Model Policies and Ordinances

The Bay-Friendly Landscaping program provides presentations, trainings, and technical assistance to staff and elected officials of ACWMA’s 17 member agencies in the adoption of model policies. In particular, Bay-Friendly staff provides assistance in the adoption and implementation of a Civic Bay-Friendly Landscaping Ordinance, a policy to require that Bay-Friendly practices are incorporated in publicly owned and funded landscapes.

It is recommended that member agencies adopt Civic Green Building and Bay-Friendly Landscaping ordinances and an Environmentally Preferable Purchasing (EPP) policy to ensure sustainable design, construction and maintenance of civic buildings and landscapes. Our staff can make an integrated presentation on all three topics for planning commissions and city councils which defines the benefits and resources for this strategy.

Below is a selection of Model Documents to implement these sustainable ordinances or policies.

Bay-Friendly version of the CA Water Efficiency Landscape Ordinance
Private sector model policies
Public sector model policies
Adopted policies

Model Documents

Bay-Friendly version of the CA Water Efficiency Landscape Ordinance

• California Model Water Efficiency Landscape Ordinance - Bay-Friendly Version
The state of California requires that all local jurisdictions adopt a model water efficiency landscape ordinance equal to or greater than their model by January 1, 2010. This version is based on the state’s model but incorporates and references Bay-Friendly Landscaping standards. It applies to private and public landscapes. In support of this model we have created a matrix comparing the California Water Efficiency Landscape ordinance to the Bay-Friendly Landscape Scorecard.
   • Matrix comparing Bay-Friendly and the Model Water Efficiency Landscape Ordinance
   • Adopted BF-WELO Policies

Private sector model policies

• Model Private Sector Resolution for Bay-Friendly Landscaping - Voluntary
This resolution encourages voluntary participation in & education of Bay-Friendly Landscaping Standards.
• Model Private Sector Resolution for Bay-Friendly and Green Building - Voluntary
This resolution encourages voluntary participation in & education of Green Building and Bay-Friendly Landscaping Standards
• Bay-Friendly Basics Landscape Checklist - Mandatory
Bay-Friendly Basics Landscape Checklist represents the 9 required practices in the Bay-Friendly Scorecard and is suitable for all permitted landscapes. The BF Basics checklist is intended to address new construction or renovations of landscapes that trigger a city permit. The BF Basics checklist represents 9 core environmental practices that apply to most landscape types and will improve the environmental performance of built landscapes.

This checklist works well with the Small Commercial Green Building Checklist at www.BuildGreenNow.Org

Larger landscape projects or projects wishing to meet a higher environmental standard are encouraged to use the full Bay-Friendly Landscape Scorecard. Landscapes that achieve the Bay-Friendly Basics are not considered to be Bay-Friendly Rated Landscapes. In order to qualify as a Bay-Friendly Rated Landscape, a project must complete the entire Bay-Friendly Landscape Scorecard that has the 9 required practices as well earning a minimum of 60 points out of a possible 215 points. In addition, the scorecard must be evaluated by a qualified Bay-Friendly Rater. The Bay-Friendly Basics Checklist works well with the Green Building small commercial checklist.

Public sector model policies

• Model Civic Bay-Friendly Landscaping Ordinance - Mandatory
This model ordinance covers civic and public private partnership landscape projects, defined as any project primarily funded or sponsored by the city or on city-owned land. It requires that all covered landscape projects are built meeting the minimum requirements on the Bay-Friendly Landscape Scorecard.
• Model Civic Green Building & Bay-Friendly Landscaping Ordinance - Mandatory
This model ordinance covers civic and public private partnership building and landscape projects, defined as any project primarily funded or sponsored by the city or on city-owned land. It requires that all covered building and landscape projects are built meeting a LEED standard as well as the minimum requirements on the Bay-Friendly Landscape Scorecard.
• Adopted Bay-Friendly Landscaping Policies (in Alameda County)
Examples of Member Agencies staff reports and Bay-Friendly Landscaping adopted ordinances and/or resolutions.
• Bay-Friendly Landscaping Model General Plan Language
Provides model General Plan Language for Bay-Friendly Landscaping, Green Building, Environmental Preferable Purchasing and more.
• Scorecard,Tools and Resources
This provides a complete list of Bay-Friendly scorecards, tools and resources
• Alameda County Landfill Ban on Plant Debris
Find out more about the ban on plant debris into Alameda County Landfills as well as see a copy of the ordinance or answers to Frequently Asked Questions on the ban.

Bay-Area staff outside Alameda County: Staff from local governments outside Alameda County interested in promoting Bay-Friendly policies and ordinances in your community, please contact the Coalition.