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Irrigation & Sprinkler Systems in Sacramento, CA

Quick answer

A good Sacramento irrigation system zones lawn, beds and trees separately, uses drip in planting beds, and has a weather-based controller programmed to your water provider's rules. The City of Sacramento exempts drip from its sprinkler day schedule. Systems connected to drinking water need backflow protection, and testing rules vary by provider.

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In Sacramento, irrigation is what keeps a landscape alive from May through October, when rain rarely falls. It's also where most water is wasted. A well-designed system puts water only where it's needed, fits your provider's watering days, and shuts itself off when it rains.

What a good system looks like

  • Separate zones for lawn, shrub beds, trees and sun versus shade, so each gets the water it needs.
  • Drip irrigation in beds. Drip delivers water at the roots with little evaporation or overspray. In the City of Sacramento, drip irrigation is exempt from the sprinkler day schedule, and Roseville also exempts drip from its watering day restrictions.
  • Efficient lawn heads such as high-efficiency rotating nozzles, which put down water more slowly so clay soil can absorb it.
  • Pressure regulation and filters on drip zones.
  • A smart controller that adjusts to weather. EPA's WaterSense program labels controllers that meet its efficiency criteria.

Fitting the watering rules

Each provider sets its own schedule. The City of Sacramento allows sprinklers two assigned days a week from March through October, before 10 a.m. or after 7 p.m., and one weekend day a week from November through February. Roseville publishes a seasonal schedule with no landscape watering between 10 a.m. and 8 p.m. The Elk Grove Water District encourages no more than three days a week and discourages afternoon watering in summer. Your installer should program the controller to your provider's rules and show you how to change it each season.

Because you get fewer days, each watering needs to soak in deeply. Splitting a run time into two or three short cycles on the same morning (cycle and soak) reduces runoff on clay.

Repairs and checkups

Broken heads, sunken sprinklers, leaking valves and drip lines chewed by critters are common. A seasonal checkup each spring, before the summer schedule, catches problems early. Many local water providers offer free water-wise house calls or irrigation checkups; ask yours.

Backflow prevention

Irrigation connected to drinking water needs a backflow preventer so water from the yard can't be drawn back into the supply. Requirements for the device type and testing vary by provider. Roseville, for example, requires installation and annual testing of backflow assemblies in certain situations. Ask your provider what applies to your property and who can test it.

Licensing

CSLB lists irrigation systems among landscaping work that requires a licensed contractor when the job is $1,000 or more or needs a permit. A C-27 Landscaping contractor commonly installs irrigation.

Rebates

Regional and local programs have offered rebates on smart controllers and other irrigation upgrades, and some lawn conversion rebates require drip irrigation with a smart controller. Programs open, close and change, so check the Be Water Smart site and your provider before you buy anything.

Questions to ask

  • Will you program the controller to my provider's watering days?
  • Can my beds be converted to drip?
  • Does my system have a backflow preventer, and does it need testing?
  • Is any of this eligible for a current rebate?

See our guide to Sacramento watering rules and sprinkler schedules, or request an irrigation company.

See how it works

How a sprinkler zone waters a lawn. Press the buttons to run each step and see what happens inside. Made with Colorfigures ·
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Frequently asked questions

Is drip irrigation exempt from Sacramento's watering days?

In the City of Sacramento, drip irrigation and soaker hoses are exempt from the sprinkler day schedule, though runoff is never allowed. Roseville also exempts drip from its watering day restrictions. Check with your provider if you're served by someone else.

Is a smart irrigation controller worth it?

For many homes, yes. Controllers that adjust to weather can cut overwatering, especially in spring and fall. EPA's WaterSense program labels controllers that meet its criteria, and local programs have offered rebates on them from time to time.

Does my sprinkler system need a backflow test?

It depends on your water provider and the type of device. Some providers, such as Roseville, require annual testing of backflow assemblies in certain situations. Ask your provider what applies to your property.

Sources and further reading

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