Pasadena city leaders are considering a new rule that would stop businesses, government agencies and some homeowners associations from using drinking water to keep purely decorative grass green. The Pasadena City Council was scheduled to hold the second reading of the proposed ordinance on Tuesday, a step that would bring city code in line with a state law phasing in water restrictions by property type: government properties in 2027, other commercial, industrial and institutional properties in 2028, and HOA common areas in 2029.
The ordinance would amend Chapter 13.10 of the Pasadena Municipal Code, which already governs water waste prohibitions and the city's water supply shortage plans, according to Pasadena Now. Under the proposal, it would become illegal to use potable water to irrigate what the city defines as nonfunctional turf, meaning grass that serves an ornamental purpose rather than recreation or other activities, at commercial, industrial and institutional properties, public facilities, and certain homeowners association common areas. The prohibition would not touch single-family homes, multifamily buildings without an HOA, recreational grass, or cemeteries, the outlet reports.
City council members directed the City Attorney on August 31 to draft the ordinance within 60 days, after the Municipal Services Committee voted unanimously on August 25 to approve staff's recommendation, according to a City of Pasadena agenda. The planned changes would be folded into the code's definitions section and its permanent water conservation requirements, the same agenda shows.
Why Pasadena Has to Act Now
The push traces back to Assembly Bill 1572, signed by Governor Gavin Newsom on October 13, 2023, which requires public water systems statewide to update their local ordinances, regulations or policies to ban drinking-water irrigation of nonfunctional turf and to notify customers by January 1, 2027. The law phases in by property type: California Department of General Services properties face the restriction first, beginning January 1, 2027, followed by other institutional, commercial and industrial properties on January 1, 2028, and finally homeowners associations, common-interest developments and similar entities on January 1, 2029, per the same Pasadena Now report.
Crucially, the law does not force anyone to tear out their lawn. It simply prohibits watering nonfunctional turf with drinking water once the applicable deadline hits, the report notes. Enforcement will largely fall to local governments rather than the state, according to the University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources, which also notes that functional grass used for parks, sports, play and other recreational activities remains exempt.
No Hit to the City Budget, Officials Say
City officials say the ordinance would have no immediate effect on Pasadena's annual Water Fund budget, and any public education or incentive programs tied to compliance would be paid for out of existing Water Fund appropriations rather than the General Fund. Pasadena Water and Power would oversee enforcement of the new rules and would also roll out education and potential incentive programs to help affected property owners adjust.
That outreach is already underway. Pasadena Water and Power staff have been informing customers about the coming requirements since 2023 through workshops, emails, flyers, bill inserts and site visits, the agency has said. Restrictions on irrigating nonfunctional turf at commercial, industrial and institutional properties are scheduled to begin January 1, 2028.
Rebates Already on the Table
Property owners looking to get ahead of the deadline can already tap into Pasadena Water and Power's turf-replacement rebate program, which pays $2 per square foot for commercial properties, HOAs and multifamily residential buildings with five or more units that swap turf for drought-tolerant or native plants, efficient irrigation, or rainwater capture systems. Commercial customers can remove up to 50,000 square feet under the program, though applicants must secure a reservation before starting any project and finish approved work within 180 days.
Pasadena is not alone in grappling with the mandate. In Santa Monica, officials estimate similar restrictions could save roughly 21 million gallons of water a year after identifying about 650,000 square feet of nonfunctional turf at commercial, industrial, institutional and HOA properties, according to the Santa Monica Patch. That city also boosted its own Cash for Grass incentive from $3.50 to $5 per square foot and raised the maximum rebate per account from $10,000 to $50,000, with staff reporting no immediate fiscal impact from the change.
Fullerton has already moved further along than Pasadena. The Fullerton City Council voted 5-0 on October 20 to approve Ordinance No. 3360 implementing the state ban, according to the Fullerton Observer. That city's version exempts grass around trees that need water to stay healthy, cemeteries, and areas needed for public health and safety, and Fullerton staff have said the 2029 phase of the law applies only to HOA common areas, not individual home lawns.
