Assembly Bill 1572 - Irrigation restrictions for nonfunctional turf

In an effort to conserve California’s water resources, Governor Newsom signed Assembly Bill 1572 into law on Saturday, October 14, 2023. The law is designed to significantly reduce the use of potable water for irrigating nonfunctional turf, with the goal of enhancing water sustainability across the state.
The law focuses on specific property types, both residential and commercial, where potable water is currently used for nonfunctional turf irrigation. The phased implementation of this ban is scheduled to begin on January 1, 2027. The law emphasizes that using potable water for nonfunctional turf irrigation is both wasteful and inconsistent with the state’s policies regarding climate change, water conservation, and reduced reliance on the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta ecosystem.
Under the provisions of AB 1572, the use of potable water for irrigating turf that doesn’t serve recreational or community purposes would be prohibited. Nonfunctional turf is clearly defined within the law as any turf that does not serve a functional purpose. This definition encompasses turf situated in street rights-of-way and parking lots. It also includes turf on various property types, such as commercial, industrial, and institutional properties, as well as properties owned by homeowners’ associations, common interest developments, and community service organizations. The law does not apply to residential lawns, apartment complexes, sports fields, or cemeteries.
AB 1572 carries significant implications for different property owners, with specific timelines for compliance:
• Homeowners’ associations must transition to reclaimed water for non-recreational areas, starting in 2027 for local governments, 2028 for commercial and industrial properties, and 2029 for common areas in homeowners’ associations.
• Owners of commercial, industrial, or institutional properties with over 5,000 square feet of irrigated area (excluding cemeteries) must certify compliance starting on June 30, 2030, and every three years until 2039.
• Owners of properties with over 5,000 square feet of irrigated common area in homeowners’ associations, common interest developments, or community service organizations must certify compliance starting on June 30, 2031, and every three years until 2040.
If you have any questions regarding the effects this will have on your community or to get tips on how you can comply with the new law, reach out to your preferred landscape service provider.