The City Council of the City of Las Vegas finds that the rapid growth of the population and the limited supply of water in the City of Las Vegas make the conservation of water resources vital to the future growth, prosperity, health and safety of the City. The Council further finds that the use of manmade lakes and manmade decorative water features for recreational, scenic and landscape purposes is a use of the limited water supply that is wasteful and adversely impacts future growth and development in the City. The provisions of this Chapter have been enacted pursuant to the authority granted by the City Charter, NRS 268.411 and NRS 533.030 to preserve water resources for municipal and industrial uses.
(Ord. 4086 § 3, 1997)

As used in this Chapter, the following words and phrases have the meanings ascribed to them:
(A) “City Council” means the City Council of the City of Las Vegas.
(B) “Manmade decorative water feature” means any manmade stream, fountain, waterfall, reflective pool, or other manmade water feature which contains water that flows, is recirculated, or that is sprayed into the air, and is constructed for decorative, scenic or landscape purposes, except the following bodies of water:
(1) A water feature which was in existence before the effective date of the ordinance codified in this chapter, or for which final development approvals and permits have been obtained by that date;
(2) A water feature constituting a wetlands project or located in a recreational facility which is owned or operated by a governmental entity;
(3) A manmade lake, as defined in Subsection (C) of this Section.
(C) “Manmade lake” means any manmade body of water, whether potable or otherwise, including a lake or reservoir (excluding a fully enclosed, fully contained tank-type reservoir), which is used or intended to be used for recreational, scenic or landscape purposes, except the following bodies of water:
(1) A body of water which was in existence before the effective date of the ordinance codified in this chapter, or for which final development approvals and permits have been obtained by that date;
(2) A body of water constituting a wetlands project or located in a recreational facility which is owned or operated by a political subdivision of this state and utilizes nonpotable water;
(3) A body of water which is located in a recreational facility that is open to the public and owned or operated by the United States, the State of Nevada, or any other governmental entity;
(4) A body of water which stores water for use in flood control, in meeting peak water demands or for purposes relating to the treatment of sewage by a political subdivision of this State;
(5) A body of water which stores water for use by the Las Vegas Valley Water District or by a water district created pursuant to NRS Chapter 318;
(6) Bodies of water located on a golf course which are used for the purpose of storing golf course irrigation water, which have an aggregate surface area of less than 5.5 percent of the total golf course area (excluding clubhouse and parking areas) and which are lined with impermeable material;
(7) A swimming pool or spa that is subject to the requirements of LVMC Chapter 16.30;
(8) A body of water which stores and distributes water or sewage effluent for use by an irrigation district created pursuant to NRS Chapter 539;
(9) A body of water which stores water used in a mining reclamation project;
(10) A manmade decorative water feature, as defined in Subsection (B) of this Section.
(D) “Shallow groundwater aquifer” means a region of elevated groundwater caused by secondary recharge, for which the State Engineer has issued a permit in accordance with NRS 534.050, to pump water to alleviate potential nuisances or hazards to persons or property resulting from the rise of groundwater.
(E) “Single development” means any business, commercial, resort, multiple-family (attached) residential, industrial or agricultural development, or any commonly held area in a single-family (detached) residential or mixed use development, which is located on a single parcel of land or on contiguous parcels under common ownership (including parent holding company), lease or management.
(Ord. 4086 § 4, 1997)

It is unlawful to use any potable water or shallow aquifer groundwater for the purpose of filling or refilling:
(A) A manmade lake; or
(B) A manmade decorative water feature, unless the water is recirculated and the water features complies with the provisions of Section 14.10.040 of this chapter.
(Ord. 4086 § 5, 1997)

The maximum aggregate ground-surface area for one or more outdoor manmade decorative water features within a single development is 0.2 percent of the total development area.
(Ord. 4086 § 6, 1997)