Starting next year, a state law passed in 2023 will prohibit cities from using potable water on ornamental lawns.

The law, AB1572, goes into effect in three stages — one at the start of 2027, one at the start of 2028 and the last starting at the beginning of 2029. Those stages correspond to who the law prohibits: cities, counties and other local agencies first, then, in 2028, commercial properties and finally homeowners associations.

At the Oct. 6 Sunnyvale City Council meeting, Winola Cheong, deputy director of environmental services, detailed what the law meant for the city. 

The law only applies to ornamental lawns. Recreational lawns used for things such as golf courses, baseball fields or parks are exempt. To comply with the law, there are several options: water-wise gardens, drought-resistant landscaping, mulch or irrigating with recycled water through the city’s purple pipeline.

Council Member Alysa Cisneros said property owners “don’t have to sacrifice beauty to save water.”

Sunnyvale has already been converting ornamental lawns on city property ahead of the law going into effect. Consequently, Cheong said, all city properties are already in compliance. 

Since Sunnyvale is ahead of the curve, the city is using the additional runway to begin outreach to commercial property owners and HOAs. 

It already has a dedicated webpage, has emailed schools, business and professional organizations, posted flyers at the city’s permit center, conducted city-property site assessments and mailed Valley Water postcards to those affected. 

Further, the city will host an educational workshop for HOAs Oct. 21, inserted an informational flyer into commercial and residential customers water bills and conducted outreach to the California Landscape Contractors Association to educate contractors on the law.

Enforcement is the city’s responsibility. Historically, Cheong said, Sunnyvale residents are “very responsive and supportive.” However, she said, the city is able to adjust water flow to properties that fail to comply.

Additionally, California Water Code imposes fines up to $1,000 a day on violators.

Cortney Jansen urged the council to require natural alternatives to fake grass, saying it is “not viable.”

Susan Hinton, with the Sierra Club, encouraged the city to educate residents on native California plants, which, she said, in addition to being drought-resistant, are also good for native birds and pollinators. 

“It is not necessary to just pave over everything,” she said. “This is a watershed moment, so to speak, and I encourage the city to encourage its residents to do all that they can to help their environment.”

Contact David Alexander at d.todd.alexander@gmail.com 

Previous Sunnyvale City Council Meetings:
Sunnyvale Continues to Iron Out Wrinkles in Worker Retention Ordinance
Sunnyvale Celebrates Financial Stability, Pushes for Inclusion
Sunnyvale Permanent Supportive Housing Development to Break Ground Later This Year