREAS, The California State Legislature made this prohibition permanent by passing Assembly Bill 1572. The law prohibits using potable (drinking) water to irrigate nonfunctional turf (grass) at public properties, commercial, industrial and institutional properties, and the common areas at common interest developments such as homeowner associations, community service organizations, and similar entities; and
WHEREAS, AB 1572 requires public water systems to, by January 1, 2027, revise their regulations, ordinances, or policies governing water service to align with AB 1572’s restrictions on use of potable water for irrigating nonfunctional turf; and
WHEREAS, SFPUC staff have developed the Rules and Regulations for Restricting Potable Water Use for Irrigation of Nonfunctional Turf (Rules and Regulations) to comply with AB 1572); and
WHEREAS, On May 12, 2010, the Water Efficient Irrigation Rules and Regulations (Section F of the Water Service Rules) was determined to be categorically
exempt from environmental review under California Environmental Quality Act Guidelines Section 15308, Class 8 (Actions by Regulatory Agencies for Protection of the Environment), and the addition of Rule 17 to comply with AB 1572 is consistent with the evaluation of the Rules and Regulations for water efficient irrigation in the exemption determination; now, therefore, be it,
RESOLVED, That this Commission hereby adopts the proposed Rules and Regulations for Restricting Potable Water Use for Irrigation of Nonfunctional Turf in the form attached to this Resolution and on file with Director of Commission Affairs, effective as of April 1, 2026; and, be it,
FURTHER RESOLVED, This Commission authorizes the General Manager , or the General Manager’s designee, in consultation with the City Attorney, to approve any non-substantive edits or minor corrections to the Rules and Regulations for Restricting Potable Water Use for Irrigation of Nonfunctional Turf that are necessary or appropriate to facilitate implementation of AB 1572.
I hereby certify that the foregoing resolution was adopted by the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission at its meeting of April 14, 2026.
Director of Commission Affairs
San Francisco Public Utilities Commission
SECTION F - WATER EFFICIENT IRRIGATION
From the SFPUC Rules and Regulations Governing Water Service to Customers Section F approved May 25, 2010, by Resolution No. 10-0214 and Amended by Resolution 22-0170 on September 27, 2022, and Resolution 15-0221 on October 27, 2015.
CONTENTS
RULE
Purpose
Applicability 1
Definitions 2
Tier 1 - Landscape Rehabilitation Projects
with 1,000 – 2,500 Square Feet of Landscape Area 3
Tier 2 - New Construction Projects with 500 Square Feet or More of Landscape Area and Landscape Rehabilitation Projects with More Than 2,500 Square Feet of Landscape Area 4
Compliance Plans for Large Irrigated Landscapes 5
Water Efficient Landscape Design and Operation Elements 6
Maximum Applied Water Allowance 7
Landscape Documentation Package 8
Soil Management Report 9
Landscape Design Plan 10
Irrigation Design Plan 11
Grading Design Plan 12
Certificate of Landscape Completion 13
Irrigation Audits for Landscape Areas 14
Non-Potable Water 15
Water Waste Prevention 16
Potable Water and Nonfunctional Turf 17
SFPUC Rules and Regulations- Section F- as last amended April 14, 2026 2 Appendix Sample Calculations of Maximum Applied Water Allowance (MAWA) and Estimated Total Water Use (ETWU)
Purpose
Section F - Water Efficient Irrigation Rules will:
a) Promote the values and benefits of landscapes while recognizing the need to invest water and other resources as efficiently as possible;
b) Establish a structure for planning, designing, installing, maintaining, and managing water efficient landscapes in new construction and rehabilitated projects;
c) Establish provisions for water management practices and water waste prevention for existing landscapes;
d) Promote using water efficiently without waste by setting a Maximum Applied Water Allowance, using state mandated formulas and accounting for local climatic conditions, that will serve as an upper limit for water use by irrigated landscapes;
e) Comply with the requirements of Article 10.8 of the California Government Code, enacted by the State as the Water Conservation in Landscaping Act;
f) Comply with the requirements of the California Green Building Standards Code (California Code of Regulations, Title 24, Part 11) and the State Model Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance (California Code of Regulations, Title 23, Chapter 2.7); and
g) Delineate the conditions under which the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission provides water for landscape irrigation uses.
Rule 1. Applicability
a) Section F shall apply to all of the following projects and activities.
i. Tier 1: All public agency, residential, and commercial rehabilitated landscape projects with an aggregate modified landscape area equal to or greater than 1,000 square feet and less than 2,500 square feet
.
ii. Tier 2: All public agency, residential, and commercial new construction projects with an aggregate landscape area equal to and greater than 500 square feet and rehabilitated landscape projects with an aggregate modified landscape area equal to or greater than 2,500 square feet.
iii. For Rule 16, the irrigation and maintenance of any landscape irrigation system.
iv. For Rule 17, the potable irrigation of non-functional turf on any commercial, industrial or institutional property described in Rule 17.
SFPUC Rules and Regulations- Section F- as last amended April 14, 2026 3 b) Section F do es not apply to:
i. Registered local, state or federal historical sites where the landscape is maintained as part of the historical integrity of the site;
ii. Ecological restoration projects that do not require a permanent irrigation system; and
iii. Plant collections or animal habitat areas, as part of botanical gardens, zoological gardens, and arboretums open to the public.
c) The General Manager may waive some or all of the requirements of Section F for landscape rehabilitation projects proposed by San Francisco Public Utilities Commission’s retail water customers located outside the boundaries of the City and County of San Francisco, if after consultation with the local agency having jurisdiction pursuant to California Government Code sections 65591, et. seq., the General Manager determines that the retail water customer must comply with the local agency's ordinance requirements. If the General Manager determines that the retail water customer is not required to comply with the local agency's ordinance requirements, the retail water customer must comply with Section F of the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission Rules for Water Service Customers.
d) The General Manager may waive some or all of the requirements of Section F if, after a site inspection, the General Manager determines that compliance is not feasible due to one or more of the following conditions.
i. Wet soil conditions stemming from proximity to naturally occurring water features such as a high water table, springs, ponds, lakes, creeks, and wetlands.
ii. Substantial health or safety related risk of injury or harm to property owner, users or workers.
iii. Disproportionately high costs for achieving minor or minimal water savings.
e) A process for document submissions and approvals pursuant to Section F will be developed by the General Manager in conjunction with the Department of Building Inspection, with the purpose of administrative efficiency and effective customer service.
Rule 2. Definitions
The terms used in this section have the following meanings.
a) Applied water: the portion of water supplied by the irrigation system to the landscape.
b) Automatic irrigation controller: a timing device used to remotely control valves that operate an irrigation system. Automatic irrigation controllers are able to self-adjust and schedule irrigation events using either evapotranspiration (weather-based) or soil moisture data.
c) 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.
