Turlock, CA Water Use Rules: Turf Replacement Rebates (2026)
Key Facts
- Residential turf cap
- 50% of landscaped area
- Commercial/industrial cap
- 25% of landscaped area
- Trigger
- New/rehab landscape over threshold
- Overlay
- State Model WELO also applies
Summary
Turlock's landscaping ordinance limits turf to 25% of landscaped area in commercial and industrial developments and 50% in residential developments, pushing the balance toward lower-water plantings.
Turf shall be limited to twenty-five (25%) percent of the total landscaped area in all C and I districts. In residential districts turf shall not exceed fifty (50%) percent of the total landscaped area.
(aa) "Permeable paving"shall mean a paving material that permits water penetration to a soil depth of eighteen (18") inches or more, including nonporous surface material poured or laid in sections not exceeding one (1) square foot in area and collectively comprising less than two-thirds (2/3) of the total surface area of the lot and loosely laid materials such as crushed stone or gravel.
(ab) "Hardscape"shall mean areas covered with nonpermeable paving, including buildings and other structures, parking lots, driveways, and walkways.
(4)
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4937289; v6 updated 2026-06-25).
Full Breakdown
TMC § 9-2-109(f)(3)(iii) caps turf grass at 25% of the total landscaped area for commercial and industrial projects, and at 50% for residential projects, as part of the city's landscape and water conservation ordinance. The cap applies to new construction and rehabilitated landscapes that trigger a discretionary permit or exceed the code's size thresholds (500 sq. ft. new landscape, 2,500 sq. ft. rehabilitated), and works alongside the State Model Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance the city has adapted locally. It does not require removing existing turf outside those triggers.
Violations & Fines
A landscape plan exceeding the turf percentage cap is rejected at Development Services plan review and cannot receive final approval or occupancy sign-off until it's revised to bring turf coverage within the limit.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much lawn can a new Turlock home have?
Does the turf cap apply to existing lawns?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Turlock
California rules heatmap·Compare Turlock to another location·View the California water use rules overview
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