Salt Lake County, UT Landscaping Rules: Native Plants (2026)

Utah has enacted some of the most landscape-friendly water conservation legislation in the country. HB 282 (2022) restricts local governments and HOAs from prohibiting drought-tolerant landscaping, including artificial turf in certain contexts, and limits non-functional turf in new development parking strips and medians. SB 109 (2022) further bars HOAs from requiring sod or specific turf species as part of landscape covenants. These laws apply in unincorporated Salt Lake County, so property owners may install xeriscape, Localscape, or water-wise designs without fear of HOA override, though HOAs may still require a landscape plan review for aesthetic compatibility. Utah Water Savers (utahwatersavers.com), a partnership of the Utah Division of Water Resources, local water providers, and Salt Lake County, offers Flip Your Strip rebates of up to 3 dollars per square foot for converting park strip turf to water-wise landscapes, and Localscapes rebates for converting larger areas. Qualifying plants come from an approved plant list heavy on native species like blue flax, penstemon, serviceberry, and manzanita. Permeable surfaces and dry-bed design are encouraged. Ordinance compliance still requires weed management, so gravel and mulch beds must be kept free of cheatgrass and puncturevine.