SFPUC Rules and Regulations- Section F- as last amended April 14, 2026 4 d) Certificate of Landscape Completion: the document required under Rule 13.
e) Certified irrigation designer: a person certified to design irrigation systems by an accredited academic institution, a professional trade organization, or other program such as the US Environmental Protection Agency’s WaterSense Partners irrigation designer certification program and the Irrigation Association’s Certified Irrigation Designer program.
f) Certified landscape irrigation auditor: 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 the Irrigation Association’s Certified Landscape Irrigation Auditor program.
g) Check valve or anti-drain valve: a valve located under a bubbler and sprinkler head, or other location in the irrigation system, to hold water in the system to prevent low head drainage from sprinkler heads when the sprinkler is off.
h) Common interest developments: community apartment projects, condominium projects, planned developments, and stock cooperatives per California Civil Code Section 1351.
i) Compost: the safe and stable product of controlled biologic decomposition of organic materials that is beneficial to plant growth.
j) Conversion factor of 0.62: the number that converts acre-inches per year to gallons per square foot per year.
k) Distribution uniformity: the measure of the uniformity of irrigation water over a defined area.
l) Drip irrigation: any non-spray low volume irrigation system utilizing emission devices with a flow rate measured in gallons per hour.
m) Ecological restoration project: a project where the site is intentionally altered to establish a defined, indigenous, historic ecosystem.
n) Emitter: a drip irrigation emission device that delivers water slowly from the system to the soil.
o) Established landscape: the point at which plants in the landscape have developed significant root growth into the soil. Typically, most plants are established after 1 or 2 years of growth while native habitat mitigation areas and tree may need 3 to 5 years.
p) Estimated Total Water Use (ETWU): the total water used for the landscape.
q) ET adjustment factor (ETAF): a factor of 0.55 for residential areas and 0.45 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. ETAF for a Special Landscape Area shall not exceed 1.0. ETAF for existing non-rehabilitated landscapes is 0.8.
SFPUC Rules and Regulations- Section F- as last amended April 14, 2026 5 r) ETo or reference evapotranspiration: a standard measurement of environmental parameters which affect the water use of plants. ETo is expressed in inches per day, month, or year 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 Allowance so that regional differences in climate can be accommodated.
s) Evapotranspiration rate: the quantity of water evaporated from adjacent soil and other surfaces and transpired by plants during a specified time.
t) Existing landscape area: a landscape area of any size that has not been rehabilitated or constructed within the previous 12 months.
u) First construction document: the first building permit issued for a project or, in the case of a site permit, the first building permit addendum issued or other document that authorizes construction of the project. "First construction document" shall not include permits or addenda for demolition, grading, shoring, pile driving, or site preparation work.
v) 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.
w) Flow sensor: an inline device installed at the supply point of the irrigation system that produces a repeatable signal proportional to the flow rate. Flow sensors must be connected to an automatic irrigation controller, or flow monitor capable of receiving flow signals and operating master valves.
x) Friable: a soil condition that is easily crumbled or loosely compacted down to a minimum depth per planting material requirements, whereby the root structure of newly planted material will be allowed to spread.
y) General Manager: the General Manager of the Public Utilities Commission, or his or her designee.
z) Hardscape: any durable material (pervious and non-pervious).
aa) Hydrozone: a portion of the landscaped area having plants with similar water needs. A hydrozone may be irrigated or non-irrigated.
bb) 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).
cc) Invasive plant species: species of plants not historically found in California that spread outside cultivated areas and can damage environmental or economic resources. Invasive species may be regulated by county agricultural agencies as noxious species. “Noxious weeds” means any weed designated by the Weed Control Regulations in the Weed Control Act and identified on a Regional District noxious weed control list. Lists of invasive plants are maintained at the California Invasive Plant Inventory and USDA invasive and noxious weeds database.
dd) 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 SFPUC Rules and Regulations- Section F- as last amended April 14, 2026 6 limited to: inspection, system test with distribution uniformity or emission uniformity, precipitation rates, reporting deficiencies in the system, reporting overspray or runoff that causes overland flow, and preparation of an irrigation schedule. An irrigation audit may include suggested upgrades, current estimated water usage, and suggested system upgrades.
ee) Irrigation efficiency (IE): 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 irrigation efficiency for purposes of this ordinance is 0.75 for overhead spray devices and 0.81 for drip systems.
ff) Landscape Application: the documents required under Rule 3 for Tier 1 compliance.
gg) Landscape architect: a person who holds a license to practice landscape architecture in the state of California pursuant to California Business and Professions Code.
hh) Landscape area: all the planting areas, turf areas, and water features in a landscape design plan subject to the Maximum Applied Water Allowance calculation, including any adjacent planted areas in the public right-of-way for which the property owner is responsible pursuant to the Section 400.1 or Section 805 of the Public Works Code. The landscape area does not include footprints of buildings or structures unless the footprints include planted areas such as living roofs. The landscape area also does not include 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 such as open spaces and existing native vegetation.
ii) Landscape contractor: a person licensed by the State of California to construct, maintain, repair, install, or subcontract the development of landscape systems.
jj) Landscape Documentation Deadline: the date by which Tier 1 or Tier 2 documentation must be submitted for approval by the General Manager. This date shall be not more than 100 days after the issuance of the first construction document, or as determined by the General Manager in consultation with the Director of Department of Building Inspection.
kk) Landscape Documentation Package: the documents required under Rule 8 for Tier 2 compliance.
ll) Landscape water meter: an inline device installed as a separate utility water meter that measures the flow of water into the irrigation system.
mm) Landscape rehabilitation project or rehabilitated landscape: includes any modifications to landscape areas over a 12-month period at a site that cumulatively exceeds 1,000 square feet. A landscape rehabilitation project or rehabilitated landscape does not include turf replacements on sports fields where the turf replaced provides a playing surface, routine weeding, brush removal where no new plant materials are installed, seasonal plantings, and areas dedicated solely to edible plants. A rehabilitated landscape does not include landscape areas where only the irrigation system is retrofitted for the use of recycled water and only plantings that restore areas disturbed by the recycled water retrofits are installed. Recycled water irrigation retrofit projects shall employ best management practices to prevent runoff, ponding and overspray as directed in their recycled water use permit and comply with all applicable local and state regulation.
