California governor signs bill that bans watering of nonfunctional turf

California Governor Gavin Newsom signed a bill that will prohibit the watering of “nonfunctional” turf or grass at commercial, industrial or government sites.

The proposal was initiated following an executive order signed by California Governor Gavin Newsom on March 28, 2022, and after the driest three-month stretch in the state’s recorded history last year.

The Metropolitan Water District of Southern California issued a statement on Newsom’s signing of the bill stating, “Metropolitan has long encouraged Southern Californians to replace their thirsty grass with more water-efficient landscaping, through our turf replacement program. As businesses and institutions will now be required to do the same through this legislation, we hope they will continue to take advantage of our rebates and replace their non-functional turf with California-friendly and native landscapes.”

The law does not apply to residential lawns, apartment complexes, sports fields or cemeteries.