Hesperia, CA Landscaping Rules: Artificial Turf (2026)

California AB 1164 (2015, codified at Government Code §53087.7) preempts city and county ordinances that ban the installation of synthetic grass or artificial turf designed to look like natural grass on residential property. Cal. Civil Code §4735 separately prohibits HOAs from banning low-water-use landscaping, which includes artificial turf when it replaces irrigated lawn. Hesperia's Development Code Title 16 contains landscape standards for new development and commercial properties (e.g., minimum living plant coverage, screening for parking lots, front-yard landscape area requirements) but does not categorically prohibit artificial turf in residential front, side, or rear yards. Quality requirements typically applied locally include: turf must be a permeable product allowing infiltration; minimum 1.5-inch pile height with a natural appearance; no Astroturf-style products; proper edging; and infill (silica sand or coated sand) to prevent matting. Artificial turf does not count toward MWELO living-plant coverage requirements for new development but counts as 'permeable hardscape' for stormwater purposes. For commercial properties, the Hesperia Planning Division (760-947-1224) reviews artificial turf as part of landscape plan check.