SFPUC Rules and Regulations- Section F- as last amended April 14, 2026 7 nn) Lateral line: the water delivery pipeline that supplies water to the emitters or sprinklers from the valve.
oo) 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.
pp) Low water use plants or climate appropriate plants: plants, shrubs, groundcovers or tree species that meet at least one of the following conditions.
i. The species has a water use ranking of “low” or “very low” in Region 1 (North- Central Coast) as established in the California Department of Water Resources 2014 publication “Water Use Classification of Landscape Species” or subsequent editions as it may be updated.
ii. The species has a water use ranking of “no water”, “little water,” or “little to moderate water” in the climate zone for the planting location as established in the Sunset Western Garden Book, Ninth Edition, published by Oxmoor House on February 7, 2012 or subsequent editions as it may be updated.
iii. The plantings are part of an engineered stormwater management feature approved by the General Manager pursuant to the San Francisco Stormwater Design Guidelines established by the Public Utilities Commission.
iv. The Department of Public Works, the Recreation and Park Department, or the General Manager has determined that the species, when watered for sufficient plant health and appearance, is low water use based on the agency’s experience with the species, and the
agency has added the species to the Low Water Use and Climate Appropriate Plant List maintained by the General Manager.
v. The species appears on the San Francisco Street Tree Species List established by the Department of Public Works Bureau of Urban Forestry.
vi. The planting is part of a species test approved by the Department of Public Works or the Recreation and Park Department.
vii. The species has been permitted at the site by the Department Public Works or the General Manager based on wet soil conditions stemming from proximity to naturally occurring water features such as a high water table, springs, ponds, lakes, creeks, and wetlands.
qq) Master shut-off valve: is an automatic valve installed at the irrigation supply point which controls water flow into the irrigation system. When this valve is closed, water will not be supplied to the irrigation system, greatly reducing any water loss due to a leaky station valve.
rr) Maximum Applied Water Allowance (MAWA): the amount of annual applied water established by the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission for a landscaped area, using state mandated formulas and accounting for local climatic conditions, that serves as an upper limit for lawful water use for irrigating landscaped areas. The MAWA is based upon the SFPUC Rules and Regulations- Section F- as last amended April 14, 2026 8 area’s reference evapotranspiration, the ET Adjustment Factor, and the size of the landscape area. The Estimated Total Water Use shall not exceed the Maximum Applied Water Allowance. Special Landscape Areas, including recreation areas, areas permanently and solely dedicated to edible plants such as fruit and nut trees and vegetable gardens, and areas irrigated with non-potable water, are subject to the MAWA with an ETAF not to exceed 1.0.
ss) Mulch or mulching product: any organic material such as leaves, bark, straw, compost, or inorganic mineral materials such as rocks, gravel, and 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.
tt) New construction: a new building or structure with a landscape, or other new landscape, such as a park, playground, median strip, or greenbelt without an associated building or structure.
uu) New construction landscape project: the total area of landscape in the project as defined in “landscape area,” and the modified landscape area for a landscape rehabilitation project.
vv) Non-potable water: includes recycled water, blackwater, graywater, foundation drainage, or harvested rain water. Non-potable water is suitable for uses such as landscape irrigation or water features. This water is not intended for human consumption.
ww) Non-residential landscape: landscapes in commercial, institutional, industrial, mixed use residential and public settings that may have areas designated for recreation or public assembly.
xx) Operating pressure: the pressure at which the parts of an irrigation system are designed by the manufacturer to operate.
yy) Overhead sprinkler irrigation systems: systems that deliver water through the air (e.g., spray heads and rotors).
zz) Overspray: the irrigation water which is delivered beyond the landscape area.
aaa) Permit: an authorizing document issued by the General Manager or Department of Building Inspection.
bbb) Pervious: any surface or material that allows the passage of water through the material and into the underlying soil.
ccc) Plant factor or plant water use factor: a factor that, when multiplied by ETo, estimates the amount of water needed by plants. The plant factor range for very low water use plants is 0 to
0.1, low water use plants is 0.1 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 for any plant shall be as established in the publication “Water Use Classification of Landscape Species” or subsequent additions. Plants used in the landscape project that are not found in WUCOLS shall use the plant factor of a similar species included on WUCOLS.
ddd) Project applicant: the person or entity applying for approval of a landscape project for a new construction project or a landscape rehabilitation project. A project applicant may be the property owner or his or her designee.
SFPUC Rules and Regulations- Section F- as last amended April 14, 2026 9 eee) Property owner: the legal owner of a property.
fff) Rain sensor: a rain sensing shutoff device that automatically suspends an irrigation event when it rains.
ggg) Recreational area: areas dedicated to active play or public assembly such as parks, sports fields, and golf courses where turf provides a playing surface.
hhh) Residential landscape: landscape surrounding a single or multi-family home.
iii) 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.
jjj) Soil moisture sensor: a device that measures the amount of water in the soil. The device may also suspend or initiate an irrigation event.
kkk) Soil texture: the classification of soil based on its percentage of sand, silt, and clay.
lll) Special Landscape Area (SLA): an area of the landscape dedicated solely to edible plants, recreational areas, and water features and irrigated areas using all or part of non-potable water.
mmm) Sprinkler head: a device which delivers water through a nozzle.
nnn) Static water pressure: the pipeline or municipal water supply pressure when water is not flowing.
ooo) Station: an area served by one valve or by a set of valves that operate simultaneously.
ppp) Submeter: a metering device to measure water applied to the landscape that is installed after the primary utility water meter.
qqq) 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.
rrr) Turf: a ground cover surface of mowed grass, including but not limited to Annual bluegrass, Kentucky bluegrass, Perennial ryegrass, Red fescue, Tall fescue, Bermudagrass, Kikuyugrass, Seashore Paspalum, St. Augustinegrass, Zoysiagrass, and Buffalo grass.
sss) Valve: a device used to control the flow of water in the irrigation system.
ttt) Water feature: a design element where open water performs an aesthetic or recreational function. Water features include artificial ponds, lakes, waterfalls, and streams, and fountains, spas, and swimming pools. 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 or stormwater best management practices that are not irrigated and used solely for water treatment or stormwater retention are not water features and, therefore, are not subject to the water budget calculation.
SFPUC Rules and Regulations- Section F- as last amended April 14, 2026 10 uuu) WUCOLS: the Water Use Classification of Landscape Species published by the University of California Cooperative Extension, the Department of Water Resources 2014, or subsequent editions as it may be updated.
Rule 3. Tier 1 - Landscape Rehabilitation Projects with 1,000 – 2,500 square feet of landscape area
Beginning January 1, 2016, project applicants for all public agency, commercial, and residential landscape rehabilitation projects, with a modified landscape area equal to or greater than 1,000 square feet and less than 2,500 square feet, shall comply with the following.
a) Landscape irrigation shall not exceed the applicable Maximum Applied Water Allowance (MAWA) established in Rule 7.
b) Any turf area, planned or installed, shall not exceed 25 percent of the landscape area.
