Redlands, CA Water Use Rules: Turf Replacement Rebates (2026)
Key Facts
- Residential turf cap
- 25% of landscape area maximum
- Non-residential turf
- Prohibited entirely
- Project triggers
- New 500+ sq ft, rehab 2,500+ sq ft
- Slope limit
- No turf steeper than 1 ft per 4 ft run
- Parkway turf
- Barred in parkways narrower than 10 feet
- Citation
- Redlands City Code § 15.54.310(B)(4)
Summary
Redlands caps turf at 25% of the landscape area for qualifying residential projects and bans turf entirely in non-residential landscaping under the city's water efficient landscape ordinance. The turf rule sits in Chapter 15.54's prescriptive compliance option, which applies to new landscapes of 500 square feet or more and rehabilitated landscapes of 2,500 square feet or more, plus any smaller project that elects it.
4. Turf shall comply with all of the following: a. Turf shall not exceed twenty-five (25%) of the landscape area in residential areas, and there shall be no turf in non-residential areas; b. 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; c. 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 sub-surface irrigation or by other technology that creates no overspray or runoff.
Full Breakdown
310, Appendix D. 020, the chapter applies to new construction landscape projects with an aggregate landscape area of 500 square feet or more that require a building or landscape permit, plan check or design review, and to rehabilitated landscape projects of 2,500 square feet or more requiring the same approvals. 310 instead of the chapter's performance-based water budget calculations. 310(B)(4) sets three turf rules: turf cannot exceed 25% of the landscape area on a residential project and is barred outright on non-residential projects; turf cannot be planted on any slope steeper than a 1-foot rise over 4 feet of horizontal run; and turf is prohibited in street parkways narrower than 10 feet unless the parkway sits next to a parking strip used to enter and exit vehicles, in which case any parkway turf must run on sub-surface irrigation or another system producing no overspray or runoff.
The same prescriptive appendix requires automatic, weather-based irrigation controllers with rain sensors, pressure regulators, manual shut-off valves, and a private submeter on non-residential landscapes of 1,000 square feet or more. The chapter does not reach registered historic sites, ecological restoration projects without permanent irrigation, mined-land reclamation without permanent irrigation, or public botanical-garden plant collections.
Violations & Fines
Redlands City Code section 15.54.060 lets the city establish and administer penalties against the project applicant for non-compliance with the water efficient landscape ordinance to the extent permitted by law. Because the turf caps attach at the building, landscape-permit, plan-check or design-review stage under section 15.54.020, the practical enforcement point is withholding a certificate of completion or final inspection sign-off until the landscape documentation package confirms the turf, slope and irrigation standards were met.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Redlands limit how much turf I can install in a new front yard?
Which projects have to follow the turf limits?
Can I plant turf in the parkway strip next to the street?
What happens if a landscape project does not meet the turf standards?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Redlands
California rules heatmap·Compare Redlands to another location·View the California water use rules overview
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