Clovis, CA Water Use Rules: Turf Replacement Rebates (2026)
Key Facts
- Residential turf cap
- 25% of landscape area
- Nonresidential turf cap
- 0% (no turf allowed)
- Parkway turf ban
- Prohibited under 10 ft wide
- Rule triggers at
- 500 sq ft new / 2,500 sq ft rehab
- Water waste fees
- $30 / $60 / $90 escalating
- Enforcing department
- Clovis Public Utilities Dept.
Summary
Clovis's Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance caps turf grass at 25% of the landscape area on residential lots and bars it outright on qualifying nonresidential projects. The rule applies to new landscapes of 500 square feet or more and rehabilitated ones of 2,500 square feet or more, and it also bans turf on steep slopes and in narrow street parkways.
Turf shall not exceed twenty-five percent (25%) of the landscape area in residential areas, and there shall be no turf in nonresidential areas; Turf shall not be planted on sloped areas which exceed a slope of one foot (1') vertical elevation change for every four feet (4') of horizontal length; Turf is prohibited in parkways less than ten feet (10') 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 over-spray or runoff.
Full Breakdown
501). 515 instead of a full water budget calculation. Under that option, turf cannot exceed 25% of the landscape area on a residential lot, and nonresidential landscapes may install no turf at all. Turf is also barred on slopes steeper than a 1-foot rise for every 4 feet of run, and it cannot be planted in street parkways narrower than 10 feet unless the parkway serves as a vehicle entry/exit strip, in which case it must run on subsurface irrigation with no spray or runoff.
Prescriptive applicants must also work compost into the soil at 4 cubic yards per 1,000 square feet and mulch exposed soil to a 3-inch depth. Existing turf installed before December 1, 2015 on lots over an acre is instead managed through irrigation audits administered by the Public Utilities Department, which calculates a maximum applied water allowance rather than a flat turf percentage. 110.
Violations & Fines
Water wasting from turf, including runoff onto sidewalks or streets, draws escalating fees under Section 6.5.110: a written warning for a first offense, $30 for a second violation within a year, $60 for a third, and $90 for a fourth or later violation, plus mandatory meter installation at the customer's expense. After four violations in a year the City may also order a landscape and irrigation audit, require repairs within 14 days, install flow restrictors, or terminate water service entirely.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I still have a lawn in my Clovis front yard?
Is turf allowed in a Clovis parkway strip?
What happens if my sprinklers send water into the street?
Does commercial landscaping in Clovis allow any turf?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Clovis
California rules heatmap·Compare Clovis to another location·View the California water use rules overview
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