Baldwin Park, CA Water Use Rules: Turf Replacement Rebates (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- § 153.160.225(D)
- Residential turf cap
- 20% of landscape area
- Non-residential turf cap
- None allowed
- Applies to
- Projects ≤2,500 sq ft choosing prescriptive path
- Slope rule
- No turf on slopes over 1 ft rise per 4 ft run
Summary
Under Baldwin Park's prescriptive water-efficient landscaping option, turf cannot exceed 20% of the landscape area on residential projects and is banned entirely on non-residential projects. Municipal Code § 153.160.225(D) sets the cap for projects of 2,500 square feet or less that choose the prescriptive compliance path.
(D) Turf shall comply with the following: (1) Turf shall not exceed 20% of the landscape area in residential areas, and there shall be no turf in non-residential areas. (2) Turf shall not be planted on sloped areas which exceed a slope of one foot vertical elevation change for every four feet of horizontal length; (3) Turf is prohibited in parkways less than ten feet wide, unless the parkway is adjacent to a parking strip and used to enter and exit vehicles. Any turf in parkways must be irrigated by subsurface irrigation or by other technology that creates no overspray or runoff.
Full Breakdown
020(C), a checklist alternative to the subchapter's performance-based water budget calculations. Subsection (D)(1) sets the turf cap directly: turf shall not exceed 20% of the landscape area in residential areas, and there shall be no turf in non-residential areas. Subsection (D)(2) bars planting turf on slopes exceeding one foot of vertical rise for every four feet of horizontal run, and (D)(3) prohibits turf in parkways narrower than ten feet unless the parkway sits next to a parking strip used to enter and exit vehicles, in which case any parkway turf must be irrigated by subsurface irrigation or another technology producing no overspray or runoff.
3 or less across 75% of residential plant area or 100% of non-residential plant area, excluding edibles and recycled-water areas. Larger projects instead calculate turf against the subchapter's Maximum Applied Water Allowance rather than the flat 20% cap.
Violations & Fines
A project that submits § 153.160.225 prescriptive compliance documentation showing turf beyond the 20% residential cap, or any turf at all on a non-residential parcel, does not satisfy the Landscape Documentation Package the Director of Community Development must approve before occupancy permits issue. Because compliance with this subchapter is mandatory for covered projects, exceeding the turf limit is enforceable as any other municipal code violation under § 10.99, up to a $1,000 fine or six months in jail.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much turf can I install in Baldwin Park?
Does the 20% cap apply to every yard in the city?
Are there other turf restrictions besides the percentage cap?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Baldwin Park
California rules heatmap·Compare Baldwin Park to another location·View the California water use rules overview
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