SACRAMENTO - Sprawling green lawns around new homes, businesses and schools in California will be a thing of the past under new state building codes.

The California Building Standards Commission cut the amount of water many landscapes can use by more than 20% and effectively forced developers to plant less turf and more drought-friendly foliage. It's the latest of myriad recent efforts state officials have made to reduce water use to comply with Gov. Jerry Brown's executive order to cut urban water use by 25% amid California's fourth year of drought.

Under current regulations, a complex formula determines how much water can be used on the landscape of a newly constructed commercial orresidential building. Changes approved to the California Green Building Standards Code will require new construction larger than 2,500 square feet to use about 22% lesswater. Additions to existing buildings that require a permit also are subject to the new rules, officials said.

Schools will be forced to use 35% less water, but much of their landscapes are play areas that get an additional water allowance.

The changes are in response to Gov. Brown's executive order, which required builders to use drip or microspray irrigation if they use drinkable water outside newly constructed homes and buildings. Officials decided that directive was too prescriptive and instead reduced the water allowance for new construction, Brostrom said. (Source: Los Angeles Times)

Story Date: June 1, 2015