Pismo Beach, CA Landscaping Rules: Artificial Turf (2026)

Chapter 15.48 adopts the State of California Model Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance (MWELO), California Code of Regulations Title 23, Division 2, Chapter 2.7, Sections 490 et seq., by reference as the water efficient landscape ordinance of the City of Pismo Beach, and "local agency" in the MWELO means the City of Pismo Beach (§ 15.48.010(A)). Subsection B applies the compost and mulch provisions of MWELO Sections 492.6(a)(3)(B), (C), (D) and (G) to property owners or designers building a new single-family, multi-family, public, institutional or commercial project with a landscape area greater than five hundred (500) square feet, or rehabilitating an existing landscape with a total landscape area greater than two thousand five hundred (2,500) square feet.

Subsection C then overrides the MWELO and the rest of the chapter on turf. New irrigated turf areas are prohibited for all development beginning May 18, 2022. The prohibition continues until subsection C is repealed based on local drought conditions, so the end point is tied to drought conditions and not to a printed calendar date. While it lasts, artificial turf is permitted to account for any landscape required to be installed pursuant to the Pismo Beach Municipal Code, but only artificial turf that allows appropriate water infiltration based on the site soil conditions. Subsection C prints no permeability rate or product specification, so the measure is appropriate water infiltration for the soil at the site. The prohibition covers all development, and the section history lists Ordinances O-2022-004, O-2021-004 and O-2020-001.