Westminster, CA Water Use Rules: Turf Replacement Rebates (2026)
Key Facts
- Trigger threshold
- removing more than 200 sq ft of turf/plants/shrubs
- Pervious groundcover planting ratio
- 1 plant per 25 sq ft
- Plant size minimums
- 60% at least 5-gallon; trees 15-gallon
- Decorative hardscape cap
- 50% of required front/street-side landscaped area
- Permit required
- Zoning Clearance under Chapter 17.515
- Parking on modified areas
- never allowed
Summary
Homeowners in Westminster who remove more than 200 square feet of turf, plants or shrubs to redo a yard must follow § 17.310.033: pervious groundcover needs one plant per 25 square feet, decorative hardscape can't exceed half the required landscaped area, and a Zoning Clearance is required before work begins.
Within any yard area, required to be landscaped..., where an area of existing turf, plants, shrubs, and/or trees greater than 200 square feet is proposed to be removed for the purpose of modifying or replacing the existing landscaping within such yard area, and where artificial turf is not proposed, then the following provisions shall apply: Decorate pervious materials, such as crushed rock, pebbles, or wood chips may be provided as groundcover, in lieu of turf and other live landscaping, provided that a ratio of at least one plant, shrub, or tree for each 25 square feet of area devoted to decorative pervious materials shall be provided within the same yard area that is required to be landscaped. A minimum of 60 percent of all required plants or shrubs shall be at least 5 gallons in size and all trees shall be at least 15 gallons in size. Decorative hardscape materials ... may be included within the overall landscaped area, not to exceed 50-percent of the required landscaped area for any front or street side yard. ... The property owner(s) or authorized agent shall obtain a Zoning Clearance ... prior to modifying or replacing the existing landscaping.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4982734; v10 updated 2026-06-10).
Full Breakdown
035). If decorative pervious materials such as crushed rock, pebbles or wood chips replace the turf, at least one plant, shrub or tree must be provided for every 25 square feet of pervious-material area, with 60 percent of those plants or shrubs at least 5 gallons in size and any trees at least 15 gallons. Decorative hardscape, rock, stone, brick or sculptural elements, is capped at 50 percent of the required landscaped area for any front or street side yard, and neither the pervious-material areas nor the hardscape areas may ever be used for parking.
515 so the city can confirm compliance. 033 governs rather than the Chapter's general landscape-permit process, and the rule was added by Ordinance 2528 § 6 in 2016.
Violations & Fines
Modifying or replacing landscaping above the 200-square-foot threshold without first obtaining a Zoning Clearance, or exceeding the 50-percent hardscape cap, violates Title 17 and is enforced under the citywide general penalty, Municipal Code § 1.12.010: a misdemeanor punishable by up to $1,000 and six months in jail, or an infraction fine of $100 to $500 escalating per repeat violation within a year, or an administrative citation under Chapter 1.14.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a permit to remove my front lawn in Westminster?
How much gravel or rock can replace my lawn?
Can I pave over my whole front yard with pavers or stone?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Westminster
California rules heatmap·Compare Westminster to another location·View the California water use rules overview
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