Monterey County, CA Landscaping Rules: Artificial Turf (2026)
Key Facts
- Governs
- Unincorporated Monterey County, coastal and non-coastal
- Turf cap
- 20% of landscape area or 1,500 sq ft, residential
- Artificial turf
- Excluded from the 'turf' definition and its cap
- Trigger
- Permit-linked rehab landscape of 2,500+ sq ft
- Administering office
- Chief of Planning, County RMA
- Adopted by
- Ordinance No. 5367, effective December 7, 2021
Summary
Monterey County's landscape ordinance regulates real turf grass, not artificial turf: Chapter 16.63 caps mowed-grass turf at 20% of the landscape area (or 1,500 square feet) on residential projects, but its own definition excludes synthetic lawn from that cap. The rule applies only in the unincorporated county, in coastal and non-coastal zoning districts alike, for projects triggering a grading permit, building permit, or design approval.
"Turf" means a ground cover surface of mowed grass and does not include artificial turf surfaces. For example, Annual bluegrass, Kentucky bluegrass, Perennial ryegrass, Red fescue, and Tall fescue are cool-season grasses and Bermuda grass, Kikuyu grass, Seashore Paspalum, St. Augustine grass, Zoysia grass, and Buffalo grass are warm-season grasses.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 56).
Full Breakdown
63, Standards for Landscaping, was adopted by Ord. No. 5367 (12-7-2021) to implement water-conservation landscaping "in all of unincorporated Monterey County" in place of the state Model Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance. 030(A), it applies in all zoning districts in the coastal and non-coastal unincorporated areas to new construction, new landscapes, and rehabilitated landscapes tied to a grading permit, building permit, or design approval, once the aggregate landscape area reaches 2,500 square feet (smaller projects file a lighter "minor" package). 070(B)(3) for major Planting Plans) and the accompanying bans on turf on steep slopes, narrow strips, and street medians apply to "turf" as defined, artificial turf falls outside those specific limits. 060), any Coastal Development Permit conditions in Local Coastal Program areas, and applicable grading and drainage rules elsewhere in the County Code.
Violations & Fines
Landscaping installed, altered, or maintained contrary to Chapter 16.63, or landscape work done without an approved landscape package, is declared unlawful under § 16.63.180(B) and is enforced through Monterey County Code Chapters 1.20 (Enforcement of Code) and 1.22 (Administrative Remedies for Code Enforcement). The Chief of Planning may deny or require resubmittal of a noncompliant landscape package, and any permit issued in conflict with the chapter is void; installing artificial turf itself does not trigger a violation of the turf-area cap.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Monterey County limit how much artificial turf I can install?
Does this ordinance apply inside Salinas, Monterey, or Carmel-by-the-Sea?
What size project triggers the county's landscape package requirement?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Monterey County
How Monterey County compares: Most Artificial Turf-Friendly Cities·California rules heatmap·Compare Monterey County to another location·View the California landscaping rules overview
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