Don’t call it a turf war. After all, the victor has already been declared. On October 13, 2023, Governor Gavin Newsom signed California State Assembly Bill 1572 (AB 1572) into law, signaling that the state would no longer tolerate the use of potable water to irrigate non-functional turf on a variety of sites and developments. Homeowners associations are among those directly impacted by the California turf mandate, though they have until 2029 to meet compliance. Never heard of AB 1572? Wondering if it affects you? Then allow me to break it down for you.
Get to Know AB 1572: The California Turf Mandate
In an effort to curb wasteful use of potable water, AB 1572 prevents certain sites from utilizing potable water sources to irrigate non-functional turf. California considers non-functional turf as any mowed or manicured lawn utilized in a purely decorative manner. This means it doesn’t serve a functional purpose, such as a sports field or recreational area. Here is a photo of a Palm Springs community that took a jump start on the new mandate
Though it passed in 2023, the first impacts of AB 1572, unofficially dubbed the California turf mandate, won’t hit until 2027. This is mostly to give the impacted institutions, entities, and parties time to prepare for the law’s strict regulations. Homeowners associations enjoy a slightly delayed grace period, with regulations not being enforced for HOAs until 2029.
Affected sites will be required to transition from potable water to recycled water or to remove the non-functional turf completely. Responsibility falls on the property owner to provide certification of compliance. Failure to do so may result in penalties and/or civil liability. If any of this sounds familiar, you’re likely recalling the summer of 2022 when California adopted similar regulations during a state of emergency.
Obviously, AB 1572 will bring a lot of potentially expensive changes to homeowners associations and other impacted properties. With less than four years to prepare, there’s a long, dry road ahead. The question is: How prepared is your HOA financially for this big task? Depending on the size of the association and its financial reserves, a rise in the HOA monthly dues or and an assessment is a huge probability.
Photos by ClarkandValentine