Well HOAs are different from one to another. Recent studies have shown that artificial turf actually gets hotter than asphalt during the day so homeowners should not assume covering their whole yard in artificial grass is the perfect solution. It stays green all year. The Association may require replacement if there are signs of damage, lifting, unevenness, worn areas, fading, deterioration, or if the turf is a health hazard. Then you run into the HOA, who questions why youre eliminating your natural lawn. Any covers must be kept in a clean It also explains the rules and regulations governing the Lowry community. What should I do? Do they have the authority to intervene? The best approach to your question is to reach out to your HOA directly and ask about it. The California Legislature has in the recent past . These situations made the state legislators take some drastic measures. Artificial turf is generally more expensive to install than natural grass. No watering. We havent heard any HOA has specific regulations for indoor decorations unless Building structure related. Proponents hope removing hurdles for homeowners who want to install artificial turf will prevent overreach by HOAs, though some say amendments made to the proposal actually allot too much power. Artificial turf is available in one-, two- and three-color options. Gain access to our FREE library documents, legislative updates, Cheat Sheets and informative blog posts as soon as they are available. E. Artificial grass must be cleaned as necessary and periodically groomed to . State Rep. John Kavanagh proposed a bill to override rules of a homeowner association that prevents the use of artificial grass. Note that blocking some types of cookies may impact your experience on our websites and the services we are able to offer. I haven't heard HOAs in any other states not to accept artificial turf, but the best approach will be for you to fill out this online form, and we will help you to find out more information regarding this matter, or you can reach out to your HOA to see if there is any specific rules they might have toward artificial grass. Artificial turf can contribute to the heat island effect and it does not provide habitat for wildlife or beneficial insects. An HOA may impose standards for appearance and quality of artificial grass, or may not allow it at all. One such rule is that homeowners should use natural grass for their lawns so that the neighborhood looks good. Boards should prescribe turf options with completely permeable backings so that drainage is uniform and complete. The drought bill AB 349, signed by Governor Brown, prohibits California HOAs from imposing restrictions on artificial turf installation. An HOA cannot enforce architectural or landscaping guidelines or policies that prohibit either the use of low water-using plants as a replacement of existing turf, or the use of artificial turf or any other synthetic surface that resembles grass (Civil Code section 4735(a)). It is opposed by the Educational Community for Homeowners (ECHO). Fortunately, you can take action if they try to prevent you from installing artificial grass on your property. The Homeowners Association has prepared . Modern artificial grass is a lot better than it used to be, both in appearance and in safety. Here are some answers to your frequently asked questions. But this will always prompt you to accept/refuse cookies when revisiting our site. HOAs may still have guidelines that fall within these parameters, such as requiring a certain percentage of groundcover, quantity of plants, or a specific plant palette. This guide is for property owners in the Lowry Community Master Association (LCMA). Even if it might prevent pollution from mowing, artificial grass still produces pollution and waste in the manufacturing process. verification that the vehicle registration is current. Instantly get the list of materials you need for installation with associated amounts, costs, and rental equipment fees. The main one is that artificial grass doesnt need to be watered. All owners must submit an If the cover prevents Answered - No. The Property owners replace their lawns with drought-tolerant plants or even artificial turf until the problematic weather conditions are over and go back to using natural grass. The Brown Law Group shares this article for informational purposes only and it does not create an attorney-client relationship. Artificial turf first made headlines in 1966 when it was installed in Houston's Astrodome, where it was dubbed AstroTurf. Because these cookies are strictly necessary to deliver the website, refusing them will have impact how our site functions. Grizzly Turf offers several artificial grass styles that can meet an HOAs standards! The federal government agencys plans to release less water this year has left Arizona cities and towns scrambling to find immediate ways to reduce water usage in their areas. artificial grass product must be made of Polyethylene and have a minimum face The law, passed in 2009, is meant to protect homeowners who want to use . Tex. Approaching your HOA with power in numbers could help your request get through. Contact us today at 602-952-6925 to schedule an initial consultation or make an appointment online here. violation of other provisions in these Rules. In recent years, spurred on by droughts around the country, it has emerged as an in-demand alternative for real grass on private properties like houses and apartment complexes. Accessing Documents & Resident Information, Privacy After all, with all of the advantages of artificial grass, how could they possibly say no? A somewhat related example comes from Dallas, in which a homeowner was barred by city planners in 2009 from using artificial turf, rather than natural grass, in front of his historic bungalow. 