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O-336-C , ' .. · · · . '; " , ORDINANCE NUMBER 336-C AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF CLERMONT DEALING WITH WATER EFFICIENT IRRIGATION AND WATER-WISE LANDSCAPE REQUIREMENTS; ESTABLISHING WATERING RESTRICTIONS; ESTABLISHING A FINE STRUCTURE FOR VIOLATIONS OF WATERING RESTRICTIONS; PROVIDING FOR SUBMITTAL, APPROVAL AND INSPECTION OF LANDSCAPE AND IRRIGATION PLANS FOR NEW PROJECTS OR RENOVATIONS OF EXISTING PROJECTS. NOW, THEREFORE BE IT ORDAINED by the City Council of the City of Clermont, Lake County, Florida that: A new Water Efficient Irrigation and Landscape Ordinance, consisting of three articles, is hereby adopted to read as follows: ARTICLE I, ADMINISTRATION SECTION 1.1 PURPOSE AND INTENT The purpose of this ordinance is to ensure efficient water use by establishing minimum standards for landscape and irrigation design, recognizing climate, soils, water resources, land use, and resource planning of the watersheds within the City of Clermont. Implementation will aid in improving environmental quality and water use efficiency in the City of Clermont. Creative site development concepts shall be used in order to promote water conservation. Water requirements may be reduced by providing for: · The preservation of existing plant communities; · The use of site specific plant materials; · The use of pervious paving materials; · The use of water efficient irrigation; and · Other environmentally sensitive site development concepts, · Utilization of applicable best management practices. SECTION 1.2 SCOPE This Chapter shall be applied and enforced within all incorporated areas of the City of Clermont and within the City's potable water service area. SECTION 1.3 DEFINITIONS The following words, terms and phrases, when used in this Chapter, shall have the meanings ascribed to them except where the context clearly indicates a different meaning: Annual beds - Any landscape where the majority of plants are replaced yearly or more frequently. · · · , , " Automatic Irrigation Controller - A timer, capable of operating solenoid valves, to set days and lengths of time for proper application of water, in each irrigation zone, Best Management Practices (BMP's) - Irrigation, lawn, and landscape practices designed to reduce negative impacts on the environment and promote water conservation. Drought Tolerant Plants - Plants, once established, that survive on natural rainfall with occasional irrigation during dry periods. Emitter - A device that applies irrigation water. This term is primarily used to refer to the low flow rate devices used in micro-irrigation systems. Green Space - The entire parcel less the building footprint, driveways, vehicular use areas, hardscapes such as decks, swimming pools, decorative fountains, patios, and other non-porous areas. Stonnwater management systems, and wetland conservation areas, lakes, rivers and creeks are excluded in the calculation of green space area, Irrigation System - A permanent watering system designed to transport and distribute water to plants as a supplement to natural rainfall. Irrigation Zone - A control valve circuit containing emitters and/or sprinklers with consistent application rates, Landscape Plant Zone - A grouping of plants with similar water and cultural (sunlight, soil, etc.) needs. Plant groupings based on water use are as follows: natural plants, drought tolerant plants, and oasis plants, Micro-Irrigation - An irrigation system with a maximum flow rate per emitter of 30 gallons per hour or less. These systems are not approved for turf grass applications, Mulch - Any material applied to the soil surface to retain soil moisture, control erosion, inhibit weeds, andlor regulate soil temperatures. Natural Plants - Plants, once established, that survive on rainfall without irrigation. Oasis Plants - Plants, once established, requiring frequent irrigation. Overspray - Water that is delivered beyond the landscape area wetting pavements, walks, structures, or other non-landscaped areas. Rain Sensor Device - A calibrated device that is designed to measure rainfall and override the irrigation cycle of the irrigation system when a pre-determined amount of rainfall has occurred. Runoff - Water, not absorbed by the soil, that flows from the area, Turf andlor Turfgrass - Continuous plant coverage consisting of grass species appropriately suited to the site where it is planted. Water Features - features of a site that hold water temporarily or pennanently. These may include both natural features (lakes, wetlands, rivers, creeks, etc.), or artificial features (retention and detention ponds, fountains, ditches and canals.) · · · , . '. Xeriscape™ or Florida Friendly Landscape - (as provided for in § 373.185 Florida Statutes) quality landscapes that conserve water and protect the environment and are adaptable to local conditions and which are drought tolerant. The principles of Xeriscape™ include planning and design, appropriate choice of plants, soil analysis which may include the use of solid waste compost, efficient irrigation, practical use of turf, appropriate use of mulches, and proper maintenance. SECTION 1.4 Applicability A. Compliance with these regulations is required of all office, commercial, industrial, institutional, multi-family, and single-family sites receiving potable water service from the City of Clermont and/or located within the City limits of Clermont in the following categories: I. New construction. 