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Artificial Turf Gets a Second Look
| Latest NewsIn California, where water-conserving solutions are welcome, some homeowners have found that installing artificial turf is against the law. In the city of Simi Valley, the city council had approved an ordinance six years ago that requires at least half of a homeowner’s front yard to be landscaped with natural plants. Backyards and side yards weren’t included in the ordinance.
The intent of the law was to prevent residents from replacing landscaping and trees with concrete, gravel or pavers. But it also restricts artificial turf installation. Several homeowners who’ve pulled their grass out, hoping to replace it with artificial turf, are asking the city council for a waiver to the regulation.
While the council wants to be flexible, they feel that there should be some natural elements in the landscaping. And they’re concerned about aesthetics: while artificial turf is low maintenance, city leaders know that no product is maintenance-free. They want to make sure that the turf would be regularly raked, swept, rinsed, and that the seams don’t separate.
The city will hold off on enforcement until a final decision is made early next year.
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