Attachment A
ORDINANCE NO.
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL
OF THE CITY OF SANTA MARIA, CALIFORNIA
AMENDING SECTION 8-10.33 WATER WASTE: OUTDOOR WATER USE RESTRICTIONS OF TITLE 8 OF THE SANTA MARIA MUNICIPAL CODE WHEREAS, the City has historically implemented State-mandated water conservation requirements through its Water Shortage Contingency Plan, including enacting Stage 1 by adoption of Resolution 2014-131 on November 18, 2024, amending Stage 1 by adoption of Resolution 2015-46 on May 19, 2015, and enacting Stage 2 by adoption of Resolution No. 2022-70 on June 21, 2022; and WHEREAS, many water conservation requirements have since become permanent State requirements and the Santa Maria Municipal Code must be updated to incorporate and clarify those permanent requirements, establish related enforcement authority, and distinguish permanent conservation measures from additional measures applicable during an actual water shortage.
NOW, THEREFORE, IT IS HEREBY ORDAINED by the City Council of the City of Santa Maria, State of California, as follows:
SECTION 1. Section 8-10.33 of Title 8 of the Santa Maria Municipal Code concerning Water Waste is hereby amended as follows:
Section 8-10.33 Water Waste: Outdoor Water Use Restrictions. (a) To promote water conservation and prevent water waste, each of the following actions is prohibited, except where necessary to address an immediate health and safety need or to comply with a term or condition in a permit issued by a state or federal agency:
(i) Irrigation of non-functional turf with potable water, as codified in California Water Code §10608.14.
(ii) Use of a free-flowing water hose or filling apparatus, except where the unit is fitted with an automatic shut-off nozzle to cease dispensing water immediately when not in use.
(iii) Application of potable water to outdoor landscapes during or within 48 hours of measurable rainfall.
(iv) Application of potable water to driveways and sidewalks. (v) Use of potable water in a fountain or other decorative water features, except where such water is part of a recirculating system.
(vi) Any outdoor irrigation of ornamental landscapes or turf from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m.
(b) Where any consumer willfully and negligently wastes water through the misuse of sprinklers or any other outdoor watering facilities, the water may be shut off and sealed by the Utilities Department and shall not be turned on again until a turn-on Attachment A
fee as provided in the Schedule of Fees and Charges within this Code is paid by the consumer.
SECTION 2. This Ordinance has been reviewed for compliance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), and the CEQA guidelines, and the City’s environmental procedures, and has been found to be exempt pursuant to Section 15601(b)(3) (general rule) of the CEQA Guidelines, because the City Council hereby finds with certainty that there is no possibility the passage of this Ordinance amending the public facilities and services code will have a significant effect on the environment.
SECTION 3. If any part or provision of this chapter, or the application thereof to any person or circumstance, is held invalid, the remainder of the chapter, including the application of that part or provision to other persons or circumstances, shall not be affected thereby and shall continue in full force and effect. To this end, the provisions of this Ordinance are severable.
SECTION 4. This Ordinance shall be in full force and effect 30 days after its passage. Within 15 days following its passage, the Chief Deputy City Clerk shall cause this Ordinance to be published in a newspaper of general circulation in accordance with State Law; or when deemed necessary due to the length or complexity of the Ordinance, cause a summary of the Ordinance to be prepared and published at least five days prior to the City Council meeting at which the proposed Ordinance is to be adopted. If a summary is published at least five days prior to the City Council meeting at which the proposed Ordinance is to be adopted, then within 15 days after adoption of the Ordinance the Chief Deputy City Clerk shall publish a summary of the Ordinance with the names of those City Council Members voting for and against the Ordinance and shall post a certified copy of the full text of such adopted Ordinance along with the names of those City Council Members voting for and against the Ordinance.
SECTION 5. The Chief Deputy City Clerk is hereby authorized to make minor changes herein to address clerical errors, so long as substantial conformance of the intent of this document is maintained. In doing so, the Chief Deputy City Clerk shall consult with the City Manager and City Attorney concerning any changes deemed necessary. (This space is intentionally blank.)
Attachment A
INTRODUCED at a regular meeting of the City Council held the 6 th day of October
2026 and PASSED AND ADOPTED the ___ day of ____ 2026, by the following roll call vote:
AYES:
NOES:
ABSENT:
ABSTAINED:
ATTEST:
Donna G. Schwartz
Chief Deputy City Clerk
Alice M. Patino
Mayor
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
City Attorney
APPROVED AS TO CONTENT:
_________________________
City Manager