Beaumont, CA Water Use Rules: Turf Replacement Rebates (2026)

Section 17.06.030 of the Beaumont Municipal Code is the city's water efficient landscape chapter, adopted to implement the California Water Conservation in Landscaping Act of 2006. Its intent paragraphs cap potable-water landscapes at a maximum water demand of 0.50 of reference evapotranspiration (ETo) and recycled-water landscapes at 0.70. Two intent items go straight at turf: prohibiting natural turfgrass lawns in the front yards of new homes, and prohibiting the new installation of natural turfgrass in medians and parkways along City maintained roads. The planting plan rules repeat both bans as operative requirements.

The chapter applies to rehabilitated residential landscapes of 2,500 square feet or more that need a discretionary permit, to all new residential landscapes needing a discretionary permit, and to all new and rehabilitated commercial or industrial landscapes needing one. Where covenants, conditions and restrictions are required, they cannot prohibit low water use plants or the replacement of turf with less water intensive plant species. Special landscape areas such as parks, sports fields, golf courses and cemeteries, where turf serves a playing or high-traffic function, are allowed 1.0 ETo.

Irrigation systems must reach an average efficiency of 0.71 and use a smart controller, and overhead irrigation is limited to 9:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. in the design. Under Section 17.06.130 the City relies on local water purveyors to enforce landscape water use efficiency, and Section 17.06.120 allows artificial turf as an alternative.