Turf Check · California law
AB 1572: California’s nonfunctional turf law
Verified on the statute September 27, 2026
AB 1572 stops the use of drinking water to irrigate nonfunctional turf on public property from January 1, 2027, on commercial, industrial and institutional property from January 1, 2028, and in HOA common areas from January 1, 2029. Private homes are not covered.
Water Code §10608.14 · Verified October 19, 2026 · SourceIs California banning lawns?
No. AB 1572 bans using drinking water on nonfunctional turf at public, commercial, industrial, institutional and HOA common-area property, from the dates below. It does not order anyone to remove grass, and a private home’s lawn is not covered.
When it starts
- Public property
From January 1, 2027, drinking water may not be used to irrigate nonfunctional turf on property owned by the Department of General Services, local governments, local and regional public agencies, or public water systems.
Water Code §10608.14 · Verified October 19, 2026 · Source - Commercial, industrial and institutional property
From January 1, 2028, drinking water may not be used to irrigate nonfunctional turf on commercial, industrial or institutional property. Cemeteries are excluded.
Water Code §10608.14 · Verified October 19, 2026 · Source - HOA common areas
From January 1, 2029, drinking water may not be used to irrigate nonfunctional turf in the common areas of a homeowners association, common interest development or community service organization.
Water Code §10608.14 · Verified October 19, 2026 · Source - Commercial certification
A commercial, industrial or institutional property with more than 5,000 square feet of irrigated area certifies its compliance to the State Water Board from June 30, 2030, then every three years through 2039. The threshold is irrigated area, not lawn.
Water Code §10608.14 · Verified October 19, 2026 · Source - HOA certification
An HOA or similar association with more than 5,000 square feet of irrigated common area certifies its compliance to the State Water Board from June 30, 2031, then every three years through 2040.
Water Code §10608.14 · Verified October 19, 2026 · Source
What it does not cover
It is a watering ban, not a removal order. The law bans drinking water on nonfunctional turf; it does not require removing turf. Recycled or other non-potable water may still be used, and drinking water may be used as far as needed for the health of trees and perennial non-turf plants, or for an immediate health and safety need. Functional turf in recreational use areas and community spaces is not covered.
- The ban names commercial, industrial and institutional property, the property of homeowners associations and other common interest developments, and public property. A private home is not named, so it is not covered, and neither is the exclusive-use area around a home inside an HOA.
- Local-government, public-agency and water-system property in a disadvantaged community gets until January 1, 2031, or until state funding arrives, whichever is later. That delay does not apply to DGS property, businesses or HOAs.
- A property owner may be granted a hardship extension of up to three years.
Who enforces it
Every public water system must add the nonfunctional turf rules to its own regulations and tell its customers by January 1, 2027. Some add earlier self-certification dates and fines of their own.
Water Code §10608.14 · Verified October 19, 2026 · SourceThe State Water Board may impose a penalty of up to $1,000 per day under Water Code §1846, as raised by AB 460 in 2024 and adjusted for inflation each year from 2026. Most enforcement comes from a water supplier's own ordinance.
Water Code §1846 · Verified October 19, 2026 · SourceCheck your address
Type an address to see which rule applies to that property and what its water supplier pays to replace a lawn.
Free · Any California address · No sign-up · You apply to your water supplier yourself