Pasadena, CA Water Use Rules: Turf Replacement Rebates (2026)
Key Facts
- Turf cap
- 20% of total landscaped area maximum
- Applies to
- RM District 'City of Gardens' multifamily projects
- Excluded areas
- Parkways under 5 ft, sidewalk strips, slopes
- Maintenance duty
- Permanently maintained; dead plants replaced promptly
- Occupancy surety
- 120% of plant/irrigation/installation value
- Governing section
- Municipal Code § 17.44.070.C.3
Summary
New multifamily landscaping in Pasadena can't be mostly lawn. Municipal Code Section 17.44.070.C.3, the 'City of Gardens' standard for RM-district projects, caps turf at 20 percent of the total landscaped area and bans it entirely from narrow strips, slopes, and other hard-to-irrigate spots.
C.Standards for the City of Gardens. For projects utilizing multi-family residential development standards in compliance with Section 17.22.060 (RM District General Development Standards)....3.Turf standards. a.Turf shall be limited to a maximum of 20 percent of the total landscaped area.b.Turf shall be excluded from areas difficult to irrigate (e.g., narrow pathways, parkways less than five feet in width, sidewalk strips, slopes, etc.)c.The main garden is the appropriate location for turf.d.Low-water usage turf or warm-season turf is recommended.e.Flowering ornamentals that are not drought tolerant shall be included in the calculations for the turf area limitations.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 79 Update 2).
Full Breakdown
44. ' The same subsection excludes turf from areas that are difficult to irrigate efficiently, listing narrow pathways, parkways under 5 feet wide, sidewalk strips, and slopes as examples, and it steers whatever turf is allowed into the project's 'main garden' area instead. Where turf is used, the code recommends 'low-water usage turf or warm-season turf,' and it closes a loophole by requiring that non-drought-tolerant flowering ornamentals be counted toward the 20 percent cap along with actual grass. A requires all installed landscaping to be 'permanently maintained,' bars removing landscaping unless it's replaced with something of similar design, character, and coverage at maturity, and requires prompt replacement of anything that dies.
G can require a statement of surety, cash, a bond, a letter of credit, or a certificate of deposit, equal to 120 percent of the value of the plant materials, irrigation, and installation, to guarantee the landscaping actually goes in and survives.
Violations & Fines
Because the turf cap is enforced through the landscape plan the Zoning Administrator must approve before a building permit issues, installing more than 20 percent turf, or removing required landscaping without an equivalent replacement, puts the project out of compliance with its approved plan and its certificate of occupancy; the city can call on the posted 120-percent surety and pursue standard zoning-code enforcement to force a correction.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I landscape a new Pasadena apartment building with mostly lawn?
Where is turf not allowed at all?
Do I have to keep the landscaping alive after the project is finished?
What guarantees does the city require before occupancy?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Pasadena
California rules heatmap·Compare Pasadena 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.
Turf Replacement Rebates in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Los Angeles County handle turf replacement rebates.