Marysville, WA Water Use Rules: Turf Replacement Rebates (2026)
Key Facts
- Turf cap, standard grass
- 40% of landscaped area
- Turf cap, drought-resistant grass
- 50% of landscaped area
- Private yards
- Single-family/middle housing exempt
- Citation
- MMC § 22C.120.050(1)(c)(i)
Summary
Marysville caps turf and other high-water landscaping at 40 percent of a commercial or multifamily project's landscaped area, or 50 percent with drought-resistant grass; private single-family and middle-housing yards are exempt.
Turf, high-water-use plantings (e.g., annuals, container plants) and water features (e.g., fountains, pools) shall be considered high-water uses and shall be limited to not more than 40 percent of the project's landscaped area if nondrought resistant grass is used, and no more than 50 percent of the landscaped area if drought resistant grass is used.
(ii) Plants selected in all areas not identified for turf or high-water-use plantings shall be well suited to the climate, soils, and topographic conditions of the site, and shall be low-water-use plants once established.
(iii) Plants having similar water use shall be grouped together in distinct hydrozones and shall be irrigated with separate irrigation circuits.
(iv) No turf or high-water-use plants shall be allowed on slopes exceeding 25 percent, except where other project water saving techniques can compensate for the increased runoff, and where the need for such slope planting is demonstrated.
(v) No turf or high-water-use plants shall be allowed in areas five feet wide or less except public right-of-way planter strips.
(d) Newly landscaped areas should have soils amended with either four inches of appropriate organic material with the first two-inch layer tilled into existing soils, or as called for in a soil amendment plan for the landscape.
(e) Newly landscaped areas, except turf, should be covered and maintained with at least two inches of organic mulch to minimize evaporation.
(f)
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4922912; v1 updated 2026-06-08; through 06-08-2026).
Full Breakdown
MMC 22C.120.050(1)(c)(i) treats turf, high-water-use plantings such as annuals and container plants, and water features as high-water uses, limiting them to no more than 40 percent of a project's landscaped area with standard grass, or 50 percent if drought-resistant grass is used. The standard applies to office, commercial, industrial, institutional, park, and multifamily landscaping, plus commonly owned areas of single-family or middle housing projects; private single-family and middle-housing yards are exempted under MMC 22C.120.050(1)(a)-(b). Turf and high-water plants are also barred on slopes over 25 percent and in strips five feet wide or less.
Violations & Fines
Landscape plans exceeding the turf cap are rejected at development permit review; a project cannot get a certificate of occupancy until installed landscaping matches the approved plan's limits.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does this turf limit apply to my house's front yard?
Can I plant more turf if I use drought-resistant grass?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Marysville
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