One of the joys of homeownership is that neatly-trimmed patch of green grass in the front and back of a house which has traditionally signified pride, dedication and character. Whether a regular crew is needed to manicure a stately landscape, or the homeowner every other weekend rolls out the trusty power mower and edger, maintaining your lawn in pristine condition is one of those regular pleasures which has been learned from childhood.
However, in drought-stricken California, regulators are trying to change that tradition. The California Water Commission passed a little-known ordinance in mid-July which stipulates that new construction of residential and commercial properties will be regulated to limit turf to only 25 percent of the property. The regulations will apply to new construction properties with a landscape of more than 500 square feet as of Dec. 1. Existing landscapes in access of 2,500 square feet will be forced to cooperate with the new regulations, if any major renovations take place. The commision said major renovations are changes to property that require a local permit from a government agency.
The new ordinance is expected to severely limit the size of a lawn in commercial settings, and experts believe it may permanently alter the way the average California neighborhood will look in the foreseeable future.
“It’s the ‘new normal,’” said Javier Lesaca, president of the California Landscape Contractor’s Association. “It’s going to be a hard transition for those that are used to having large amounts of grass. The drought has more people thinking about water conservation … that we’ve got a limited supply of water, and we’ve got to take care of it.”
Rebate programs statewide have encouraged homeowners to tear up their turf and replace it with drought-friendly plants, gravel, rock gardens and other alternatives. However, the water-saving trend is not in full swing just yet. News of an impending El Nino this winter has more residents opting to keep their present lawns—brown and yellow as they may be in anticipation of a thorough drenching in mid-January.
Allison Lassiter, Ph.D., editor of the journal, “Sustainable Water: Challenges and Solutions from California,” said the new ordinance could be a tipping point for how residents will manage with less water and lush, green grass.
Lassiter said that when houses adopt drought-tolerant landscapes, there tends to be a “spillover effect” in the neighborhood because nearby homeowners will tend to be inspired to do the same thing. It’s sort of the drought version of “keeping up with the Joneses.”
The ordinance may be a “sweet deal” for landscapers because installing the new terrain will ultimately yield the same profits as maintaining typical turf … and it may give them more room to be creative for the client. The regular gardening team won’t have to mow and trim the lawn each two weeks, but the cost of installing drought-tolerant plants and designing a new landscape may just make up for the lost revenue.
Local water agencies have until the December cutoff to adopt the proposed model, or to implement one of their own that is just as stringent. The Department of Water Resources said the newly adopted ordinance is expected to reduce the water use in a new home by 20 percent; in the next three years, the department expects 472,000 single- and multi-family homes will add 20,000 acres of new landscape.
