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

Sutter County does not ban synthetic/artificial turf, but it limits how much of a required landscaped area can be covered with it because the County's design standards favor living plant material. In the Residential Landscaping Design Criteria, Zoning Code section 1500-06-050(A) (applying to R-2, R-3 and R-4 districts), no more than 25 percent of any planter or landscaped area may be covered with hard surfaces such as gravel, landscaping rock, artificial turf, decorative concrete or other impervious materials (bus shelters excepted). The same 25-percent hardscape cap, naming artificial turf, appears in the Multi-family Residential Design Checklist (Table 1500-06-3) and the Commercial and Employment Design Checklist (Table 1500-07-3). The practical effect: in projects subject to these landscape standards, artificial turf counts against the area that would otherwise be living, irrigated landscaping, so it cannot dominate a required planter. For a standard single-family lot not subject to a design-review landscape requirement, the County code does not specifically prohibit a synthetic lawn. Note that any HOA covenants, and stormwater/drainage rules (the County encourages pervious surfaces and managing run-off), can also affect installation. Because artificial turf is impervious, very large installations may raise drainage considerations under the County's stormwater management provisions. Owners should confirm with Development Services whether their parcel and project are subject to the landscaped-area standards before relying heavily on synthetic turf.