6. The artificial grass product must be made of Polyethylene and have a minimum face weight of 50 oz. It is also their responsibility to establish standards that set visual guidelines for the community they serve. Most recently, statewide polling indicated that 67 percent of respondents feel the drought and water issues are the most important issues facing California. weight permanent backing. Contains only lead free polyethylene mono . Section 3 adds a similar provision to a companion statute. Also, the neighbors may complain about the eyesore. You always can block or delete cookies by changing your browser settings and force blocking all cookies on this website. Artificial Grass as a Viable Choice. Any lot in the community is limited to a maximum of 70% coverage in total using artificial turf (for the front, sides and rear). Artificial . HOA Architectural Review approval letter - if applicable This is a general list of requirements. If you refuse cookies we will remove all set cookies in our domain. Example: Yes, I would like to receive emails from Mulcahy. Now for the grey areas. and maximum of 1500 sq.ft. And if your HOA does allow artificial grass, hooray! HOAs are governing bodies that set rules and regulations that residents agree to in exchange for living in certain exclusive communities. If youre ready to take the first step in switching to an artificial turf lawn for your HOA home, contact Grizzly Turf for expert assistance. The Board contends that synthetic turf is not an approved xeriscape design and hey have the discretion to deny my request. 29) The Eastmark Design Review Committee and the Eastmark Community Association reserve all rights to modify, change, expand or amend these Design Guidelines for Artificial Turf at any time and without notice You can selectively provide your consent below to allow such third party embeds. The Rules and Regulations provide the interpretive . Regardless, I will recommend you to double check with your own HOA to find out details. Your family can breathe easier, too. Do you live in an HOA and are thinking about removing your turf? Our HOA prohibits artificial grass installation. Synthetic lawn vs. natural turf maintenance, initial installation prices, labor and landscape services costs, gallons of water you use every year. Small improvements to lawns, plant beds, and gardens may be net improvements to landscapes that may not invoke a peep from your HOA. The need for House Bill 2131, Artificial grass ban prohibited; HOAs, was recognized when two HOA members were served with a lawsuit by their association after installing artificial grass to reduce water consumption. The bill faced substantial debate before being passed in the first Arizona legislative session of the year. Please be aware that this might heavily reduce the functionality and appearance of our site. Perhaps its something theyve been planning to get rid of for a while. Some people, though, may require additional persuasion. The areas for possible installation are for any existing "developed" landscaped areas on the lot; whether existing turf, mulch beds, rock beds, islands, etc. This will also help create a more uniform look. There are of course exceptions (we will cover these below), but the legislation makes it clear that HOA rules cannot be so strict as to bar all types of artificial grass. The debate over appropriate measures for water conservation and sustainable growth in Arizona has been going on for decades. The Association may Some HOAs may still hold the right to pass reasonable guidelines for the artificial turf or the type of synthetic material used as grass. Section 33-1819). Similar to carpet, higher pile turf gives a richer and more realistic appearance. Furthermore, the limit on the percentage of land that can have artificial turf cannot be smaller than the amount of property covered by natural grass. require replacement if there are signs of damage, lifting, unevenness, worn When you're buying artificial grass, you want to make sure that your product will last for years to come. It's important to note that the politics have changed since Governor Brown voted the last bill in 2011. A higher quality product will be preferred as it will last longer, look better and wont retain liquids. How Long Does It Take To Build An Outdoor Multi-Court? There is no indication if his intent supports the use of artificial turf. Some of the HOAs might have rules for front yard artificial grass installations, but in state of California, it is illegal for HOA to restrict artificial grass as it is considered as drought tolerated landscaping and California Law prevents HOAs to set any of their own rules to stop drought tolerated landscaping. Many homeowners have started looking towards artificial grass as an option to maintain the aesthetic appeal of a well-maintained lawn without all the fuss, but not all HOAs allow members to install it on their property. Homeowners Associations have control over pets, backyard structures, noises, mailboxes, and landscaping. While an AstroTurf yard may have the look and feel of the real thing, at the end of the day it's still plastic. Specifically, it prohibits HOAs from enforcing provisions in their governing documents that prevent owners from: Composting vegetation, including grass clippings, leaves, or brush, or leaving grass clippings uncollected on grass Installing rain barrels or a rainwater harvesting system Anyway, he said, artificial turf can look better than a poorly maintained natural laws. For more insight into HOA guidelines and management, contact us today. Generally, HOAs are responsible for creating (and enforcing) rules designed to maintain the appearance and function of a residential community. Many homeowners have started