What action allows deviation from the standard turf and plant requirements under the ordinance?

• A. Develop a Water Budget
• B. Submit a Landscape Plan
• C. Increase Irrigation Hours
• D. Use Only Native Plants

Answer: (A)

Developing a Water Budget is the method that allows deviation from standard turf and plant requirements because it provides a quantified way to justify changes by showing the overall water use stays within what the ordinance allows. A water budget translates site factors—like climate, evapotranspiration, irrigation efficiency, landscape area, and planned plant choices—into a target amount of water for the landscape over a given period. If the proposed design would use water differently, you can demonstrate that the total consumption remains within the permitted limit, which lets you relax or modify the standard requirements while staying compliant. Submitting a Landscape Plan, while important for approving a design, doesn’t by itself authorize a deviation. Increasing irrigation hours tends to raise water use and would not justify a deviation. Choosing native plants aligns with water-saving goals but doesn’t by itself provide the formal allowance to depart from the established rules.