Arizona Statewide Rule

Arizona HOA Artificial Turf Conversion Rights Law

Some RestrictionsApplies statewide across Arizona (2026)

Key Facts

Governing statute: A.R.S. § 33-1819
Scope: Artificial turf only, not xeriscape or desert landscaping
Trigger: Applies after declarant control period ends
Core right: Can't ban turf where grass is already allowed
Common areas: Association may still bar turf it maintains
Conversion protected: Grass-to-turf conversion can't be blocked
Remedy: Mandatory attorney fees to the prevailing party

Last verified: September 1, 2026

Summary

Arizona does not give homeowners a general right to xeriscape, gravel, or desert landscaping over an HOA's objection; that stays governed entirely by each community's own declaration. What A.R.S. § 33-1819 grants is narrower: once a planned community's declarant control period ends, an association that already allows natural grass cannot flatly ban artificial turf on a member's lot, though it may regulate the turf's location, coverage, and quality.

Except as prescribed in subsection B of this section and notwithstanding any provision in the community documents, in any planned community that allows natural grass on a member's property, after the period of declarant control, the association may not prohibit installing or using artificial turf on any member's property. An association may do all of the following: 1. Adopt reasonable rules regarding the installation and appearance of artificial turf if those rules do not prevent installing artificial turf in the same manner that natural grass would be allowed by the community documents. Those rules may regulate the location on the property and percentage of the property that may be covered with artificial turf to the same extent as natural grass and may regulate artificial turf quality. 2. Require the removal of a member's artificial turf if the artificial turf creates a health or safety issue that the member does not correct. 3. Require replacement or removal of the artificial turf if the artificial turf is not maintained in accordance with the association's standards for maintenance.

View official code

Full Breakdown

§ 33-1819 addresses only artificial turf, not xeriscape, gravel, native-plant beds, or desert landscaping generally; Arizona has no statute barring a homeowners association from prohibiting those. The turf right applies solely inside a planned community whose declaration already permits natural grass on member lots, and only once the developer's declarant control period has ended (subsec. A). Within that scope, the association cannot ban artificial turf outright, but it may adopt rules on the turf's location, the percentage of the lot it covers, and its quality, capped at whatever limits already apply to natural grass under the community documents (subsec.

A(1)). The board can still order removal of turf that creates an uncorrected health or safety issue, or require replacement or removal of turf that falls out of compliance with the association's maintenance standards (subsec. A(2)-(3)). Subsection B carves out common areas: the association may bar new turf installation anywhere it is required to maintain or irrigate, and if it prohibits new natural grass entirely, it may prohibit new artificial turf too. Even then, subsection B protects one specific act: converting existing natural grass to artificial turf cannot be blocked.

Two declarations escape the statute under subsection D: those whose design standards exist to protect the natural environment the community was developed in, and communities with unique vegetation or geologic characteristics that depend on natural landscaping materials to survive. Subsection C backstops enforcement: a member who sues an association over a section 33-1819 violation and prevails is entitled to a mandatory award of reasonable attorney fees and costs.

Violations & Penalties

An association that flatly bans artificial turf where natural grass is otherwise allowed, blocks a member from converting an existing lawn to turf, or imposes turf restrictions stricter than its own natural grass rules is violating § 33-1819. Remedies run through Arizona superior court; a member who proves a violation is entitled to a mandatory award of reasonable attorney fees and costs, not merely discretionary reimbursement, which shifts the litigation risk onto associations that ignore the statute.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Arizona law give homeowners a right to xeriscape or desert landscaping despite HOA rules?

No. A.R.S. § 33-1819 covers only artificial turf. Arizona has no statute stopping an association from banning gravel, decomposed granite, native plants, or other water-wise landscaping; those restrictions are set entirely by each community's declaration and design guidelines, so a homeowner wanting drought landscaping must check the CC&Rs rather than rely on state law.

Can my HOA still ban artificial turf everywhere?

Only if the community's declaration never allowed natural grass in the first place, or if the turf would go in an area the association itself maintains or irrigates, such as common landscaping. Where grass is otherwise allowed on member lots and declarant control has ended, an outright turf ban is unlawful once § 33-1819 applies.

When does this turf right kick in for a new subdivision?

Not until the period of declarant control ends, meaning the developer no longer controls the board. Until then, the builder-controlled association can set turf rules without triggering § 33-1819, since the statute is written to protect homeowners once they control their own association, not during the initial development and sales phase.

What can I recover if my association wrongly denies my turf request?

If you sue over a § 33-1819 violation and win, subsection C requires the court to award you reasonable attorney fees and costs; it is not discretionary. That fee-shifting applies to whichever side prevails, so a homeowner with a strong case has a real cost incentive on their side, not just a legal right without a remedy.

Sources

Arizona State Legislature - A.R.S. § 33-1819

See something wrong?

Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.