In 2008, the
Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors passed three far-reaching ordinances:
Low-Impact Development (LID), Green Building, and Drought-Tolerant Landscaping.
These ordinances, which take a major step toward protecting water quality and
the green builiding initiative, go into effect January 1, 2009. L.A.’s new green
development ordinances should lead to increased environmental sustainability and
a significant reduction of energy, cleaning our water supply and increasing
existing groundwater supplies. The ordinances apply to nearly all development
but are especially strong for new development and large redevelopment projects.
LID—The goal is
for all new development to mimic the natural onsite hydrologic conditions to the
maximum extent possible of the property before development. The difference in
runoff volumes pre- and post-development must be infiltrated onsite or treated.
The low-impact development standards are the most far-reaching adopted by any
local jurisdiction in the state.
Green
Building—All new buildings have to meet the county’s green building standards,
which are designed to greatly reduce energy and water use. For example, all new
developments have to use 15% less energy than required in state standards, use
smart controllers for irrigation, and install ultra-low flush toilets.
Drought-Tolerant Landscaping—In
all new development, 75% of the landscaped area must be planted with plants from
the county’s drought-tolerant list.
This trio of
ordinances is the most far-reaching package of its kind in the state of
California and maybe even the country. Stormwater management is a fast-changing
discipline, and StormCon is the
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