Council tells staff to comply with state turf ban and draft species list; favors incentives over broad residential regulation

City planning staff reviewed Senate Bill 24005, which prohibits nonfunctional turf on nonresidential properties statewide, and explained the city must update its landscape code to comply by Jan. 1, 2026. Staff recommended required changes (removing the nonresidential turf cap, prohibiting artificial turf for non‑recreational uses on nonresidential sites) and presented five local alternatives for council consideration: (1) comply only with state law; (2) extend a turf ban to front yards of single‑family and duplex lots; (3) extend a 15% cap to front yards; (4) ban nonfunctional turf and add water‑wise planting requirements; and (5) a more flexible “water‑wise light” approach.

Staff said a field survey of two new subdivisions found most front yards have low green‑space coverage (about 60% of yards in the 0–25% green‑space bracket) and cautioned that a turf ban without planting requirements could encourage “0‑scape” rock yards and reduce tree canopy. Water conservation staff explained incentive programs exist for turf conversions in the city water service area but noted many properties are served by other water providers that do not offer the same incentives.

Council focused on enforcement costs, equity across different water service areas, and cost trade‑offs for developers and homeowners. Several members preferred creating an approved grasses list and expanding incentive and education programs rather than imposing immediate regulatory requirements on single‑family front yards. Staff was directed to prepare the required compliance changes for the Planning Commission, develop an approved grasses list and investigate incentive‑based fee approaches (including possible impact‑fee adjustments) that could reward low‑water landscaping.