San Ramon, CA Landscaping Rules: Artificial Turf (2026)

San Ramon's Zoning Ordinance treats synthetic turf as a form of landscaping, not a substitute for it. ' That places artificial turf inside the landscaped-area calculations every development must meet: Table 3-6 sets minimum landscaped area by zone, ranging from 15 percent of the lot in multifamily zones (RM, RMH, RH, RVH) up to 50 percent in the RC, HR, RE, and RS residential zones, under Municipal Code § D3-20(A). For new single-family subdivisions, § D3-20(B) adds a specific front-yard mandate: the area between the street curb and the front of the house, from side property line to side property line, must be landscaped with an automatic irrigation system, trees, shrubs, and ground cover emphasizing water-conserving materials.

Within that strip, turf area, whether live sod or synthetic turf under the Softscape definition, is capped at 50 percent of the total landscaped area; the remaining half must be planted with trees, shrubs, or other water-conserving groundcover. Design standards in § D3-21(A)(4) require landscaped planter beds to be at least four feet wide where turf or shrubs are installed and five feet wide where trees are planted, and § D3-21(A)(3) requires a six-inch concrete curb or barrier where landscaping sits next to driveways or parking.

Maintenance obligations under § D3-23 apply equally to turf areas, requiring aerating and de-thatching of turf and prohibiting water waste from overspray or runoff. The Zoning Administrator, in the Community Development Department, reviews Landscape Plans for compliance before a Building Permit or final inspection is issued.