Landscape projects exceeding the 25 percent turf limit shall be considered a Tier 2 landscape project and must follow the requirements for Tier 2 as described in Rule 4.
c) At least 75 percent of the landscape area shall consist of low water use plants or climate appropriate plants as defined in Rule 2. Landscape projects with less than 75 percent of the landscape area consisting of low water use plants or climate appropriate plants shall be considered a Tier 2 landscape project and must follow the requirements for Tier 2 as described in Rule 4.
d) Prior to commencing installation or modification of landscape that is not an edible plant, and prior to the issuance of the first construction document, if applicable, the project applicant shall:
i. Submit and have approved by the General Manager a Tier 1 Landscape Application including:
A. Tier 1 landscape project checklist, which serves as a preliminary summation of selected landscape components to determine whether a proposed landscape is consistent with the applicable MAWA established in Rule 7; and
B. List of plants, trees, shrubs, or other vegetation that are to remain or be installed in the landscape area.
ii. For landscape projects installed as part of the construction or renovation of a building, the Tier 1 Landscape Application shall be submitted prior to the Landscape Documentation Deadline; and
iii. In the case of project applicants or property owners that are not required to obtain permits and approvals from the City's Department of Building Inspection, a Tier 1 Landscape Application shall be submitted to and approved by the General Manager prior to commencing installation or modification of landscape.
e) Following the installation of the landscape and any irrigation system, the project applicant shall submit a Certificate of Landscape Completion which certifies that the installed SFPUC Rules and Regulations- Section F- as last amended April 14, 2026 11 landscape and/or irrigation area does not consume water at a rate that exceeds the applicable MAWA established in Rule 7.
f) Landscape areas that are part of a compliance plan pursuant to Rule 5 shall be required to provide Tier 1 compliance documents as set forth in the provisions of the compliance plan.
g) If complete documentation for Tier 1 compliance has not been submitted to the General Manager on or before the Landscape Documentation Deadline, the General Manager shall request to the Director of Department of Building Inspection that an address restriction shall be placed on the property such that no further construction permits or addenda shall be issued and no further inspections by the Department of Building Inspection shall occur, unless and until all landscape documentation, developed in accordance with the provisions of this chapter and the Public Utilities Commission's rules and regulations has been submitted to the General Manager for approval.
Rule 4. Tier 2 - New construction projects with 500 square feet or more of landscape area and rehabilitation landscape projects with more than 2,500 square feet of landscape area
Beginning January 1, 2016, project applicants for all public agency, commercial, and residential new construction landscape projects with a landscape area equal to or greater than 500 square feet; and landscape rehabilitation projects with a modified landscape area equal to or greater than 2,500 square feet; or a project under Tier 1 with a turf limitation exceeding 25 percent of the landscape area or with less than 75 percent of the landscape area consisting of low water use plants or climate appropriate plants, shall comply with the following.
a) Prior to commencing installation or modification of landscape, the project applicant shall submit and have approved by the General Manager, a Landscape Documentation Package consistent with the Water Efficient Design and Operation Elements in Rule 6.
b) For landscape projects installed as part of the construction or renovation of a building, the Tier 2 Landscape Documentation Package shall be submitted prior to the Landscape Documentation Deadline.
c) In the case of project applicants or property owners that are not required to obtain permits and approvals from the City's Department of Building Inspection, a Tier 2 Landscape Documentation Package shall be submitted to and approved by the General Manager prior to commencing installation or modification of landscape.
d) Submit and have approved by the General Manager, prior to the submittal date of a first certificate of occupancy or prior to sign off on a landscape project authorization, the Landscape Documentation Package and a Certificate of Landscape Completion. The General Manager may authorize issuance of a first certificate of occupancy prior to approval of a Certificate of Landscape Completion, subject to conditions determined by the General Manager.
e) Landscape areas that are part of a compliance plan pursuant to Rule 5 shall be required to provide Tier 2 compliance documents as set forth in the provisions of the compliance plan.
f) If complete documentation for Tier 2 compliance has not been submitted to the General Manager on or before the Landscape Documentation Deadline, the General Manager shall SFPUC Rules and Regulations- Section F- as last amended April 14, 2026 12 request to the Director of Department of Building Inspection that an address restriction shall be placed on the property such that no further construction permits or addenda shall be issued and no further inspections by the Department of Building Inspection shall occur, unless and until all landscape documentation, developed in accordance with the provisions of this chapter and the Public Utilities Commission's rules and regulations has been submitted to the General Manager for approval.
Rule 5. Compliance Plans for Large Irrigated Landscapes
Property owners maintaining a total irrigated landscape of 10 acres or greater may submit compliance plans for approval by the General Manager that support a programmatic approach to compliance with Section F, rather than through the review and approval of individual landscape rehabilitation projects.
a) The General Manager shall establish a deadline for each property owner to develop and submit a compliance plan, which shall not exceed 3 years following the date of the property owner's initial request for review and approval of a compliance plan.
b) The property owner shall comply with all the terms of the approved compliance plan. The property owner's failure to comply with provisions of the compliance plan is a violation of Section F and subject to enforcement under the provisions of these rules or any other remedy available to the General Manager.
c) The compliance plan shall prioritize the phased implementation of landscape projects, beginning with the projects with the greatest water savings, to the extent feasible when balanced with other project objectives.
d) The compliance plan, if authorized by the General Manager, supersedes the process and procedures set forth in Rules 3 and 4.
e) The compliance plan shall ensure compliance with the requirements of Rule 6 and shall include a date or dates by which the components of the compliance plan shall be completed.
Rule 6. Water Efficient Design and Operation Elements
The elements of a landscape shall be designed to achieve water efficiency. Tier 1 projects shall demonstrate water efficiency and compliance with this rule by providing appropriate responses to specific checklist items and certification pursuant to Rule 3.
Tier 2 projects require a complete Landscape Documentation Package and shall comply with all applicable criteria of this rule.
a) Plant Material
i. Plants shall be chosen and arranged appropriately based upon the site’s climate, soil characteristics, sun exposure, wildfire susceptibility and other factors. Plants with similar water needs shall be grouped within hydrozones.
ii. Turf is not allowed on slopes greater than 25 percent.
iii. Turf areas shall not be less than 10 feet wide.
SFPUC Rules and Regulations- Section F- as last amended April 14, 2026 13 iv. The turf grass limitation excludes parklands or public recreation areas, sports fields, golf courses, cemeteries, or public areas, and areas irrigated with non- potable water.
v. The use of invasive plant species or noxious weeds is prohibited.
vi. The use of local California native plant species is encouraged in order to reduce water use and promote wildlife habitat.
vii. 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 low-water use plants as a group.
b) Irrigation System
i. Landscape water meters are required for landscape areas greater than 1,000 square feet to facilitate water management.
A. Non-residential projects with 1,000 to 5,000 square feet of landscape area shall install a privately owned submeter or a utility landscape water meter.
