Redlands, CA Landscaping Rules: Artificial Turf (2026)

Redlands permits artificial (synthetic) turf as a landscaping option, and the city treats it favorably under its front-yard standard. The city's code requires that at least 80 percent of the visible front yard area be plant material, and the city's published guidance lists synthetic turf among the materials - alongside trees, shrubs, grass, and drought-tolerant plants - that satisfy this plant-material requirement (Municipal Code Section 18.168.120). No more than 20 percent of the front yard may be hardscape such as rock, decomposed granite, or mulch. Because synthetic turf counts toward the 80 percent plant-material side rather than the 20 percent hardscape side, homeowners can use artificial turf to meet front-yard coverage while reducing irrigation. The city's separate irrigation-less groundcover guidance notes that any non-irrigated ground cover used in conversions must be water- and air-permeable, and that solid concrete is ineligible; this reflects a general city preference that ground surfaces allow water percolation. Homeowners installing synthetic turf should confirm drainage so runoff is not directed onto neighboring property or the right-of-way, and should check any applicable HOA rules, which the city does not administer. Note the material reviewed describes synthetic turf as acceptable plant-material coverage rather than offering a dedicated artificial-turf rebate; turf-replacement rebates in the reviewed conservation programs focus on live drought-tolerant plant conversions.