Probably to minimize waste of resource (water) and/or reduce runoff. Some regions have a limited source of water, while others have nearby surface waters they want to protect. Sometimes a combination of both those circumstances. Another possibility is due to plumbing code as well as making sure the public water supply is protected from potential contamination.

 

The reason I was asking was because I am trying to do a simple, mostly above-ground irrigation setup that is connected to the regular outdoor faucet. I might try to bury the hose a bit to go across the lawn in one or two places. I can't imagine it would require a permit because I'm not doing any plumbing, but when I called the city to ask, the woman on the other end didn't seem to understand or envision what I was trying to do. She had to pass the phone to another woman who also didn't know how to answer my question as to whether a permit was needed for this. It's kind of frustrating when people working for the government don't really have answers to questions that citizens can get punished for if they don't follow them.

 

I would never have even considered asking if I needed a permit to, in essence, put hoses and sprinklers in the yard. I've done all kinds of stuff with mine. They'd have to permit everyone who hooked up a hose to a sprinkler in that case wouldn't they?

I wouldn't think it'd matter unless you do something "real" that requires some type of back flow preventer.

Then again what do I know? I'm also not in a place that has water issues. I'm also rebellious. 😂

 

Yes, it's for that backflow prevention. Not sure they fully understood your intentions, though I could see them wanting to verify that you have those annoying vacuum breakers on there as well. I totally agree with the incompetent front-end service in our government, I have to deal with it on the regular. ugh.

 

I agree with the others that it's mainly to ensure you have a Backflow preventer on your system but if you are just doing a DIY above ground set up, you shouldn't need any "permission" from the government. I went through the whole permitting process with the city when building my shed a few years ago and they make it as hard as possible to do things the right way as they don't give you all the information you need so you can pass the inspection the first time. There is a reason a lot of people get into a government job as there is no accountability on whether they can actually do their job or not.

 

Thanks you guys. I didn't know for certain whether having a line go underground technically makes it an "irrigation system" according to city ordinance, necessitating a permit. After I sent in a few photos of what I was trying to do, along with the faucet with my B-Hyve XD-4 port, they wrote back this morning and said they didn't think I needed a permit because I was just hooking up to the existing hose bibb (pretty much what you guys were also saying).

I went through the whole permitting process with the city when building my shed a few years ago and they make it as hard as possible to do things the right way as they don't give you all the information you need so you can pass the inspection the first time.

That is crazy. Local ordinances/codes that directly impact homeowners really need to be as clear as possible, or else they have the effect of infringing on citizens' property rights. Of course, there is no punishment to local governments if they step on your rights, but they will punish you if you fail to comply with their rules.

 

Backflow prevention is in the plumbing code. Such as in point of use locations like hose bibs, hence the hose bib vacuum breaker. Depending on the jurisdiction, the water purveyor usually dictates what type backflow prevention device is required for dedicated hard piped irrigation systems. Mine requires an RPZ, which offers the greatest protection. There is a city here in NC that has strict enforcement program for some irrigation systems that have been connected to a hose bib. I would think that is rare however. Me, if I was to plumb irrigation to a faucet at my house, I would just make sure there is a functional vacuum breaker on the hose bib.

 

Is the permit for a new install or actual use?

$ money out of your pocket.
Thats really it. Yeah the powers at be know there will be X amount of people who wont pull permits. Is it known in your area of residents getting fined for non permitted irrigation?

As for permit for install. They want to make sure you attach everything to city water correctly.

 

Is the permit for a new install or actual use?

$ money out of your pocket.
Thats really it. Yeah the powers at be know there will be X amount of people who wont pull permits. Is it known in your area of residents getting fined for non permitted irrigation?

As for permit for install. They want to make sure you attach everything to city water correctly.

If I understand your question correctly, it's for new "install", if you could even call it that. It's really just a poor man's diy setup with a few sprinkler heads set up to hoses or lines that I bury under mulch, or maybe in one place under the lawn. The connection is to my B-hyve XD 4-Port Smart Hose Watering Timer, which connects to my existing hose bibb.

I'm not sure if they do actually go around fining people for non-permitted irrigation, but I have a fear/dislike of dealing with the government in pretty much all formats. Any way to preventatively keep them off my back is good for me.