B. Any project with a landscape area greater than 5,000 square feet shall install a utility landscape water meter.
ii. Automatic irrigation controllers utilizing either evapotranspiration or soil moisture sensor data utilizing non-volatile memory shall be required.
iii. Rain sensors either integral or auxiliary, which suspend or alter irrigation operation during unfavorable weather conditions, shall be required on all irrigation systems.
iv. Master shut-off valves are required on all projects except 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.
v. Flow sensors are required for all non-residential landscapes and residential landscapes 5,000 square feet or larger.
vi. The irrigation hardware for each hydrozone shall include a separate valve.
vii. The irrigation systems shall be designed to prevent runoff, low head drainage, overspray and other similar conditions.
viii. Low volume irrigation shall be required in mulched areas, in areas with slope greater than 25 percent, within 24 inches of a non-permeable surface or in any irregularly shaped areas that are less than eight (8) feet in width. These restrictions do not apply if:
SFPUC Rules and Regulations- Section F- as last amended April 14, 2026 14 A. The landscape area is adjacent to permeable surfacing and no runoff occurs; or
B. The adjacent non-permeable surfaces are designed and constructed to drain entirely to landscaping.
viii. Irrigation systems shall be designed, maintained, and managed to meet or exceed an average landscape irrigation efficiency of 81 percent for drip irrigation and 75 percent for overhead spray.
ix. Irrigation emission devices must meet the requirements set in the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) standards, American Society of Agricultural Biological Engineers’/International Code Council’s (ASABE/ICC) 802-2014 “Landscape Irrigation Sprinkler and Emitter Standard,” All sprinklers 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) Hydrozones
i. Each valve shall irrigate only hydrozones with similar plant factors or site conditions such as: slope, sun exposure, and soil conditions.
ii. Sprinkler heads and other emission devices shall be selected based on what is appropriate for the plant type within that hydrozone.
iii. Where feasible, trees shall be placed on separate valves from shrubs, groundcovers, and turf.
iv. Individual hydrozones that mix plants of moderate and low water use shall use the higher water using plant factor. High water use plants shall not be mixed with low or moderate water use plants.
v. 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.
d) Soil Preparation, Mulch and Amendments
i. Prior to the 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.
ii. A minimum three-inch (3″) layer of mulch shall be applied on all exposed soil surfaces of planting areas except in direct seeding applications (i.e. hydro-seed).
iii. 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 (6”) into the soil for planting areas. Soils with greater than 6 percent organic matter in the top six inches (6”) of soil are exempt from adding compost and tilling.
iv. Stabilizing mulching products shall be used on slopes.
SFPUC Rules and Regulations- Section F- as last amended April 14, 2026 15 v. Soil amendments shall be incorporated according to recommendations of the soil report and what is appropriate for the plants selected.
vi. Organic mulch materials made from recycled or post-consumer shall take precedence over inorganic materials or virgin forest products unless the recycled post-consumer organic products are not locally available. Organic mulches are not required where prohibited by local Fuel Modification Plan Guidelines or other applicable local ordinances.
e) Water Features
i. Recirculating water systems shall be used for water features.
ii. Where available, non-potable water shall be used as a source for decorative water features.
iii. Surface area of a water feature shall be included in the high water use hydrozone area of the water budget calculation.
f) Irrigation Scheduling
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.
i. Irrigation scheduling shall be regulated by automatic irrigation controllers.
ii. Overhead irrigation shall be scheduled between 8:00 p.m. and 10:00 a.m. unless weather conditions prevent it.
iii. Irrigation schedules for each station shall consider:
A. Irrigation interval (days between irrigation);
B. Irrigation run times (time period per irrigation event to avoid runoff); C. Number of cycle starts required for each irrigation event to avoid runoff; D. Application rate setting;
E. Plant type setting;
F. Soil type; and
G. Slope factor setting.
g) Landscape and Irrigation Maintenance Schedule
Landscapes shall be maintained to ensure water use efficiency. A regular maintenance schedule shall be submitted with the Certificate of Landscape Completion and shall include the following.
i. Routine inspection; adjustment and repair of the irrigation system and its components; aerating and de-thatching turf areas; replenishing mulch; fertilizing; SFPUC Rules and Regulations- Section F- as last amended April 14, 2026 16 pruning; weeding in all landscape areas; replacement of failed plants with same or equivalent plants; and removing obstruction to emission devices.
ii. Repair of all irrigation equipment shall be done with the originally installed components or their equivalents.
h) Irrigation Audits
Landscape and irrigation assessments for new or rehabilitated landscapes shall be conducted after the landscaping and irrigation system have been installed. The findings of the assessment shall be consolidated into the Certificate of Completion submittal and may include, but are not limited to inspection, system tune-up, system test with distribution uniformity, reporting overspray or runoff that causes overland flow, and preparation of an irrigation schedule.
i. For Tier 1 projects, the audit shall be conducted by the project applicant, a designated PUC water service inspector, or by a certified landscape irrigation auditor.
ii. For Tier 2 projects, the irrigation audit shall be conducted by a PUC water service inspector or by a certified landscape irrigation auditor.
iii. The General Manager shall administer programs that may include, but not be limited to, irrigation water use analysis, irrigation audits, and irrigation surveys for compliance with the Maximum Applied Water Allowance.
Rule 7. Maximum Applied Water Allowance (MAWA)
The operation of irrigation systems in new construction landscapes and landscape rehabilitation projects subject to Rules 3, 4, and 5 shall adhere to a Maximum Applied Water Allowance which shall be the upper limit of water that may be lawfully applied through the irrigation system. The MAWA for an irrigation system installed for a new construction landscape or landscape rehabilitation project shall be calculated using the following equation and the corresponding ET Adjustment Factor (ETAF) of 0.55 for residential areas and 0.45 for non-residential areas.
MAWA = (35.1) (0.62) [(ETAF x LA) + ((1-ETAF) x SLA)]
Where:
MAWA = Maximum Applied Water Allowance (gallons per year)
35.1 = ETo or Reference Evapotranspiration for San Francisco (inches per year)
0.62 = Conversion Factor (to gallons)
ETAF = ET Adjustment Factor for residential (0.55), non-residential (0.45) landscapes LA = Landscape Area including SLA (square feet)
1-ETAF = Additional Water Allowance for SLA for new or modified landscapes SLA = Special Landscape Area (square feet)
Rule 8. Landscape Documentation Package
Tier 2 projects applications shall include at a minimum:
a) Project information sheet;
SFPUC Rules and Regulations- Section F- as last amended April 14, 2026 17 b) Water Efficient Landscape Worksheets which establish the project’s MAWA and ETWU;
c) Soil management report;
d) Landscape design plan;
e) Irrigation design plan; and
f) Grading design plan.
