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

Colusa County does not address artificial turf by name in its code, and there is no county prohibition on installing synthetic lawns. The relevant framework is the zoning landscaping section (Section 44-3.10, Ord. No. 765). It limits water-intensive natural turf to roughly 25 percent of a site's landscaped area for covered projects (Section 44-3.10.020.B) and prohibits turf on slopes of 25 percent or greater, reflecting a water-conservation purpose that artificial turf can help satisfy. The residential landscape standards (Section 44-3.10.030) require that unpaved areas be landscaped with living plants or natural features such as rock, stone, or bark chips, and cap impervious paving in front and side setbacks at 50 percent; whether synthetic turf counts toward landscaped or impervious area is determined by the Department of Planning and Building during plan review, and pervious-backed turf installed over permeable base helps with on-site drainage. For most single-family rural properties not undergoing a covered landscape project, installing artificial turf does not require a county permit. State MWELO standards apply to covered projects, and the cities of Colusa and Williams apply their own codes.