1. New development including where permanent in-ground irrigation systems are installed.

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1 CHAPTER 900. SECTION 905. DEVELOPMENT STANDARDS GREEN SPACE REQUIREMENTS AND STANDARDS Irrigation A. Intent and Purpose As landscape irrigation comprises a significant portion of water use, the intent and purpose of this section is to improve landscape irrigation water use efficiency by ensuring that landscape systems meet or exceed minimum criteria. B. Applicability This section shall apply to: 1. New development including where permanent in-ground irrigation systems are installed. 2. Newly irrigated landscaped and turf areas for a development. C. Exemptions The following are exempt from the provisions of this section: 1. Landscaping having no supplemental irrigation through a permanent in-ground system. 2. Bona fide agricultural land pursuant to Section , Florida Statutes. 3. Athletic fields. 4. Golf course play areas. 5. Community play areas. 6. Cemeteries. 7. Class I and II developments where, prior to February 26, 2002, either final construction plan approval was obtained from the County or the County's written technical review comments pertaining to the construction plan were transmitted to the applicant. Class III developments where a completed application for preliminary plan approval was submitted to the County Administrator, or his designee, prior to February 26, Page

2 D. Irrigation System Types 1. Conventional in-ground systems. 2. Soil moisture sensor systems. 3. Other types of irrigation systems meeting or exceeding the intent of this section. E. Irrigation System Specifications The Florida Irrigation Society (FIS) Standards (5th Edition, December 2005, as amended), which is incorporated herein by reference, shall be used for all irrigation design and installation procedures, except where the requirements of this section supersede the FIS Standards or an alternative standard is approved. 1. All irrigation systems installed after February 26, 2002, shall meet the following standards: a. Irrigation systems shall be designed to meet the needs of the plants in the landscape plan, specifically using the principle of Right Plant/Right Place. b. The design shall consider soil, slope, and other site characteristics in order to minimize water waste, including overspray, the watering of impervious surfaces and other nonvegetated areas, and off-site runoff. c. The system shall be designed to minimize free flow conditions in case of damage or other mechanical failure. d. The system shall be designed to use the lowest quality water feasible. e. Rain switches or other approved devices, such as soil moisture sensors, to prevent unnecessary irrigation, shall be incorporated. f. A recommended seasonal operating schedule and average precipitation rates for each irrigation zone for both establishment and maintenance conditions shall be provided. g. Control systems shall provide the following minimum capabilities: (1) Ability to be programmed in minutes, by day of week, season, and time of day; Page

3 F. Irrigation System (2) Ability to accommodate multiple start times and programs; (3) Automatic shut off after adequate rainfall; (4) Ability to maintain time during power outages for a minimum of three (3) days; and (5) Operational flexibility to meet applicable year-round water-conservation requirements and temporary watershortage restrictions. h. Recommended maintenance activities and schedules shall be included. i. Precipitation rates for sprinklers and all other emitters in the same zone shall be matched, except that microirrigation emitters may be specified to meet the requirements of individual plants. j. Irrigation systems shall be designed to maximize uniformity, considering factors, such as: (1) Emitter types. (2) Head spacing. (3) Sprinkler pattern. (4) Water pressure at the emitter. k. Irrigation systems with main lines larger than two (2) inches or designed to supply more than seventy (70) gallons per minute shall incorporate a means to measure irrigation water use, at a minimum of ninety-five (95) percent accuracy across the flow range. 1. Submittal Requirements: An irrigation site plan, drawn at a readable scale or accurately dimensioned, shall be submitted at the time the construction plan is submitted or building permit if site development has been completed, providing the following information: a. Property boundary, location of existing or proposed structures, roadways, sidewalks, other impervious features, and landscape features on site. b. Statement of water source for irrigation system. Page

4 c. Design operating pressure. d. Delineate proposed conventional and micro irrigation zone(s), flow rate and application rate per zone. e. Indicate watering schedule. f. Materials to be used, location of pipes, controllers, valves, sprinklers, backflow prevention devices, filters, elevation, electrical supply, and pump locations. g. Rain switches or other approved devices. h. Location of mainline and lateral pipes and sizes. i. Location of control valves with sizes and zone numbers. j. Designer's name, address, and telephone number. 2. Irrigation System Plan Standards a. Where available, reclaimed wastewater shall be used for landscape irrigation. b. A maximum of fifty (50) percent of the green space shall be allowed to utilize a conventional irrigation system unless a soil moisture sensor is used, in which case sixty-five (65) percent may use conventional irrigation. c. The irrigation system shall be designed to accommodate separate landscape plant zones based on differing water requirements. Turf areas shall be on separate irrigation zones from other landscape plant zones. d. Sprinkler spacing shall not exceed fifty-five (55) percent of the sprinklers' diameter of coverage. e. Sprays and rotors shall have matching application rates within each irrigation zone. Sprays and rotors shall not be combined on the same irrigation zone. f. All irrigation systems shall be designed to avoid overspray, runoff, or other similar conditions where water flows onto or over adjacent property, nonirrigated areas, walkways, roadways, structures, or water features. Narrow areas (four [4] feet wide or less) shall not be irrigated unless microirrigation is utilized. Page

5 g. Irrigation control equipment shall include an operable and functioning automatic irrigation controller having program flexibility, such as repeat cycles and multiple program capabilities. Automatic irrigation controller(s) shall have battery backup to retain the irrigation program(s). Automatic control systems shall be equipped with an operable and functioning rain-sensor device. The rain-sensor device shall be placed where it is exposed to unobstructed natural rainfall. G. Maintenance and Management The irrigation system shall be maintained and managed to ensure efficient water use and to prevent wasteful practices. This includes, but is not limited to, resetting the automatic controller according to season; cleaning irrigation filters; testing the rain-sensor device; monitoring, adjusting, and repairing irrigation equipment to ensure that the efficiency of the system is maintained; replenishing mulch; utilizing turf and landscape best management practices, which include pruning plants and cutting grass around sprinkler heads. H. Certification 1. Certification to the County: A registered landscape architect, as authorized by Chapter 481, Florida Statutes, as amended; irrigation contractor; or other type of professional, as approved by the County Administrator, or designee, shall conduct a final field inspection of both the installed landscaping and irrigation system. Prior to the issuance of the Certificate of Occupancy for all developments, including single-family or two-family residential lots, the builder of the primary structure shall provide a Certificate of Compliance that the irrigation and landscaping as installed meet the requirements of this Code. 2. Provided to Owner: In addition, the property owner shall be provided the following: a. As-built drawing of the irrigation system which includes the locations and sizes of the meter, manual shutoff valve, backflow prevention device, mainline pipes and zone valves, location of the controller and sensors (rain, freeze, etc.). b. An irrigation valve site map detailing: (1) Valve locations. (2) Gallons per minute demands. (3) Precipitation rates. Page

6 (4) Plant types within valve circuits. (5) Operating pressure requirements for each valve. c. Design-pressure criteria, including recommended system static pressure range, recommended system operating pressure range, and recommended system operating pressure. d. Zone-specific design criteria, including predominant plant type, soil type, slope, root zone depth, precipitation rate, recommended operating pressure range, recommended operating pressure, and wind derating criteria. e. Current irrigation schedule. f. System operation manual(s) and maintenance schedule. g. All required testing and inspection certificates/completed permits. If the property owner installs the irrigation system, the owner shall act as certifying agent. Page