2. Newly irrigated landscaped and turf areas. 3. Renovations of existing landscapes. 4. Sports fields, golf courses, cemeteries, and stormwater management systems are exempt from the turf area limitation and micro·irrigation requirements of this ordinance where functional need for turf is demonstrated and where a water conservation plan has been approved by the City, All other irrigation and landscape requirements of this Ordinance apply. B. Alternate methods of compliance may be considered as long as they meet the intent and purpose of this Ordinance. ARTICLE II. IRRIGATION SECTION 2,1 IRRIGATION STANDARDS The most current version of the Florida Irrigation Society (FlS) Standards shall be used for all irrigation design and installation procedures, except where the requirements of this Ordinance supersede the FlS Standards. SECTION 2.2 IRRlGATION PLAN SUBMITTAL A detailed irrigation plan shall be submitted by an irrigation contractor certified by Lake County, illustrating zones, method of irrigation (spray rotor, micro irrigation, etc), irrigation water source, backflow prevention device, water balance and other pertinent information shall be submitted to the Water Conservation Technician for review and approval prior to installation of an irrigation system. SECTION 2.3 IRRIGATION SYSTEM DESIGN A. A site plan, at a readable and detìned scale, shall be submitted illustrating the proposed irrigation zones. Turf areas shall be on separate irrigation zones from other landscape plant zones, The irrigation system shall be designed to accommodate separate landscape plant zones based on differing water requirements. B. Sprinkler spacing shall not exceed 50 percent of the sprinklers' diameter of coverage, · · · , \ '. C. Sprays and rotors shall not be combined on the same control valve circuit. D, Sprays and rotors shall have matching application rates within each irrigation zone. E. All irrigation systems shall be designed to avoid overspray, runoff, low head drainage, or other similar conditions where water flows onto or over adjacent property, non-irrigated areas, walkways, roadways, structures, or water features, Narrow areas (four feet wide or less) shall not be irrigated unless micro-irrigation is utilized, F. Irrigation control equipment shall include an automatic irrigation controller having program flexibility such as repeat cycles and multiple program capabilities, Automatic irrigation controller(s) shall have battery back-up to retain the irrigation program(s), The irrigation control equipment shall be reset to accommodate irrigation needs based on the season, Automatic control systems shall be equipped with an operable rain sensor device which will disable the system after a maximum of 114'" of rainfall. G. Irrigation water shall be provided using the lowest water quality source available such as an adjacent water body or private well. Single family residents are not required to seek alternative irrigation water sources. Where no other source is available, irrigation water shall be provided by the City's potable system through an irrigation meter provided by the City of Clermont. H, Water budgets (allocations) shall be established based on the size of the property. The water budget shall be based on providing no more than one inch of water per week over 50 percent of the total property size. Exceeding the allocated water budget based on meter readings is considered a violation of the water restrictions and is subject to the fine scheduled identified below. SECTION 2.4 IRRIGATION SYSTEM INSPECTION AND MAINTENANCE A. The irrigation contractor shall request an inspection at a minimum of 48 hours in advance, B. The system shall be inspected for conformance of the code by the Water Conservation Technician, or other authorized City personnel. C. The irrigation contractor shall provide as-built drawings of the irrigation system to the property owner. D. The irrigation contractor shall provide the property owner with an irrigation maintenance checklist and seasonal watering guidelines provided by the City of Clermont. E. The