In 2023, California enacted Assembly Bill (AB) 1572 to reduce the wasteful use of potable (drinking) water and support state policies on water conservation and climate change. The law prohibits using potable water to irrigate nonfunctional turf (NFT) on commercial, industrial, and institutional (CII) properties and common landscape areas of Homeowners Associations (HOAs) starting in 2027.
The law does not ban turf—it prohibits using potable water on nonfunctional turf. Functional turf may still be irrigated with potable water, and nonfunctional turf may still be irrigated with recycled water.
The new law will be phased in over five years, starting in 2027, based on the type of property. The deadlines below are the compliance dates, which means the applicable property must stop irrigating nonfunctional turf with potable water by that date may not irrigate with potable water in the future. This is a permanent prohibition.
| Property Type | Compliance Date |
| State/local government, local and regional public agencies, public water systems | January 1, 2027 |
| All other institutional, commercial, and industrial properties (not described above) | January 1, 2028 |
| HOA common areas, common interest developments, and community service organizations, or similar entities | January 1, 2029 |
| Government/public water system properties in disadvantaged communities | January 1, 2031, or when funding is available to convert NFT, whichever is later |
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Nonfunctional Turf Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
- Understanding the Nonfunctional Turf (NFT) Law—Assembly Bill 1572
- Compliance Resources and Information
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- 1. What is the Assembly Bill 1572 nonfunctional turf law?
In 2023, California enacted Assembly Bill (AB) 1572 to reduce the wasteful use of potable (drinking) water and support state policies on water conservation and climate change. The law prohibits using potable water to irrigate nonfunctional turf (NFT) on commercial, industrial, and institutional (CII) properties and common landscape areas of Homeowners Associations (HOAs) starting in 2027.
The law does not ban turf—it prohibits using potable water on nonfunctional turf. Functional turf may still be irrigated with potable water, and nonfunctional turf may still be irrigated with recycled water.
- 2. What is turf?
Turf refers to a ground cover surface of mowed grass (also called lawn or grass). Common types of turf include:
• Cool-season grasses: Annual bluegrass, Kentucky bluegrass, Perennial ryegrass, Red fescue, and Tall fescue,
• Warm-season grasses: Bermudagrass, Kikuyugrass, Seashore Paspalum, St. Augustinegrass, Zoysiagrass, and Buffalo grass.Artificial turf, which is made of synthetic material and not irrigated, is excluded from this law. Artificial turf is used in sports arenas, residential lawns, and various commercial applications.
- 3. What is functional and nonfunctional turf?
Functional Turf: Turf located in recreational areas or community spaces.
Examples:
· Sports fields (soccer, baseball, etc.)
· School recreation areas (playgrounds, running tracks, etc.)
· Areas regularly used for civic or community events (city parks, event centers, etc.)Nonfunctional Turf: Turf used only for decoration with no regular recreational or civic As a general rule, turf that is accessed only for mowing is likely nonfunctional turf.
Examples:
· Decorative lawn not used for recreation, civic, and/or other community events
· Turf enclosed by fencing or other barriers to permanently block human access for recreation or assembly
· Turf in street rights-of-way and parking lots - 4. What properties are affected by the law?
AB 1572 applies to nonfunctional turf on properties, including, but not limited to:
• Banking institutions
• City and county land
• Educational institutions
• Gas stations
• Government and public agency buildings
• Grocery and retail stores
• Homeowner association owned properties
• Common interest developments
• Community service organizations
• Hospitals
• Office, warehouse, and industrial buildings
• Religious institutions
• Restaurants/Fast Food establishments
• Strip malls
• Street/Boulevard landscape median strips
Exempt: Cemeteries and residential properties are excluded from this law (though common landscape areas in HOAs and similar entities will be covered beginning in 2029). - 5. Does the ban apply to residential properties?
No. AB 1572 does not apply to private residential properties. However, the law will apply to common areas within HOAs, common interest developments, and community service organizations or similar properties beginning January 1, 2029. Apartment complexes and condominium buildings that are not part of an HOA or a common interest development are exempt.
Not sure if the property is residential? Check with your local city or county planning department to find out. Ask for the property’s zoning designation.
- 6. When will this ban take effect?
The new law will be phased in over five years, starting in 2027, based on the type of property. The deadlines below are the compliance dates, which means the applicable property must stop irrigating nonfunctional turf with potable water by that date and maintain compliance moving forward.
Property Type Compliance Date State/local government, local and regional public agencies, public water systems January 1, 2027 All other institutional, commercial, and industrial properties (not described above) January 1, 2028 HOA common areas, common interest developments, and community service organizations, or similar entities January 1, 2029 Government/public water system properties in disadvantaged communities January 1, 2031, or when funding is available to convert NFT, whichever is later Definitions:
• A disadvantaged community is a community with an annual median household income that is less than 80 percent of the statewide annual median household income.
• An HOA is a nonprofit corporation or unincorporated association created to manage a common interest development.
• A common interest development includes a community apartment project, condominium project, planned development, or stock cooperative.
• A community service organization or similar entity is a nonprofit entity, other than an association, that is organized to provide services to residents of the common interest development or to the public in addition to the residents, to the extent community common areas or facilities are available to the public.
