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

There is no Mono County ordinance prohibiting residential artificial turf, and the County's water-conservation orientation (Objective 3.C, WELO implementation) generally treats non-irrigated landscape as consistent with water efficiency. California Civil Code 4735, as strengthened by AB 349 (2015), makes void and unenforceable any HOA governing-document provision that prohibits artificial turf or other synthetic grass on a homeowner's separate-interest property; an HOA may set reasonable standards but cannot ban it outright. At the state level, AB 1572 (Water Code 10608.14) bans potable irrigation of non-functional natural turf on commercial, institutional, and HOA-common-area properties on a phased schedule but expressly excludes single-family residences, and it does not regulate artificial turf at all. For development projects in Mono County, landscape plans are reviewed under the Conservation/Open Space Element's native-vegetation and water-efficiency standards, so large synthetic installations may be evaluated for drainage, stormwater, and visual/scenic impacts. Installing turf can still require county permits where it involves grading, excavation, or changes to drainage that affect runoff under the County's adopted building and stormwater rules.