Compliance with the Model Water Efficiency Landscape Ordinance

Soil Amendment, Compost and Mulch 

• Jurisdictions are already required to adopt the MWELO in its municipal code. It applies to:

  • New construction projects with an aggregate landscape area equal to or greater than 500 square feet requiring a building or landscape permit, plan check or design review.

  • Rehabilitated landscape projects with an aggregate landscape area equal to or greater than 2,500 square feet requiring a building or landscape permit, plan check, or design review.

  • The regulations require jurisdictions to have a mechanism by which to enforce:

    • The incorporation of soil amendments when planting.

    • Use of compost for landscape installations with a minimum of four cubic yards per 1,000 square feet and a depth of six inches.

    • Application of a minimum three-inch layer of mulch for planting areas.

Posts-Consumer Organic Mulch Products 

• MWELO instructs covered landscape projects to use organic mulch materials made from recycled or post-consumer goods over inorganic materials or virgin forest products.

• The SB 1383 regulations require that jurisdictions enforce existing requirements regarding the preferential use of recycled and post-consumer organic mulch materials.

For more information on MWELO’s requirements, refer to the Community Development Department (209) 533-5633.

Reporting

• In its annual report to CalRecycle, each jurisdiction must provide the number of landscaping projects subject to the MWELO.