Rule 9. Soil Management Report
a) In order to reduce runoff and encourage healthy plant growth, a soil management report shall be completed by all Tier 2 project applicants where significant mass grading is planned. The soil management report or other documentation approved by the General Manager, shall document the various soil characteristics such as:
i. Soil texture;
ii. Infiltration rate determined by laboratory test or soil texture infiltration rate table; iii. pH;
iv. Total soluble salts;
v. Sodium;
vi. Percent organic matter; and
vii. Recommendations.
b) The project applicant shall comply with one of the following:
i. If project includes podium plantings using all imported soil, the project applicant shall submit a copy of the soil specification as part of the Landscape Documentation Package; or
ii. If significant mass grading is not planned, the soil analysis shall be submitted as part of the Landscape Documentation Package; or
iii. If significant mass grading is planned, the soil analysis report shall be submitted as part of the Certificate of Landscape Completion.
The soil analysis report shall be made available, in a timely manner, to the designers preparing the landscape design plans and irrigation design plans to make any necessary adjustments to the design plans.
The project applicant shall submit documentation verifying implementation of soil analysis report recommendations to the General Manager with the Certificate of Landscape Completion.
SFPUC Rules and Regulations- Section F- as last amended April 14, 2026 18 Rule 10. Landscape Design Plan
Tier 2 landscapes shall be carefully designed for the intended function of the project. A landscape design plan shall meet the following design criteria and shall be submitted as part of the Landscape Documentation Package. The landscape design plan, at a minimum, shall:
a) Include all applicable elements of Rule 6: Water Efficient Landscape Design and Operation Elements;
b) Identify all plants to be installed as part of the landscape project including: common name, botanical name, quantity, type (e.g. grass, succulent, vine, shrub, and tree), and plant factor as defined in Rule 2;
c) Delineate and label each hydrozone by number, letter, or other method;
d) Identify each hydrozone as low, moderate, high water, or mixed (low/moderate) water use, as defined by WUCOLS;
e) Include temporarily irrigated areas of the landscape in a low water use hydrozone for the purpose of water budget calculation;
f) Identify recreational areas;
g) Identify areas permanently and solely dedicated to edible plants or edible fruit or nut trees;
h) Identify areas irrigated with gray water or harvested rain water;
i) Identify type of mulch and application depth;
j) Identify soil amendments, type, and quantity;
k) Identify type and surface area of water features;
l) Identify hardscapes (pervious and non-pervious);
m) Identify location and installation details of any applicable stormwater best management practices that demonstrate compliance with the San Francisco Stormwater Design Guidelines for on-site retention and infiltration of stormwater. Examples include, but are not limited to:
rain gardens, bioretention areas, infiltration basins, constructed wetlands, pervious pavements, and rain water harvesting systems;
n) Contain the following statement: “I have complied with the requirements of the Water Efficient Irrigation Ordinance and Section F of the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission Rules and Regulations Governing Water Service Customers, and I have applied the requirements for the efficient use of water in this landscape design plan;” and
o) Bear the signature of a licensed landscape architect, licensed landscape contractor, or other person authorized by the General Manager.
Rule 11. Irrigation Design Plan
SFPUC Rules and Regulations- Section F- as last amended April 14, 2026 19 Irrigation systems shall meet all the requirements listed in this section and the manufacturers’ 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. The irrigation design plan, at a minimum, shall contain:
a) Include all applicable elements of Rule 6: Water Efficient Landscape Design and Operation Elements;
b) Location and size of separate water meters for landscape (if applicable);
c) Location, type and size of all components of the irrigation system, including controllers, main and lateral lines, valves, sprinkler heads, moisture or rain sensing devices, quick couplers, pressure regulators, and backflow prevention devices;
d) Static water pressure at the point of connection to the public water supply. If a booster pump is used, include the operating pressure downstream from the pump;
e) Flow rate (gallons per minute), application rate (inches per hour), and design operating pressure (pressure per square inch) for each station;
f) Indication of where any non-potable water irrigation systems are used;
g) The following statement: “I have complied with the requirements of the Water Efficient Irrigation Ordinance and Section F of the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission Rules and Regulations Governing Water Service Customers, and I have applied the requirements for the efficient use of water in this landscape design plan;” and
h) The signature of a licensed landscape architect, certified irrigation designer, licensed landscape contractor, or other person authorized by the General Manager to design an irrigation system.
Rule 12. Grading Design Plan
If the Tier 2 landscape project area will be graded, the grading shall be designed to minimize soil erosion, runoff, and water waste; and a grading plan shall be submitted as part of the Landscape Documentation Package.
The project applicant shall submit a landscape grading plan that indicates finished configurations and elevations of the landscape area including:
a) Height of graded slopes;
b) Drainage patterns;
c) Pad elevations;
d) Finish grade; and
e) Stormwater retention improvements, if applicable.
SFPUC Rules and Regulations- Section F- as last amended April 14, 2026 20 The grading design plan shall contain the following statement: “I have complied with the requirements of the Water Efficient Irrigation Ordinance and Section F of the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission Rules and Regulations Governing Water Service Customers, and I have applied the requirements for the efficient use of water in this landscape design plan;” and shall bear the signature of a licensed civil engineer or landscape architect as authorized by law.
Rule 13. Certificate of Landscape Completion
For all Tier 1 and Tier 2 projects, the project applicant shall submit to the General Manager the Certificate of Landscape Completion. The Certificate of Landscape Completion shall include the following elements.
a) For Tier 1, certification by the project applicant that the landscape project has been installed per the approved Tier 1 Landscape Application. For Tier 2, certification by the signer of the landscape design plan, the signer of the irrigation design plan, or the licensed landscape contractor that landscape project has been installed per the Landscape Documentation Package.
b) Irrigation scheduling parameters used to set the controller.
c) Landscape and irrigation maintenance schedule.
d) For Tier 2, irrigation audit report.
Rule 14: Irrigation Audits for Landscape Areas
The General Manager may require irrigation audits to evaluate water use on landscape areas. Such audits may be initiated as a coordinated effort between the General Manager and the water service customer as part of the General Manager’s Landscape Conservation Program, or if violation is reported to or discovered by the General Manager. When such audit is required, it must be completed by a certified landscape irrigation auditor.
a) Following the findings and recommendations of the certified landscape irrigation auditor, the General Manager may require adjustments to the irrigation usage, irrigation hardware, and/or landscape materials to reduce irrigation water use.
b) The landscape shall comply with the Maximum Applied Water Allowance for landscapes. The ET Adjustment Factor for existing landscapes is 0.8 and the ET Adjustment Factor for new construction landscapes and rehabilitated landscapes is 0.55 for residential areas and 0.45 for non-residential areas.
c) The MAWA for an irrigation system for an existing landscape area of any size shall be calculated using the following equation.
