State rebate program requires Fountain Green to adopt landscape ordinance to qualify for turf‑removal incentives

Staff and a regional grant coordinator briefed the City Council on a state water-conservation incentive program that provides rebates for removing turf (approximately $2 per square foot) and requires local ordinance adoption to qualify for incentives.

Program basics: the state’s “Utah Water Savers” program requires a municipal ordinance in order to make new construction subject to limitations (for example, no lawn in narrow park strips, maximum percent of front/side yards allowed as turf on new developments). Once the ordinance is adopted the city becomes eligible for the rebate pool and homeowners can apply for reimbursement after they replace turf with approved, low‑water landscaping. The program requires approval and local adoption of rules before residents can receive funds; recipients must be reimbursed only after the replacement work is completed and verified.

What staff recommended: adopt a short, simple ordinance patterned on other nearby cities (examples given: Enid/Nibley-style one-page ordinance) focused on new construction standards and eligibility rules for rebates; provide administrative process for homeowner applicants, requiring an application, site approval, and reimbursement after completion and inspection. Staff noted existing concerns: residents worried about enforcement, potential “backyard eyesores,” and the need to restrict the ordinance’s reach to new construction unless the council wants a town‑wide mandate. Staff said existing-home rebate participants must be verified and the state requires the local ordinance to be in place before funds are distributed.

Council discussion: members asked whether homeowners with irrigation shares would be restricted (staff said the ordinance applies to municipal code for new construction even if the homeowner has separate irrigation shares), how the program enforces follow-through (state reimburses only after verification), and whether the city can craft exemption language or minimum design standards to avoid unintended “weedy” conversions. Staff suggested starting with the short ordinance for new construction and using the program for voluntary rebates for existing lawns, enforcing through reimbursement (only paid after verified installation) rather than penalties.

Ending: staff will provide sample one‑page ordinance language and details about application, verification and expected timelines; council asked for public outreach and a public hearing before adopting any ordinance change so residents can comment.