Rancho Cucamonga, CA Landscaping Rules: Artificial Turf (2026)

Artificial turf is legal and widely used in Rancho Cucamonga as a water conservation measure. California Civil Code 4735 prohibits homeowner associations from banning artificial turf, though HOAs may adopt reasonable restrictions on color, pile height, and aesthetic appearance. The city does not prohibit synthetic turf on residential lots but requires that installations meet drainage, weed-barrier, and quality standards consistent with the Building Code. Turf must include a permeable base to allow rainwater infiltration, rather than impervious concrete. It cannot be installed in the public parkway (the strip between sidewalk and curb) because parkways are part of the public right-of-way and subject to Public Works standards; only living ground cover is permitted there.

In front yards the city generally does not restrict the percentage of synthetic turf, but combining it with living plants (shrubs and trees) is encouraged to maintain neighborhood character. Commercial properties under AB 1572 may use artificial turf as a substitute for non-functional turf that can no longer be irrigated with potable water. Turf must be maintained in good condition; faded, torn, or weed-infested synthetic turf can be cited as a nuisance. The city offers no direct artificial turf rebate, but CVWD turf replacement rebates can be used toward installation.