MAWA = (35.1) (0.62) [(0.8 x LA) + (0.2 x SLA)]
Where: MAWA = Maximum Applied Water Allowance (gallons per year)
35.1 = ETo or Reference Evapotranspiration (inches per year)
0.62 = Conversion Factor (to gallons)
0.8 = ET Adjustment Factor (ETAF) for existing landscapes SFPUC Rules and Regulations- Section F- as last amended April 14, 2026 21 LA = Landscape Area including SLA (square feet)
0.2 = Additional Water Allowance for SLA for existing landscapes SLA = Special Landscape Area (square feet)
d) The MAWA for an irrigation system for a new construction landscape or rehabilitated landscape shall be as defined in Rule 7.
Rule 15. Non-Potable Water
a) For purposes of Section F, a rehabilitated landscape does not include landscape areas where only the irrigation system is retrofitted for the use of recycled water and only plantings that restore areas disturbed by the recycled water retrofits are installed. Recycled water irrigation retrofit projects shall employ best management practices to prevent runoff, ponding and overspray as directed in their recycled water use permit and comply with all applicable local and state regulation. The installation of recycled water irrigation systems shall be required if the General Manager finds that recycled water meeting all applicable requirements is available for irrigation uses.
b) The San Francisco Public Utilities Commission encourages the installation of non-potable water irrigation systems for current and future use. New, rehabilitated and existing landscapes using non-potable water shall be considered Special Landscape Areas. An ET Adjustment Factor for the total landscape shall not exceed 1.0. Existing Special Landscape Areas shall be allowed more water by using an ET Adjustment Factor of 0.8 and additional water allowance of 0.2 or 20 percent. New or rehabilitated Special Landscape Areas shall be allowed more water by using an ET Adjustment Factor of 0.55 for residential areas and 0.45 for non- residential areas and additional water allowances of 0.45 or 45 percent and 0.55 or 55 percent respectively.
c) Landscapes using non-potable water are exempt from the turf limitations subject to Rule 6, but shall comply with the Maximum Applied Water Allowance of the landscape.
d) Irrigation systems and decorative water features shall use non-potable water as permitted by local regulations, codes and standards.
e) All non-potable water systems shall be designed and operated in accordance with all applicable local and State laws.
Rule 16. Water Waste Prevention
a) For landscaped areas of any size in the City and County of San Francisco, water runoff leaving the landscape area due to low head drainage, overspray, broken irrigation hardware, or other similar conditions where water flows onto adjacent property, walks, roadways, parking lots, structures, or non-irrigated areas, is prohibited.
b) In the event this rule or any other rule is violated, the General Manager may issue a written warning, entered on the user's water service record and delivered to customer via mail, personal service, or other reasonable means. The letter will include information regarding the violation, education information on the restrictions, resources available from the General Manager to assist in complying with regulations, and a deadline for correcting the violation.
SFPUC Rules and Regulations- Section F- as last amended April 14, 2026 22 c) If the violations are not corrected to the satisfaction of the General Manager, the property owner, and project applicant where appropriate, shall be subject to enforcement in accordance with San Francisco Public Utilities Commission rules for limitation or termination of service, Chapter 100 of the San Francisco Administrative Code with respect to administrative penalties, and any other available legal remedies, at the sole discretion of the General Manager.
Rule 17. Potable Water and Nonfunctional Turf
a) To support State policies related to water conservation, the California State Legislature passed Assembly Bill 1572 (Water Code sections 10608.12 and 10608.14, as amended). This law prohibits using potable (drinking) water to irrigate nonfunctional turf (grass) at public properties, commercial, industrial and institutional (CII) properties, and the common areas of common interest developments (CIDs) like homeowner associations (HOAs), mobile home parks, and senior communities.
b) Therefore, the use of potable water for the irrigation of nonfunctional turf located on public properties, CII properties, and common areas of the properties of homeowner associations, CIDs, Community Service Organizations, or similar entities is prohibited as of the following dates:
i. Publicly Owned Properties, except those specified in Section (ii): January 1, 2027 ii. Public Owned Properties in a designated disadvantaged community: January 1, 2031, or the date upon which a state funding source is made available to fund conversion of nonfunctional turf on these properties to climate-appropriate landscapes, whichever is later
iii. Commercial, Industrial and Institutional Properties: January 1, 2028 iv. Common areas of CIDs, HOAs, and Community Service Organizations or similar entities: January 1, 2029
c) This Rule 17 does not apply to:
i. Cemeteries, active use areas of parks, sports fields, and golf courses ii. Single-family properties
iii. Areas that are the exclusive use of the occupants of an individual dwelling unit iv. When used to ensure the health of trees and other perennial non-turf plantings v. Areas irrigated with recycled water
d) Beginning June 30, 2030, and every three years thereafter through 2039, owners of CII property with greater than 5,000 square feet of irrigated area, except for cemeteries, shall certify to the State Water Resources Control Board that their property is in compliance with Water Code section 10608.14, as amended. Contact the State Water Resources Control Board for additional details.
e) Beginning June 30, 2031, and every three years thereafter through 2040, HOAs, CIDs, and Community Service Organizations or similar entities with more than 5,000 square feet of irrigated common area shall certify to the State Water Resources Control Board that their property is in compliance with Water Code section 10608.14, as amended. Contact the State Water Resources Control Board for additional details.
SFPUC Rules and Regulations- Section F- as last amended April 14, 2026 23 f) The SFPUC encourages properties covered under Rule 17 to identify any nonfunctional turf irrigated with potable water and to replace it with climate appropriate, low water use plants or nonpotable irrigation before the compliance deadline. The SFPUC provides various landscape and irrigation resources. See sfpuc.gov/savewater for more information.
g) The State Water Board may, upon a showing of good cause for reasons including economic hardship, critical business need, and potential impacts to human health or safety, postpone a compliance deadline under Rule 17(b) and Water Code section 10608.14(a) by up to three years.
h) Noncompliance by a person or entity with the requirements of AB 1572 (Water Code section 10608.14) shall be subject to civil liability and penalties set forth in Section 1846 of the Water Code, and Rule 16 – Water Waste Prevention of Section F. The SFPUC will notify SFPUC customers and other entities subject to this Rule 17 that it observes or are publicly reported to be in violation and advise them of corrective action. Notification methods may include letter, phone call, and dispatch of an inspector. SFPUC customers and other entities subject to this Rule 17 may be subject to enforcement that could include fines on their water bill, installation of flow restriction devices, injunctions, or other actions as deemed appropriate.
f) Definitions.
i. Common area means that portion of a common interest development or of a property owned or managed by a homeowners’ association or a community service organization that is not assigned or allocated to the exclusive use of the occupants of an individual dwelling unit within the property.
ii. Common Interested Development (CID) shall have the same meaning as in Civil Code section 4100.
iii. Community Service Organizations or similar entities shall have the same meaning as in Civil Code section 4110.
iv. Functional turf means a ground cover surface of turf located in a recreational area or community space. Turf enclosed by fencing or other barriers to permanently preclude human access for recreation or assembly is not functional turf. v. Homeowners’ association means an “association” as defined in Section 4080 of the Civil Code.
vi. Nonfunctional turf means any turf that is not functional turf, and includes turf located within street rights-of-way and parking lots.
vii. Potable water means water that is suitable for human consumption. viii. Publicly Owned Property means properties owned by the Department of General Services, local governments, local or regional public agencies, and public water systems.
