San Diego County, CA Water Use Rules: Turf Replacement Rebates (2026)
Key Facts
- Turf cap, residential
- 25% of landscaped area
- Non-residential turf
- Prohibited outside special landscape areas
- Trigger threshold
- 500 sq ft new landscape
- Applies to
- Unincorporated San Diego County only
- Enforcement
- PDS via Administrative Citation, §§ 18.101 et seq.
Summary
In unincorporated San Diego County, new and remodeled landscaping capped at 25% irrigated turf for single-family and multi-family projects under County Code § 86.716. No irrigated turf is allowed at all in non-residential landscaped areas outside a special landscape area.
SEC. 86.716. LIMITATIONS ON USE OF TURF IN LANDSCAPED AREAS. The following regulations shall apply to the use of turf on a project subject to this chapter:
(a) Irrigated turf shall not exceed 25 percent of the total aggregate landscaped area for single family residences and multi-family residential projects.
(b) No irrigated turf is allowed in non-residential areas unless included in a special landscape area. In multi-family residential areas turf is only allowed where it is readily useable by residents and serves more than just an ornamental function.
(c) Only subsurface irrigation or other means that produces no runoff or overspray shall be used for turf in a landscaped area where any dimension of the turf area is less than ten feet wide.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: 2026 S-141: Administrative: Current through Ord. No. 11007 (N.S.), effective 7-10-26 | Regulatory: Current through Ord. No. 11008 (N.S.), effective 7-24-26).
Full Breakdown
716 governs how much turf a landscaping project can include once it triggers the Water Conservation in Landscaping Ordinance. 703, that authorization is required for new construction with 500 square feet or more of aggregate landscaped area, any modified landscape totaling 2,500 square feet or more, most new single-family homes on public water service, model homes, cemeteries, and projects needing a new grading permit with irrigation. 716(a) limits irrigated turf to 25 percent of the total aggregate landscaped area for single-family and multi-family residential projects.
716(b) bars irrigated turf entirely in non-residential landscaped areas unless it sits within a designated special landscape area, and even in multi-family areas turf is only permitted where residents can actually use it, not as pure ornamentation. 716(c) requires subsurface irrigation or another no-runoff method anywhere the turf area is less than ten feet wide in any dimension. 716(f). 716(g). 725.
Violations & Fines
Under § 86.728, no person who owns or occupies unincorporated County property may irrigate in a way that causes runoff, overspray or low head drainage onto adjacent property, structures, walkways or paved areas, and a property subject to a water use authorization cannot exceed its Maximum Applied Water Allowance. Violations are enforced through the County's Administrative Citation Procedures under Code §§ 18.101 et seq., and the County may seek an injunction under § 86.728(d) against continued violations after a citation warning. The County may also inspect irrigation systems and water features under § 86.729 when it has reasonable grounds to suspect a violation, obtaining an inspection warrant if consent is refused.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I put turf anywhere in my front yard in unincorporated San Diego County?
Does this turf limit apply inside the City of San Diego?
Is turf banned completely in commercial landscaping?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in San Diego County
California rules heatmap·Compare San Diego County to another location·View the California water use rules overview
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