Plymouth County, MA Landscaping Rules: Artificial Turf (2026)
Key Facts
- County turf rule
- None
- Near wetlands
- MGL c.131 §40 applies
- Filed with
- Conservation commission
- Trigger
- Altering resource area
Summary
No Plymouth County ordinance governs artificial turf, and towns rarely restrict it on ordinary lots. But installing turf near a marsh, bog, pond, or coastal bank triggers Wetlands Protection Act review under MGL c.131 §40.
No person shall remove, fill, dredge or alter any bank, riverfront area, fresh water wetland, coastal wetland, beach, dune, flat, marsh, meadow or swamp bordering on the ocean or on any estuary, creek, river, stream, pond, or lake, or any land under said waters or any land subject to tidal action, coastal storm flowage, or flooding... without filing written notice of his intention to so remove, fill, dredge or alter... and without receiving and complying with an order of conditions...
Full Breakdown
Artificial turf on a typical Plymouth County yard is largely unregulated: the county passes no ordinances, and Massachusetts has no statewide turf statute, so material and drainage choices are the owner's. The binding constraint is location. Under MGL chapter 131, section 40, the Wetlands Protection Act, no one may fill or alter a bank, marsh, flat, or land bordering a pond, stream, or the ocean without filing notice with the town conservation commission and receiving an order of conditions.
Violations & Fines
Installing turf that fills or alters a wetland resource area or buffer without an order of conditions violates MGL c.131 §40 and draws a conservation commission enforcement order to halt and restore the site, plus possible fines.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I install artificial turf in Plymouth County?
Why would turf need wetland approval?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Plymouth County
How Plymouth County compares: Most Artificial Turf-Friendly Cities·Compare Plymouth County to another location·View the Massachusetts landscaping rules overview
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