Upland, CA Landscaping Rules: Artificial Turf (2026)

No City of Upland ordinance prohibiting residential artificial/synthetic turf was found, and the City's conservation framework actively discourages high-water live turf. The zoning landscape standards direct that the use of turf shall be minimized and not exceed the maximum annual applied water allowance, and the Water-Efficient Landscape ordinance (UMC Chapter 17.12) is designed to cut applied water — context in which water-free synthetic turf is generally a compliant alternative. That said, artificial turf does not exempt an owner from Upland's Property Maintenance and Use standards: landscaped areas must be kept free of weeds, debris and dead vegetation and maintained in healthy, attractive condition, and required setback/landscape areas must still be landscaped. Installations should follow the City's adopted building and zoning requirements and any design-review standards for the zone (front-yard appearance, drainage and permeability are common concerns). California also limits local agencies from banning synthetic grass or drought-tolerant landscaping outright under AB 1164 / Government Code provisions on drought-tolerant landscaping. Owners should confirm any plan-check, drainage and product standards with Upland Planning/Building before a large front-yard install. There is no City turf-ban; the controls are maintenance, water-budget and zoning landscape-coverage rules.