Commercial Landscape Restrictions
AB 1572 and nonfunctional turf
California's law against watering nonfunctional grass with drinking water
Assembly Bill 1572, a change to the California Water Code initiated by the State, was signed into law October 2023 with the goal of promoting water efficiency and preserving the state’s water supply. It will soon prohibit the use of drinking water for irrigation of decorative lawns at commercial, industrial and institutional locations, including common areas within HOAs. Grass on the property of residential homes is not affected by AB 1572. Residential customers can still water their yards.
Read the full legislative text of AB 1572
Will our community be affected?
To some extent. But the good news is almost all of the public and commercial landscape in the Irvine Ranch Water District service area — including street medians, college campuses, business complexes, and homeowners association properties — is irrigated with recycled water. Recycled water is droughtproof and not subject to the nonfunctional restriction.
What is nonfunctional turf?
Nonfunctional turf is grass that is purely aesthetic and not otherwise used for human recreation. These areas of grass are commonly found between sidewalks and streets, in front of businesses and in common areas of properties maintained by homeowners associations.
Grass areas used for recreation or civic events, such as parks, school fields and sports fields are considered functional turf and therefore not affected by AB 1572.
Who does AB 1572 apply to?
AB 1572 applies to:
- Properties owned by state and/or local governments
- Commercial, industrial and institutional (CII) properties
- Common areas of homeowners associations and common interest developments
AB 1572 does not apply to:
- Any grass or landscaping irrigated with recycled water
- Residential landscapes
- School sports fields, community parks, athletic fields and cemeteries
- Pet exercise areas
When do you have to comply with AB 1572?
Commercial properties must discontinue the use of drinking water to irrigate nonfunctional turf by the following dates.
- Public properties owned by state and/or local governments: Jan. 1, 2027
- Commercial, industrial and institutional properties: Jan. 1, 2028
- Homeowners associations: Jan. 1, 2029
- Public properties owned by local governments in disadvantaged communities: Jan. 1, 2031
Learn more at nonfunctionalturfca.org, the official site of the California Water Efficiency Partnership.
Self-certification
CII properties with 5,000+ square feet of irrigated turf must self-certify to the State Water Resources Control Board that their property is in compliance every three years beginning June 30, 2030. HOA properties with 5,000+ square feet of irrigated area must self-certify that their property is in compliance every three years beginning June 30, 2031. The self-certification process has not yet been developed by the State Water Resources Control Board. Check back for updates!
IRWD is here to help
The District is prioritizing education and awareness of AB 1572. We are here to share information on water regulations and rebates to help support replacing nonfunctional turf to create landscapes that look better and use less water.
Take advantage of IRWD rebates and resources to assist with turf replacement projects and irrigation retrofits:
- Turf Replacement Program: Commercial customers and public agencies receive $7 per square foot for removing grass irrigated with drinking water.
- Spray to Drip Program: Replace your standard spray irrigation with a drip system and receive up to $1 per square foot of converted area.
- Rotating nozzles: Replace pop-up spray heads with rotating nozzle heads and receive $4 per nozzle.
- Landscape Design Assistance: Landscape design company resources for turf removal projects.
- NFT – Nonfunctional Turf: The California Water Efficiency Partnership (CalWEP) resource webpage to help answer questions around NFT.
- Tree Care: CalWEP’s guide shows how to protect trees during turf removal projects. Covers irrigation updates, mulching, and tree-friendly design.
Rebate levels are subject to change; check the IRWD webpages above for the most updated details.
Contact us
For questions, contact IRWD Water Efficiency at 949-453-5581 or WaterEfficiency@IRWD.com.
