Columbia, SC Water Use Rules: Turf Replacement Rebates (2026)
Key Facts
- Full turf removal credit
- 0.75 points
- 40% turf cap credit
- 0.25 points
- Min points required
- 3-4 depending on project size
- Applies to
- New development citywide
- Exempt
- Small residential/nonresidential projects
Summary
Columbia does not force homeowners to rip out grass, but new development covered by the city's green building standards can earn landscaping points toward its required score two ways: removing all lawn or turf in favor of plant material and mulch ground cover (0.75 points) or simply limiting turf grass to 40 percent of the landscaped area (0.25 points), under Sec. 17-5.11(d).
Unless exempted in accordance with (2) below, all new development shall comply with the green building standards of this section. ... Remove all lawn or turf in favor of ground cover consisting of plant material and mulch. ... Limit turf grass to 40 percent of the landscaped area.
Full Breakdown
11(d)(4), Columbia's Green Building Point System, part of the mandatory green building standards at Sec. 11 that apply to all new development except residential projects of fewer than three units, nonresidential projects under 5,000 square feet, remodels, and projects already certified LEED Gold or higher. Covered residential development must earn 3 points (3 to 29 units) or 4 points (30 or more units); covered nonresidential and mixed-use development needs 3 points (5,000 to 25,000 square feet) or 4 points (above 25,000 square feet). 25 points.
Both sit alongside dozens of other options on the same menu, from cool roofs to rain gardens to community garden space, and a developer can combine any mix of items to reach the required total; turf reduction is never itself mandatory. As with every credit on the table, compliance is verified during review of the development application, whether a planned unit development, special exception, development agreement, certificate of design approval, or site plan under Sec. 11(c), and the applicant must document how the claimed turf reduction will be achieved and maintained at the time of submittal.
Violations & Fines
Failing to install or maintain a landscaping feature, including a turf-reduction credit, used to satisfy Sec. 17-5.11 is a violation of the Ordinance under Sec. 17-5.11(e), and the city may revoke the underlying development approval or permit and any Sec. 17-5.12 incentive tied to it, in addition to Article 8's general enforcement remedies.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Columbia require homeowners to replace their lawns with drought-tolerant plants?
How many green building points does a new subdivision need in Columbia?
What happens if a developer later replants turf that was used to earn points?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Columbia
Compare Columbia to another location·View the South Carolina water use rules overview
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