Santa Barbara, CA Landscaping Rules: Artificial Turf (2026)

Santa Barbara's landscape policy steers residents toward living, low-water plantings rather than synthetic turf. The City's Sustainable Lawn Replacement Rebate, which pays $2.00 per square foot of lawn removed (up to $1,500 for single and small multi-family properties, with a rain-garden bonus raising combined caps to $5,000), states plainly that 'artificial turf, patio, deck, decomposed granite, or other hardscape will not be installed in the area,' making synthetic turf entirely ineligible. To qualify, the replaced area must instead use water-wise plants (at least three plants per 100 square feet) with three inches of mulch, and permeable flagstone or gravel may not exceed 25% of the rebated area. Under the City's Water Efficient Landscape Standards (WELS, SBMC 14.23.005), which California DWR approved in lieu of statewide MWELO, artificial turf is treated as a non-pervious hardscape surface rather than as qualifying low-water plant area, so it does not help a regulated project meet its plant-coverage or ETAF targets. The City's published code does not impose a blanket ban on installing artificial turf on private property, but residents should expect it to be regulated through design review, drainage and stormwater rules, and the high fire hazard area landscape requirements where applicable. Anyone planning synthetic turf should confirm current City standards before installing.