• Common areas are the portion of a common interest development or of a property owned or managed by an HOA or a community service organization or similar entity that is not assigned or allocated to the exclusive use of the occupants of an individual dwelling unit within the property.
- 7. Does the ban apply to the irrigation of nonfunctional turf with recycled water?
No. AB 1572 only prohibits the use of potable water to irrigate nonfunctional turf. Recycled water may still be used to water nonfunctional turf.
- 8. Can trees located in nonfunctional turf areas still be irrigated with potable water?
Yes, the law allows for the irrigation of trees located in nonfunctional turf with potable water as needed for the health of trees and other perennial non-turf plantings.
Best Practices for irrigating trees in nonfunctional turf areas:
• Adjust irrigation systems to water only the area under the tree canopy and/or groups of clustered tree canopies to avoid unintentionally watering surrounding nonfunctional turf.
• Cap or turn off spray nozzles not directly watering tree canopy areas.
• Convert overhead spray zones to drip irrigation in tree canopy areas.
• Consider replacing nonfunctional turf surrounding trees to non-turf plants such as low-water-use or native plants and shrubs. Note that current irrigation equipment would likely need to be modified to ensure sufficient watering for trees and reduced watering for the new lower-water-use plants.For general guidance on watering trees, click here.
Contact your local water provider for more detailed guidance for watering trees impacted by this ban.
- 1. What is the Assembly Bill 1572 nonfunctional turf law?
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- 1. What should property owners do if they have nonfunctional turf on their CII or HOA property
Contact your local water supplier for more information and options for complying with the law, which could include guidance on how to replace or modify your property’s landscape and information about available rebates.
- 2. Are there rebates available to help with replacing nonfunctional turf?
Yes. Local water suppliers often provide rebates to help offset the costs of replacing nonfunctional turf with low-water use landscaping, groundcover, and native plants. There may also be rebates for irrigation upgrades like weather-based irrigation controllers, high-efficiency sprinkler nozzles and drip irrigation. Visit BeWaterSmart.Info/Rebates to learn about rebates available in your area, or contact your local water supplier for more information.
- 3. Will rebate funding always be available?
No. Rebates offered by local water suppliers are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Rebate amounts per customer and rebate program budgets vary year by year. Contact your local water supplier as soon as possible to apply for a rebate.
- 4. How can I make my nonfunctional turf become functional turf?
Only turf located in a recreational use area or community space may qualify as functional.
Recreational use: These areas must be designated by a property owner or a governmental agency to accommodate human foot traffic for recreation, including, but not limited to, sports fields, golf courses, playgrounds, picnic grounds, or pet exercise areas. This recreation may be either formal or informal.
Community space: A community space is an area designated by a property owner or a governmental agency to accommodate human foot traffic for civic, ceremonial, or other community events or social gatherings.
- 5. Who decides if turf is functional or nonfuctional?
The state of California, through the passage of AB 1572, defined functional and nonfunctional turf (see definitions above). Local water suppliers, cities, and counties are tasked with interpreting the state’s definitions at the local level. Furthermore, AB 1572 requires that the following property owners self-certify that their properties comply with the new requirements:
· Owners of CII properties with more than 5,000 square feet of irrigated area other than a cemetery shall certify to the State Water Resources Control Board, starting June 30, 2030, and every three years thereafter through 2039.
· Owners of a property with more than 5,000 square feet of irrigated common area that is an HOA, common interest development, or community service organization or similar entity shall certify to the State Water Resources Control Board, starting June 30, 2031, and every three years thereafter through 2040.
- 6. What should replace nonfunctional turf?
Check with your local water supplier, city, and/or county for any new landscape planting rules and guidelines. Some local entities require certain kinds of plants and guidelines for site ratios of pervious material (plants, bark, etc.) versus impervious material (pavers, concrete, etc.).
Water suppliers, cities, and counties are encouraging replacement of nonfunctional turf but are not requiring it.
Replacement Options
In general, nonfunctional turf can be replaced with low-water-use and native plants, mulch, and non-turf low-water-use groundcover that looks like turf.
For examples of low-water-use and native plants that thrive in our region, visit RWA’s Water-Wise Gardening plant database, the City of Roseville’s WaterSmart Plant List, and the California Native Plant Society’s plant database.
For examples of non-turf low-water-use groundcovers that thrive in our region, check out this extensive list of turf alternatives.
Irrigation Adjustments
It is recommended that when nonfunctional turf is removed, property owners redesign/configure/update the property’s irrigation system to accommodate the decreased watering needs of the new low-water-use landscaping, native plants, and groundcover. Irrigation system changes can include, but are not limited to, converting overhead sprinklers to drip irrigation, replacing sprinkler nozzles with high-efficiency nozzles, removing or capping sprinkler heads that are no longer needed, etc. For more information, check out these “how to” irrigation videos.
Not sure where to start? Visit the City of Roseville’s Inspiration Garden for ideas.
- 7. What happens if a property does not comply?
Check with your local water supplier for information. Penalties can include fines or other actions as defined by your local water supplier/local government’s policies or ordinances.
- 1. What should property owners do if they have nonfunctional turf on their CII or HOA property
Contact your local water provider with any additional questions.
