Henderson Water Sustainability Requirements

The purpose of Development Code Sec. 19.10.12 is to promote sustainable development within the City by creating incentives for compact, mixed-use development patterns; encouraging solar and other alternative energy sources; promoting alternative means of transportation like bicycling and walking that can improve community health while helping reduce air pollution; protecting trees that absorb greenhouse gases and reduce storm water runoff and pollutants; and, encouraging water-efficient landscaping and protecting water resources.

Multifamily residential development consisting of new buildings or substantial renovations to existing buildings must achieve a minimum score of 38 points. All other residential development consisting of new buildings or substantial renovations to existing buildings must achieve a minimum score of 31 points. Nonresidential or mixed-use development consisting of new buildings or substantial renovations to existing buildings must achieve a minimum score of 42 points. New buildings on partially developed sites (such as pad sites) located in developments built before the adoption of this Code must achieve a minimum score of 28 points. Eligibility is determined at the discretion of the Director.

Design features related to water
The purpose of this section is to minimize water use in buildings to reduce impacts to natural water resources; and, minimize outdoor water use for landscape irrigation.
Points are awarded when:
1. water-efficient landscape and plants are selected that limit turf grass beyond base code requirements (for example, turf is limited to 25% of landscaped area in single-family residential). All landscaping plants, including those on green roofs, shall be selected from a list of water-efficient vegetation maintained by the City. The use of native plants is strongly encouraged.
2. non-turf landscaped are completely covered by a two-inch-minimum layer of air- and water-permeable mulch to reduce evaporation. This is a requirement. Living groundcovers qualify as mulch provided the individual plants are installed at sufficient density to assure 100 percent ground coverage at maturity. If a weed barrier is used beneath the mulch, it must be manufactured to be air- and water-permeable to reduce evaporation and run-off.