looking towards artificial grass as an option to maintain the aesthetic appeal of a well-maintained lawn without all the fuss, but not all HOAs allow members to install it on their property. This summer, Arizona HOA members can have greener grass without having to water it. that took effect in early 2020 addresses synthetic grass directly. The bill finds and declares that with the lowest snow pack ever recorded, California finds itself in 2015 in the fourth year of a historic, prolonged and potentially devastating drought. PHOENIX A bill making its way through the Arizona Legislature would require homeowner's associations to allow people to put in artificial grass where natural grass is permitted. properly prepared aggregate base for drainage. If you feel this is the case, consider scheduling a consultation between your HOA and one of our experts at Grizzly Turf. The following cookies are also needed - You can choose if you want to allow them: Protecting Your Artificial Grass Investment. home, there must be a border of rock or mulch to separate the turf. https://www.globalsynturf.com/artificial-grass-specifications-specs. 5. During and In Response to a Declared Drought Emergency Bill AB 349 makes the governing documents, architectural or landscaping guidelines, or policies of an Association void and unenforceable if they prohibit the use of artificial turf or any other synthetic surface that resembles grass. Toxic materials. Grass Replacement Incentive Program (GRIP) HOA/Large Property Manual. The likelihood of Governor Brown signing the bill is high. Not only will this save you time and money, it also helps the environment. Feeding stray animals can cause a host of problems in your community. This could potentially include anything from exterior color, fences, lawns and artificial turf, parking, and trash-can placement, to restrictions on above-ground pools and trash receptacles. With artificial turf, there's nothing to clip. Make contact with your homeowners association to determine where you are in the process of getting started. But different communities will have different rules. An HOA may restrict landscapes that contain only rocks and gravel, artificial turf, or mulch, which are not promoted by Florida-Friendly Landscaping. Some more restricted HOA might have some rules or regulations for your front yard landscaping, but I havent heard any cases that HOA regulate homeowners backyards. So, as we advance into 2021, homeowners can expect their artificial grass to be permanent. The climate may be too dry and water too scarce to keep your lawn watered enough so it stays green, or you might not want to use harsh pesticides to keep your lawn weed-free because of pets or young kids. Global Syn-Turf is the exclusive artificial grass partner of San Francisco 49ers. Do I need approval from HOA to install turf into my yard? If your ideas are being thwarted, here are some methods you can take to work around the regulations and possibly persuade them to alter their thoughts. While some HOAs are still a bit apprehensive about artificial turf, the grass alternative does offer several benefits. attorneys prevent problems, solve problems and are advocates and educators for community associations in Arizona. Residents in condominiums or gated communities may be familiar with the existence of homeowners associations, or HOAs. C. Front yard areas must retain a minimum of 30% of overall square footage as organic plant material such as planter beds, rock beds, mulch beds, bushes, shrubs, etc. The turf may not be installed directly up to the foundation of the home, there must be a border of rock or mulch to separate the turf. vehicle off the driveway on any landscaped areas or permit other long-term storage in You are all set! Here is what HOAs and members need to know about HB2131 and artificial turf laws in Arizona planned communities. Arizona isnt the first state to create a law that promotes the use of artificial grass. What Sports, Games and Activities Can Take Place On A Multi-Court? Installing artificial turf keeps the same aesthetic appeal without any need for water and maintenance. Due to security reasons we are not able to show or modify cookies from other domains. Under his legislation, an HOA. Most of HOAs are very strict with the front appearance of the houses in the community, and can be easy with backyards: so it will be a good idea for you to find out more detailed information and requirements from your HOA, and you can always feel free to send us those requirements at info!globalsynturf.com and we will be very happy to help you to provide necessary information and answer any questions from HOA. If a garden is full of tall grass and weeds, it will stick out in the community and decrease the real estate value of the property. You are free to opt out any time or opt in for other cookies to get a better experience. The association may reject or require the removal of a members artificial grass if the artificial grass creates a health or safety issue that the member does not correct. Artificial Grass Guidelines The Value You Gain From Ordinances & Guidelines Today, as property owners, 55 million homeowners invest in residential developments that are guided and governed by. For our other states with Purchase Green stores, it's best to check with your HOA to see if replacing your real lawn with an artificial lawn is allowed. To determine if your HOA has the authority to charge you a fee to review design plans, please reference your HOAs governing documents (CC&Rs, etc). Landscaping Standards & Guidelines: Section IV. Any areas where natural grass can be removed will cut down on water usage. In some cases, it could be because the HOA doesnt have all the facts regarding the benefits of artificial grass installation. If youre