Moreno Valley, CA Landscaping Rules: Artificial Turf (2026)

California Civil Code section 4735 expressly allows homeowners to install artificial turf and other drought-tolerant landscaping, and prohibits homeowner associations from banning these materials, particularly during a declared state or local drought emergency. Moreno Valley residents commonly install synthetic turf in front and back yards to reduce water use and maintenance, especially during and after California's multi-year droughts. City zoning code allows artificial turf as a legitimate landscaping material. Installations should include a permeable base — typically decomposed granite over a drainage layer — to prevent runoff onto neighboring properties or sidewalks in violation of stormwater rules. Modern artificial turf products are typically UV-stabilized, lead-free, and recyclable; homeowners are encouraged to select products certified for residential use. MWELO counts artificial turf as part of the hardscape and not as a landscape water-use area, so it does not consume any water budget. Turf products that release excessive heat — some can exceed 150F in direct sun — should be avoided in pet and child play areas. Some HOAs have pre-2014 rules that attempted to ban artificial turf; these rules are generally unenforceable under current state law. No permit is required for straightforward artificial turf installation in residential yards.