Modoc County, CA Landscaping Rules: Artificial Turf (2026)

The Modoc County Code does not mention artificial or synthetic turf, and Title 18 (Zoning) imposes no landscaping material restrictions, so the county neither bans synthetic lawns nor requires a special permit to install one. Property owners may install artificial turf in yards as a low-water alternative to natural grass. Because there is no county landscape-design ordinance for single-family homes, the main constraints are general ones: any associated grading, retaining, or drainage work must comply with the county's adopted California building and grading codes, and installations must not redirect stormwater onto neighboring parcels. For larger landscape projects that require a permit, the state Model Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance (tied in via County Code Section 8.03.130) treats artificial turf as a non-irrigated surface that does not count toward the irrigated landscape water budget, which makes synthetic turf a compliant choice rather than a prohibited one. Unlike some urban jurisdictions, Modoc County does not require natural-only landscaping, set turf quality standards, or limit the percentage of a yard that may be synthetic. Note that artificial turf is combustible; near structures it should be kept consistent with defensible-space goals under PRC 4291.