SFPUC Rules and Regulations- Section F- as last amended April 14, 2026 24 APPENDIX - SAMPLE CALCULATIONS OF MAWA AND ETWU
MAXIMUM APPLIED WATER ALLOWANCE (MAWA): The example calculations below are hypothetical to demonstrate proper use of the MAWA equation pursuant to Rule 7 and required water budget calculations.
Example 1: A hypothetical residential landscape rehabilitation project in San Francisco with a modified landscape area of 2,500 square feet without any Special Landscape Area (SLA= 0, no edible plants, recreational areas, or use of non-potable water). To calculate MAWA, the annual reference evapotranspiration for San Francisco is 35.1 inches. The ETAF for a residential landscape project is 0.55.
MAWA = (35.1) (0.62) [(0.55 x LA) + (0.45 x SLA)]
MAWA = (35.1) (0.62) [(0.55 x 2,500 square feet) + (0.45 x 0)] = 29,920 gallons per year
To convert from gallons per year to gallons per day: 29,920/365 = 82 gallons per day
Water meters measure flow in hundred-cubic-feet (CCF). 1 CCF = 748 gallons, so in this example the MAWA is 40 CCF per year
Example 2: A new construction project to build a recreation center in San Francisco has a total landscape area of 100,000 square feet. Within the 100,000 square foot project, there is a 75,000 square foot area to be planted with turf for a soccer field. This 75,000 square foot area is considered to be a Special Landscape Area. The ETAF for a non-residential landscape project is 0.45.
MAWA = (35.1) (0.62) [(0.45 x LA) + (0.55 x SLA)]
MAWA = (35.1) (0.62) [(0.45 x 100,000 square feet) + (0.55 x 75,000 square feet)] = 21.76 x [45,000 + 41,250]
= 21.76 x 86,250
= 1,876,800 gallons per year, or 5,142 gallons per day, or 2,509 CCF per year
ESTIMATED TOTAL WATER USE (ETWU): The example calculations below are hypothetical to demonstrate proper use of the Estimated Total Water Use. The sum of the ETWU calculated for all hydrozones shall not exceed the MAWA.
ETWU = (35.1) (0.62) PF x HA + SLA
IE
Where:
ETWU = Estimated Total Water Use per year (gallons)
35.1 = ETo or Reference Evapotranspiration (inches per year)
0.62 = Conversion Factor
PF = Plant Factor from WUCOLS
HA = Hydrozone Area [high, medium, and low water use areas] (square feet) IE = Irrigation Efficiency (0.75 for overhead spray and 0.81 for drip systems) PF/IE = ET Adjustment Factor (ETAF)
SLA = Special Landscape Area (square feet)
SFPUC Rules and Regulations- Section F- as last amended April 14, 2026 25 Example 1: A new construction residential landscape project has 50,000 square feet of landscape area; the plant water use type, irrigation type, plant factor, and hydrozone area are shown in the table below. In San Francisco, the ETo value is 35.1 inches per year. There are no Special Landscape Areas (recreational area, area permanently and solely dedicated to edible plants, or area irrigated with non-potable water) in this example.
Regular Landscape Areas
Hydro-
zone
Water
Use
Type(s)
Plant
Factor
(PF)
Irrigation
Method
Irrigation
Efficiency
(IE)
ETAF
(PF/IE)
Hydrozone
Area
(HA)
ETAF
x
HA
Est. Total
Water Use
(ETWU)
1 High 0.8 Spray 0.75 1.07 6,000 6,400 139,277
2 High 0.7 Spray 0.75 0.93 7,000 6,533 142,178
3 Medium 0.5 Drip 0.81 0.62 13,000 8,025 174,633
4 Low 0.3 Drip 0.81 0.37 10,000 3,704 80,600
5 Low 0.2 Drip 0.81 0.25 14,000 3,457 75,227
Sum 50,000 28,119
Special Landscape Areas
-- 1 -- -- --
-- 1 -- -- --
Sum
ETWU Total 611,915
MAWA Total 598,455
Compare ETWU with MAWA. For this example:
MAWA = (35.1) (0.62) [(0.55 x 50,000) + (0.45 x 0)] = 598,455 gallons per year.
ETWU (611,915 gallons per year) is more than MAWA (598,455 gallons per year).
For this example, the project’s estimated water use does not comply with the MAWA.
SFPUC Rules and Regulations- Section F- as last amended April 14, 2026 26 Example 2: A new construction non-residential landscape project has 32,000 square feet of landscape area, with 2,000 square feet planted with edible plants. The edible plant area is considered a Special Landscape Area (SLA). In San Francisco, ETo is 35.1 inches per year. The plant type, plant factor, irrigation type, and hydrozone areas are shown in the table below.
Regular Landscape Areas
Hydro-
zone
Water
Use
Type(s)
Plant
Factor
(PF)
Irrigation
Method
Irrigation
Efficiency
(IE)
ETAF
(PF/IE)
Hydrozone
Area
(HA)
ETAF
x
HA
Est. Total
Water Use
(ETWU)
1 High 0.8 Spray 0.75 1.07 1,500 1,600 34,819
2 High 0.7 Spray 0.75 0.93 1,000 933 20,311
3 Medium 0.5 Spray 0.75 0.67 2,500 1,667 36,270
4 Low 0.3 Drip 0.81 0.37 12,000 4,444 96,720
5 Low 0.2 Drip 0.81 0.25 15,000 3,704 80,600
Sum 32,000 12,348
Special Landscape Areas
6 1 2,000 2,000 43,524
Sum 2,000 2,000
ETWU Total 312,244
MAWA Total 337,311
Compare ETWU with MAWA. For this example:
MAWA = (35.1) (0.62) [(0.45 x 32,000) + (0.55 x 2,000)] = 337,311 gallons per year.
The ETWU (312,244 gallons per year) is less than MAWA (337,311 gallons per year).
For this example, the project’s estimated water use complies with the MAWA.