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Santa Cruz moves to ban potable irrigation of nonfunctional turf to comply with AB 1572
Summary
The council accepted staff recommendations to update municipal code to implement AB 1572, which phases in a ban on potable-water irrigation of nonfunctional turf for government, commercial and institutional properties beginning in 2027; enforcement will begin with education and align with existing water-waste prohibitions.
The Santa Cruz City Council directed staff to publish municipal code updates to implement Assembly Bill 1572, a statewide restriction that bans use of potable water to irrigate nonfunctional turf on commercial, industrial and institutional properties and homeowners association common areas.
Associate planner Jennifer Kitson told the council the law (AB 1572) requires local water suppliers to revise codes and policies to prohibit potable irrigation of nonfunctional turf by prescribed deadlines: local government properties beginning Jan. 1, 2027; other institutional, commercial and industrial properties in 2028; and HOA common areas in 2029. Kitson clarified that the rule applies to irrigated turf that is not used for human recreation or gatherings (examples: medians, parking-lot turf, inaccessible decorative lawn). Single-family yards, cemetery turf and tree/perennial watering are exempt.
Kitson said the water department will start with outreach and education and will use the municipal code's existing enforcement mechanisms for water-waste violations should compliance action be necessary. She noted city departments will review their sites to identify nonfunctional turf and prepare plans to stop potable irrigation where required. The presentation also noted minimal impact on new development because the city's existing water-efficient landscape ordinance already generally prohibits nonfunctional turf in new nonresidential projects.
Council members thanked staff for early outreach to county, Capitola, UCSC, state parks and school districts and for planning a ramp-up of stakeholder outreach to commercial and institutional customers over the coming year. The council voted unanimously to accept staff's recommendation and to proceed with publication of the code updates.
The motion directs staff to continue targeted outreach and to bring back any necessary clarifications as the city moves toward the state-mandated compliance deadlines.
