California’s New Restrictions on the Irrigation of Nonfunctional Turf
In alignment with state policies on climate change and water conservation, California Assembly Bill 1572 (AB 1572) restricts the use of potable (drinkable) water to irrigate nonfunctional turf throughout the state beginning in 2027. Commercial, industrial, and institutional (CII) sites across California will be required to evaluate their landscaping practices and may need to find alternatives for maintaining nonfunctional turf.
AB 1572 applies to CII properties, as well as properties owned or managed by homeowners’ associations (HOAs), common interest developments, and community service organizations or similar entities. Institutional properties include, but are not limited to, government facilities, higher education institutions, schools, courts, churches, hospitals, and nonprofit research institutions. Turf used for agricultural production or located within cemeteries is exempt from the requirements.
Affected entities will need to stop all use of potable water to irrigate nonfunctional turf. Entities may comply by converting nonfunctional turf to climate-appropriate landscaping or transitioning irrigation for nonfunctional turf to a recycled or other non-potable water source.
Requirements and Applicability
AB 1572 prohibits irrigation of any quantity of nonfunctional turf with potable water at regulated entities. Affected entities with more than 5,000 square feet of irrigated landscape must also self-certify compliance with the prohibition to the State Water Board in accordance with the schedule defined in the law.
AB 1572 defines nonfunctional turf as any turf that is not considered functional turf and specifically includes turf located within street rights-of-way and parking lots. Functional turf is defined as a ground cover surface of turf located in a recreational use area or community space, such as a park or sports field. These are intended to accommodate human foot traffic for recreational, civic, ceremonial, or other community-oriented purposes. Turf in bioswales, or other stormwater management features, is generally considered nonfunctional turf because its primary purpose is not recreation or community use. However, if a permitted bioswale relies on turf as an essential design component and no feasible alternative design exists, an exemption may be possible.
This legislation does not prohibit the use of potable water to maintain trees or other perennial nonturf plantings, or to address immediate health and safety needs.
When Will AB 1572 Take Effect?
AB 1572’s ban on the use of potable water for the irrigation of nonfunctional turf takes effect for varying entities on the upcoming dates:
January 1, 2027: Properties owned by the Department of General Services, as well as local governments, local or regional public agencies, and public water systems, except those located in disadvantaged communities.
January 1, 2028: Institutional, commercial, and industrial properties.
January 1, 2029: Common areas of properties of HOAs, common interest developments, and community service organizations or similar entities.
January 1, 2031, or later: Properties owned by local governments, local public agencies, and public water systems in disadvantaged communities. The prohibition begins on January 1, 2031, or the date a state funding source becomes available for the conversion of nonfunctional turf, whichever is later.
An affected entity may request an extension for compliance directly from the State Water Board based on good cause, including economic hardship, critical business needs, or potential impacts to human health and safety. The Board may postpone a compliance deadline for up to three years.
By January 1, 2027, public water systems must update their water service regulations, ordinances, or policies to reflect AB 1572's phased prohibition on potable water use for irrigating nonfunctional turf, including applicable exemptions and the State Water Board’s ability to approve compliance extensions and create compliance certification forms. Public water systems must also notify customers of these requirements.
AB 1572 requires affected entities with over 5,000 square feet of irrigated landscape to self-certify compliance with the ban on the use of potable water for the irrigation of nonfunctional turf to the State Water Board on the following schedules:
Qualifying CII properties must certify compliance beginning June 30, 2030, and every 3 years thereafter through 2039.
Qualifying HOAs, common interest developments, and community service organizations must certify compliance beginning June 30, 2031, and every 3 years thereafter through 2040.
How To Prepare for Implementation
Entities subject to AB 1572 should begin planning now to either convert nonfunctional turf to climate-appropriate landscaping or transition irrigation for nonfunctional turf to a recycled or other non-potable water source.
For more information on AB 1572, visit the California State Water Resource Control Board’s website that has a FAQ, timeline calculator, and Compliance Certification Form (coming soon): https://www.waterboards.ca.gov/conservation/nonfunctional-turf.html
For information and resources on converting nonfunctional turf to native vegetation visit the Save Our Water website: https://saveourwater.com
Contact Mia Hill (mhill@algcorp.com) and Christine Wong (cwong@algcorp.com) for questions about AB 1572.
