San Bernardino County, CA Water Use Rules: Turf Replacement Rebates (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing rule
- County Code § 83.10.080(b)(3), (c)(2)
- Existing lawns
- No retrofit mandate on installed turf
- Applies to
- New landscape documentation packages only
- Mountain Region
- Turf minimized, fire-resistant plant mix
- Desert Region
- Turf minimized, xeriscape setbacks required
- Valley Region
- Turf allowed, no minimization language
- Baseline standard
- State MWELO adopted at County Code § 63.2201
Summary
The county's Development Code does not run a lawn-removal rebate program, but Chapter 83.10 requires new landscaping in the Mountain and Desert regions to minimize turf under § 83.10.080(b)(3) and (c)(2). Both regional standards pair the turf cap with a required list of drought-tolerant, native, and infestation-resistant plant material.
(b) Mountain Region... (3) Plant Materials. Plant materials shall be a cohesive mix of evergreen and deciduous trees, shrubs, groundcovers, native plant materials that are drought and infestation tolerant, and fire-resistant; turf shall be minimized and be installed in compliance with this Chapter... (c) Desert Region... (2) Plant Materials. Plant materials shall be a cohesive mix of evergreen and deciduous trees, shrubs, groundcovers, succulents, and native plant material that are drought and infestation tolerant; turf shall be minimized and be placed in compliance with this Chapter. A list of acceptable plant materials for the Desert Region is available from the Land Use Services Department to help assist developers and their landscape professionals in preparing their landscape documentation package.
Full Breakdown
San Bernardino County has not adopted a turf-replacement rebate or retrofit ordinance for existing residential lawns; homeowners with turf already installed are not required to tear it out. 10's scope. 010(d). For the Valley Region, subsection (a)(2) allows turf as one plant material among a required mix of deciduous and evergreen trees, shrubs, groundcovers, and native plants, with no cap written into the text. For the Mountain Region, subsection (b)(3) requires the same drought-and-infestation-tolerant, fire-resistant plant mix but adds that turf shall be minimized, tying the plan into the forest conservation and insect infestation prevention program a Registered Professional Forester must prepare for the project.
For the Desert Region, subsection (c)(2) repeats the minimization requirement for a plant mix built around succulents and native, drought-tolerant species; desert front and street-side setbacks must additionally use xeriscape techniques mixing drought-tolerant plants with hardscape under subsection (c)(3), and unpaved desert parking lots are exempt from landscaping entirely under subsection (c)(4). 01. 040(a).
Violations & Fines
Turf minimization is enforced through the landscape documentation package review, not through separate citations against installed lawns. A project that installs more turf than an approved plan allows, or skips the required drought-tolerant plant mix, is out of compliance with its permit and subject to Chapter 11's general Code violation process: correction orders and, if uncorrected, misdemeanor or infraction prosecution with base fines from $100 up to $1,000 per County Code § 11.0206.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I have to remove my lawn in San Bernardino County?
Can a new house in the mountains have a grass lawn?
Is turf banned outright in the desert region?
What landscaping standard applies to Valley Region homes near San Bernardino or Fontana?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in San Bernardino County
California rules heatmap·Compare San Bernardino County to another location·View the California water use rules overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.