Artificial turf is not counted as drought-tolerant landscaping in California, and under SB 676 (Government Code 53087.7) cities like Cupertino may regulate synthetic grass. Cupertino's Water-Efficient Landscape Ordinance limits and encourages living, water-wise plantings over synthetic turf.
California SB 676 (2023), codified at Government Code Section 53087.7, bars cities from prohibiting drought-tolerant landscaping that uses living plant material, but it expressly excludes synthetic grass and artificial turf from the definition of drought-tolerant landscaping. That means Cupertino may adopt reasonable standards regulating, and in defined areas restricting, artificial turf, and cannot count turf toward the living-plant requirements of its Water-Efficient Landscape Ordinance (Municipal Code Chapter 14.15). Cupertino favors climate-appropriate living plants and caps natural turf at 25% of landscape area, and artificial turf earns no water-budget credit. Homeowners should confirm current City standards for permeable base, drainage, and setbacks, and check HOA rules, before installing.
Installing artificial turf contrary to a City landscape, drainage, or design standard can bring a correction notice, denied sign-off, or removal of non-conforming turf. Turf cannot meet a living-plant requirement, so a project relying on it may fail review.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
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Cupertino city parks are closed overnight under Municipal Code Chapter 13.04. No person may remain, stay, or loiter in a public park between 10 p.m. and 6 a....
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Cupertino limits light trespass onto neighboring property under Municipal Code Chapter 19.102: no exterior light may cast more than 0.1 foot-candle onto an a...
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Cupertino's dark-sky lighting standards in Municipal Code Chapter 19.102 require all outdoor lighting to be fully shielded, directed downward, and away from ...
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Garage sale signs in Cupertino are allowed in residential zones under Municipal Code Table 19.104.250: one on-site sign and up to three off-site signs, each ...
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Temporary political signs in Cupertino need no permit and are allowed in all zones with no numeric limit, under Municipal Code Table 19.104.250. Each sign ma...
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A permanent tiny home on a foundation is treated as an accessory dwelling unit in Cupertino under Municipal Code Chapter 19.112, which allows detached ADUs u...
Side-by-side rule comparisons with other cities in Santa Clara County.
See how other cities in Santa Clara County handle artificial turf.
See how Cupertino's artificial turf rules stack up against other locations.
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