Showing ordinances that apply to South Kensington, MD
South Kensington is an unincorporated community (population 8,829) in Montgomery County, Maryland. Because South Kensington is not an incorporated city, it does not have its own municipal code. Instead, Montgomery County ordinances apply directly to properties here. The artificial turf rules below are the ones that govern your area.
Montgomery County does not prohibit artificial turf on residential properties. No specific county ordinance regulates synthetic lawn installation. DPS permits are not required for turf replacement. WSSC encourages turf alternatives that reduce irrigation demand. HOAs may have restrictions on artificial grass.
Montgomery County has no ordinance specifically regulating or prohibiting artificial turf on residential properties. Homeowners may replace natural grass with synthetic turf without a DPS building permit, as it is considered a landscaping modification, not a structure. However, artificial turf does not qualify for RainScapes rebates because it is not a permeable surface and does not support stormwater infiltration. The county DEP notes that while synthetic turf reduces water consumption, it does not provide ecological benefits like native plantings. WSSC does not incentivize artificial turf for water conservation. In the Chesapeake Bay Critical Area buffer zones, artificial turf installation may require DEP review if it changes the impervious surface calculation. HOAs in Montgomery County may restrict or regulate artificial turf appearance, color, and pile height through CC&R provisions. Commercial and athletic field installations of artificial turf require site plan review. PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) in some crumb rubber infill has prompted county discussion but no residential ban exists. Proper drainage beneath artificial turf is the homeowner responsibility to prevent runoff to neighboring properties.
No county penalties for installing residential artificial turf. Critical Area buffer violation if impervious surface calculations are exceeded: DEP correction order. Drainage causing neighbor damage: civil liability. HOA violations: per CC&R enforcement.
See how South Kensington's artificial turf rules stack up against other locations.
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