irrigation system shall be maintained and managed to ensure water efficiency and prevent wasteful practices. This shall include, but not be limited to, resetting the automatic controller according to the season, flushing the filters, testing the rain sensor device, monitoring, adjusting, and repairing irrigation equipment such that the efficiency of the system is maintained, " . . . , \ " SECTION 2.5 W A TERlNG RESTRICTIONS A, Watering restrictions apply to all irrigation, regardless of source of water. B. Irrigation shall be prohibited between the hours of lOam and 4 pm. Irrigation shall be limited to two days per week. The watering schedule is as follows: Addresses ending in I, 3, 5, 7 and 9 Addresses ending in 0, 2, 4, 6 and 8 Wednesday and Saturday Thursday and Sunday C, The City may change the permitted watering days to accommodate system demands for suhdivisions within its service area to days other than those listed above as long as two days per week are provided for watering, D. New landscape may be irrigated daily for the first IS days. An extension of IS days may be granted by the Water Conservation Technician, if required, SECTION 2.6 FINE SCHEDULE The fine schedule for violation of the watering restrictions shall be adopted by Resolution. ARTICLE III, LANDSCAPING SECTION 3.1 LANDSCAPING STANDARDS Landscaping shall meet all applicable landscape requirements adopted by the City of Clermont, including those outlined in this ordinance, SECTION 3.2 LANDSCAPE PLAN SUBMITTAL A site plan at a readable scale of the proposed landscape shall be submitted to the Water Conservation Technician for review and approval prior to installation, The plan shall incorporate the concept of a "Florida Friendly Landscape" and shall identify existing vegetation to be preserved, proposed turf, and other landscape areas. The plan shall identify the type of percent coverage ofturfgrass, SECTION 3.3 LANDSCAPE DESIGN STANDARDS A, Installed trees and plants shall be grouped together into landscape plant zones according to water and cultural (soil, climate and light) requirements. B. Plant groupings based on water requirements are as follows: natural, drought tolerant and oasis. C. Wind breaks shall be utilized to reduce wind velocity and water loss that occurs by evaporation during irrigation and by evapotranspiration from plants, Windbreaks can be formed by walls, fences, shrub beds or hedges, . . . " I D. A maximum of 50% of greenspace may be planted with turfgrass configured with a permanent irrigation system if the turfgrass is not a drought tolerant species. Such turfgrass planted in excess of this limitation shall not have a permanent irrigation system. There shall be no limit on the area of turf grass that may be irrigated if a drought tolerant species turfgrass, approved by the Water Conservation Technician, is used, E. A layer of mulch to a minimum depth of three (3) inches shall be specified on the site plan in plant beds and around individual trees in turf areas. Organic mulches are preferred, The mulch shall not be placed directly against the plant stem or tree trunk, Mulch shall not be required in annual beds, SECTION 3.4 LANDSCAPE INSPECTION AND ACCEPTANCE A. The homeowner or landscape contractor shall request an inspection at a minimum of 48 hours in advance, B. The landscape shall be inspected for conformance of the code by the Water Conservation Technician, or other authorized City personnel. C. The landscape contractor shall provide as-built drawings of the landscape to the property owner. D. The landscape shall be maintained and managed to ensure water efficiency and prevent wasteful practices. This shall include, but not be limited to, replenishing mulch and utilizing turf and landscape best management practices. SEVERABILITY If any section, sentence, clause, or phrase of this Ordinance is held to be invalid or unconstitutional by any court of competent jurisdiction, then said holding shall in no way effect the validity of the remaining portion of this Ordinance. CODIFICA nON It is the intent of the City of Clermont that the provisions of this Ordinance shall become and codified as part of the City of Clermont Code and that the sections of this Ordinance may be renumbered or re-Iettered and the word "ordinance" may be changed to "section", "article" or such other appropriate word or phrase in order to accomplish such codification, . :." .' ~ . " ., . . , . EFFECTIVE DATE This Ordinance shall be published as provided by law and it shall become law and shall take effect immediately upon its Second Reading and Final Passage. PASSED AND ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CLERMONT, LAKE COUNTY, FLORIDA THIS 13RD DAY OF APRIL, 2004. CITY OF CLERMONT tíÁROLD S. TURVILLE, JR, Mayor ATTEST: ~d , / , " ...... ,.' .--