Salt Lake City, UT Landscaping Rules: Artificial Turf (2026)
Key Facts
- Rule
- Artificial turf banned in required areas
- Citation
- § 21A.48.080.B.4
- Applies to
- Park strips, buffers, parking lot landscaping
- Enforced by
- Planning Division landscape plan review
Summary
Salt Lake City's zoning code bans artificial turf in any area where landscaping is required, including park strips, parking lot buffers, and other regulated landscape zones under Title 21A.
4. Artificial turf is prohibited in any location where landscaping is regulated by this chapter.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: 2026 S-21: Code current through: Ord. 40-26, passed June 16, 2026).
Full Breakdown
Under Salt Lake City Code § 21A.48.080.B.4, artificial turf, defined in § 21A.62.040 as an inorganic grass substitute, is prohibited in any location where landscaping is regulated by the zoning ordinance, including park strips, parking lot perimeter and interior landscaping, and required landscape buffers. The ban applies only to required landscape areas, not to unregulated private lawn outside those zones. The Planning Division enforces the standard through landscape plan review for new development, remodels, and site plan approvals; installing synthetic turf in a required landscape area is a zoning violation subject to correction.
Violations & Fines
Installing artificial turf in a required landscape area violates § 21A.48.080; zoning enforcement can require removal and replacement with approved planting, mulch, or hardscape at the property owner's expense.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I install artificial turf in my Salt Lake City yard?
What counts as artificial turf under the code?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Salt Lake City
How Salt Lake City compares: Most Artificial Turf-Friendly Cities·Compare Salt Lake City to another location·View the Utah landscaping rules overview
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Artificial Turf in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Salt Lake County handle artificial turf.