Commercial & Industrial

By January 1, 2028, California law will prohibit the use of potable (drinking) water to irrigate nonfunctional turf—lawns that serve no recreational or community purpose—at commercial & industrial properties.

About the change

These new rules create a unique opportunity to transform lawns into water-wise landscapes, reducing maintenance costs and shrinking water bills.

Compliance deadline

January 1, 2028

commercial & industrial properties

AB 1572 applies to nonfunctional lawns on commercial & industrial properties, including, but not limited to:

Office Buildings
Hospitals
Hotels
Banks
Gas Stations
Religious Intitutions

Check if your property is affected

Examples of Nonfunctional Turf

Border Strips

Decorative lawn along sidewalks, building edges, or fences.

Entry Patches

Unused patches near signage or building entries.

Medians & Islands

Lawn in medians, roundabouts, parking lots, or entry zones.

Slopes

Sloped lawn areas.

What to Do

1

Identify & document turf areas

Walk the site and list each turf area (photos + rough sq ft)
Note which irrigation zone serves it and whether it’s likely potable water

2

Confirm if it’s nonfunctional

For each area: is it regularly used for recreation/community purpose?
Tag areas: Likely Nonfunctional / Possibly / Likely Functional
Prioritize “quick wins” (medians, strips, decorative entry patches)

Not sure? Ask the Assistant

3

Plan the replacement

Choose the replacement approach (water-wise landscape goals + maintenance expectations)
Create a simple phased plan (design → budget → approvals → contractor)
Align irrigation to the new landscape (avoid keeping “turf irrigation” for non-turf)

4