Backflow Devices Required in California for Residential?

Sprinkus said:

And we thank you for that.

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Awwww...c'mon. Jim is a good guy! We tolerate plenty of other people here. Although I think that Jim is out making so much money that he doesn't have time to participate here anymore.

At the risk of stirring up old wounds, can anyone offer advice to an idiot California homeowner in 2023? My half acre yard is divided up into 7 tiny irrigation zones with more zones planned (the driveway cuts the yard in half, there are multiple concrete sidewalks, a small concrete patio, a pool deck, the trees need longer watering than the grass... you get the idea). Since I was previously using hose timers, there was no apparent benefit to clustering the valves together, and given how many water hookups we're blessed with (and the fragmented nature of the yard), the valves are not easily consolidated. One of my main motivations in adding a controller and running sprinkler wire all over tarnation was to reduce some of the PVC eyesore by nesting the new wired valves in boxes in the ground-- looking at 10 or 15 six-inch tall valve boxes would be a huge letdown, and in the trafficked front yard, seems like more of a target for vandalism than something more hidden. Is there a safe way to add backflow prevention (forgive me if I'm using the wrong term) closer to the source without using anti siphon valves for every zone, like adding an anti-siphon "master valve" on the three supply pipes and using normal valves downstream? Any advice gratefully received.

Edit: and if it wasn't obvious, I'm doing all this myself, not using a company.