Vacaville, CA Water Use Rules: Turf Replacement Rebates (2026)

070, Non-Functional Turf Irrigation Ban, prohibits using potable water to irrigate nonfunctional turf on commercial, industrial, and institutional properties (other than cemeteries) and on common areas of homeowners' associations, common interest developments, and similar community organizations, on a rolling schedule: state Department of General Services properties and other local-government or public-water-system-owned properties must stop by January 1, 2027; all other institutional, commercial and industrial properties by January 1, 2028; and HOA/CID common areas by January 1, 2029. Properties owned by local governments or public water systems in a disadvantaged community get until January 1, 2031, or later if state conversion funding is not yet available.

Because irrigation of that turf becomes unlawful, properties subject to the ban must effectively replace the grass with drought-tolerant or hardscape landscaping to keep the area viable, which is why the section functions as Vacaville's turf-replacement mandate rather than a pure watering-schedule rule. The ban carves out two exceptions: water use necessary to keep trees and other perennial non-turf plantings alive, and water needed to address an immediate health and safety need. The California State Water Resources Control Board, not the city, can grant individual postponements of up to three years for economic hardship, critical business need, or health and safety impacts, using a compliance certification form. 030's escalating fine schedule and flow-restriction/disconnection remedies described in that section.