Riverside County, CA Landscaping Rules: Artificial Turf (2026)
Key Facts
- County stance
- Artificial turf permitted; supports water savings
- HOA protection
- Civil Code 4735 voids turf bans
- Aesthetic standards
- HOAs may set reasonable quality rules
- AB 1572 nonfunctional turf
- Bans potable irrigation at non-residential/HOA common areas
- Single-family lawns
- Exempt from AB 1572
- Drainage
- Installations must avoid creating runoff
Summary
Artificial turf is allowed in unincorporated Riverside County, and California Civil Code 4735 prevents HOAs from banning synthetic grass used as a low-water alternative. A new state law, AB 1572, will phase out potable-water irrigation of nonfunctional turf at non-residential and HOA common areas, not single-family lawns.
(a) Notwithstanding any other law, a provision of the governing documents or architectural or landscaping guidelines or policies shall be void and unenforceable if it does any of the following: (1) Prohibits, or includes conditions that have the effect of prohibiting, the use of low water-using plants as a group or as a replacement of existing turf. (2) Prohibits, or includes conditions that have the effect of prohibiting, the use of artificial turf or any other synthetic surface that resembles grass. (3) Has the effect of prohibiting or restricting compliance with either of the following: (A) A water-efficient landscape ordinance adopted or in effect pursuant to subdivision (c) of Section 65595 of the Government Code. (B) Any regulation or restriction on the use of water adopted pursuant to Section 353 or 375 of the Water Code. (b) This section shall not prohibit an association from applying landscaping rules established in the governing documents, to the extent the rules fully conform with subdivision (a). (c) Notwithstanding any other provision of this part, except as provided in subdivision (d), an association shall not impose a fine or assessment against an owner of a separate interest for reducing or eliminating the watering of vegetation or lawns during any period for which either of the following have occurred: (1) The Governor has declared a state of emergency due to drought pursuant to subdivision (b) of Section 8558 of the Government Code. (2) A local government has declared a local emergency due to drought pursuant to subdivision (c) of Section 8558 of the Government Code. [...] (e) An owner of a separate interest upon which water-efficient landscaping measures have been installed in response to a declaration of a state of emergency described in subdivision (c) shall not be required to reverse or remove the water-efficient landscaping measures upon the conclusion of the state of emergency.
Full Breakdown
Unincorporated Riverside County does not prohibit homeowners from installing synthetic (artificial) turf, which fits the County's water-efficiency goals under Ordinance 859 and its California Friendly Landscaping guidance. For residents in homeowner associations, California Civil Code 4735 is decisive: it makes void and unenforceable any HOA governing-document provision that prohibits the use of artificial turf or any other synthetic surface that resembles grass as a replacement for living lawn, though an HOA may still impose reasonable aesthetic standards (such as quality or installation requirements). Installations should still respect County rules that apply generally, including drainage and grading requirements so that turf does not create runoff, and setback or right-of-way rules.
A separate and newer state law, AB 1572, bans the use of potable (drinking) water to irrigate nonfunctional turf, meaning purely ornamental, non-recreational grass, at commercial, industrial, institutional, and HOA common-area sites on a phased schedule (government sites by 2027, commercial/industrial/institutional by 2028, and HOA common areas by 2029). AB 1572 does not apply to single-family residential lawns or to functional/recreational turf, so a homeowner's living lawn or play area is not banned, but the law strongly encourages replacing decorative grass with artificial turf or low-water plantings at the affected sites. Because synthetic turf uses no irrigation water, it is broadly favored under both county and state water-conservation policy.
Violations & Fines
There are no county penalties for installing residential artificial turf. HOAs that try to ban synthetic grass act contrary to Civil Code 4735. Affected non-residential and HOA common-area sites that keep irrigating nonfunctional turf with potable water after AB 1572 deadlines face state enforcement.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can my HOA prohibit artificial turf?
Does AB 1572's turf ban affect my home lawn?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Riverside County
How Riverside County compares: Most Artificial Turf-Friendly Cities·California rules heatmap·Compare Riverside County to another location·View the California landscaping rules overview
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