Important changes to Alachua County’s Landscape Irrigation Standards
Press release from Alachua County
ALACHUA COUNTY, Fla. – At the Regular County Commission Meeting on May 23, 2023, the Alachua County Commission adopted changes to the Landscape Irrigation Design and Maintenance Standards, which went into effect on June 12, 2023. The staff has been working with the irrigation and building industry over the past year and has hosted multiple workshops to discuss code changes before them taking effect. The revised code limits the area that can be permanently irrigated to 50% of the permeable area, with a maximum irrigated footprint of 0.25 acres per residential lot.
Irrigation professionals installing or maintaining irrigation systems within Alachua County must register their business with the County to receive code updates and workshop notices. All new irrigation systems and additions to existing systems must adhere to the new efficiency standards, which require approval before installation.
Find out more about the code, including registration information.
The goals and anticipated benefits of the recently adopted code revisions include water conservation and improved water quality by reducing fertilizer runoff and leaching.
“We are seeing a disturbing trend of high water use in new construction due to excessive irrigation,” said Alachua County Environmental Protection Department Water Resources Program Manager Stacie Greco. She continued, “Since almost 60% of residential water use occurs in our landscapes, this is an important step for reducing water use. The water savings will not only help save our springs and groundwater supply but will also save homeowners money on their utility bills.”
Does the regulation deal with small wells? My neighbor waters daily, even in the midst of storms.
They want to regulate every drop that goes out through a sprayer: “reclaimed water, municipal water, well water, surface water, stormwater, gray water, and rainwater.” They have a few exceptions for things like fruit trees and gardens.
If a person does the work DIY there is a $100 plan approval fee, then a $150 inspection fee. Each they charge you $150 each time you fail the inspection to re-inspect. If its done by a professional that can self-inspect the work its just the $100 feetax.
If you don’t get pre-approval they hit you with a $200 fine, which I assume goes on top of the others.
It wouldn’t be a problem had local planning “experts” not made I-75 our new Main Street, like every other city did. Interstates were built on dryer lands whenever possible (cheaper than over wetlands) — but dry land absorbs water runoff into the groundwater and springs much faster.
Politicians sold us a bill of goods in the name of “progress” and “national security”. And we got neither. Our water proves it.