Wichita, KS Water Use Rules: Turf Replacement Rebates (2026)

06 governs the landscaping required for new development and redevelopment, and it caps turf grass rather than leaving it unlimited. Sec. 060 first requires that at least 55 percent of any required landscape area be covered by living grass or other plant material, with the remaining 45 percent allowed to be bark, wood chips, rock, brick, or stone over an effective weed barrier. Within that living-material requirement, Sec. 070(N) further restricts how much of the area can be ordinary turf: no more than 75 percent of required landscaped area may be turf grasses unless the grass is buffalo grass, and even buffalo grass is capped at 85 percent.

That forces landscape plans submitted to the Metropolitan Area Planning Department to substitute shrubs, trees, or other plant material for a real share of what would otherwise be solid turf. Sec. 080(C) reinforces the water-saving intent: landscaped areas using drought-tolerant plants may run a temporary above-ground irrigation system and only have to irrigate for the first two growing seasons, established trees and undisturbed natural areas need no irrigation at all, and drip irrigation is favored over overhead spray on beds narrower than five feet. Sec.

100 directs property owners to apply Xeriscape principles for efficient water use and requires any automatic irrigation system installed under this chapter to carry moisture-sensing devices or automatic rain shut-off devices that stop scheduled cycles when the soil is already wet. Before the Metropolitan Area Building & Construction Department (MABCD) releases a certificate of occupancy on a site with required landscaping, an inspector checks installed plant quantities, locations, species, and sizes against the approved plan, or the owner must post an assurance, such as an irrevocable letter of credit or certified check, equal to 125 percent of the landscaping cost if seasonal weather has delayed planting.