still having issues, email us and well contact your HOA on your behalf. Can they do that? When new laws pass that impact associations and planned communities specifically, it is advisable to review your covenants, conditions and restrictions (CC&Rs) to make sure there are no rules that need to be updated. If none of the above methods work, then consider joining your HOAs board. When the association sees the wider picture and realizes that you have a professional on your side, it may be enough to persuade them to change their thoughts. Pets: Certain pets or animals may not be welcome in some neighborhoods, such as backyard chicken coops that might create a farm-like atmosphere. OWNERPORTAL | GETAFREEHOAANALYSIS | CAREERS | CALL(530)4196032, August 4, 2015 / by These additions are described below: 1. with questions. The request should include the following: A. Under Section 4735 of the California Civil Code, provisions of an HOAs government documents (CC&Rs, etc) which prohibit the use of artificial turf or low water-using plants as a group are void and unenforceable. There are a couple of downsides to artificial turf. Associations can also prohibit the installation of artificial turf if they have unique vegetation and geologic characteristics that require preservation by the association. In Tucson, for example, there is a lot of natural landscaping that is part of the overall appearance of the community. There is no need to spend Saturday watering, weeding and mowing the lawn when you have artificial turf. The bill is sponsored by the San Diego Water Authority and supported by many other authorities, agencies and districts. Click to enable/disable _gid - Google Analytics Cookie. installation are for any existing developed landscaped areas on the lot; whether Otherwise you will be prompted again when opening a new browser window or new a tab. California also created a drought bill, Assembly Bill 349, that prohibits California HOAs from imposing unreasonable restrictions on artificial turf installation. In cases that we have our service team in your area, we can even visit your HOA at their meetings to present our company and products. Artificial turf is an unusual topic for the HOA board because it doesn't fall under what they typically discuss during a meeting. We can even chat with them to present them with some examples so they can see and feel how realistic they are. weight permanent backing. Fencing, installing garages or sheds, and their sizes may need prior approval from the HOA. Require that the grass has a high-quality appearance and follows local ordinances for drainage, permeability, and other aspects. [2] Homeowners must still follow HOA rules and guidelines regarding landscape design, as long as the guidelines do not violate the laws established in Section 4735 of the Civil Code, which allows for low water-use plants, artificial turf, and the elimination of watering vegetation or lawns. However, this year California is in the midst of a major drought. This also applies to the type of landscaping that can be installed in front of a residence. We have the best artificial grass on the market. Yes, IRWD actively works with and educates HOAs on the importance of reducing water use, especially when state-mandated water use reductions are in place. There would be some limits on what homeowners would be allowed to do. Artificial turf is to be contained with one of the following: concrete header, brick header, grouted stone, or steel edging set flush with grade. What Makes Our Artificial Grass Installations the Best? Would love your thoughts, please comment. Some rules can relate to: Paints: A HOA board may ask the homeowners to submit their paint color choices for approval. Synthetic turf surfaces have substantially higher surface temperatures than natural turfgrasses thereby destroying beneficial microbes in the soil. A sample of the product including model name and style, Complete product specification sheet from the manufacturer, The manufacturers warranty on the product being submitted, Photo(s) of the area to be covered by the artificial grass, Photo(s) of proximity areas as well as description of the method of installation. Planned communities can prohibit the installation of artificial turf in the following circumstances: If the planned community has banned new installation of natural grass on member properties, it can also ban installation of artificial turf. We will gladly speak to your management and explain. In the event that your HOAs guidelines are unclear, or if your HOA forbids artificial grass installation, hope is not lost. Three-color turf provides the most realistic-looking grass, so HOAs may want to mandate the use of two-colour or three-colour grass. Well HOAs are different from one to another. Thats because its always green. Nylon tends to deteriorate faster than other materials, and should be avoided. *Please be sure to follow your HOA's procedures for landscape renovation and design approval before starting any garden design or turf removal project.*. Whenever you live in an area with a Homeowners Association, any projects you have for the exterior of your home must be authorized by them. Some of the HOAs have less strict rules. Kavanagh says the limits are unfounded as there are many benefits for using the artificial alternative . Planned communities can adopt and enforce reasonable regulations regarding installation, aesthetics, and appearance of the artificial turf, as long as those rules do not prevent installing artificial turf the same way that natural grass is allowed by the community documents. the unapproved Artificial Turf; in the imposition of fines; or any other remedies available to the Committee or the Association by law. Please, check your mailbox for a temporary password. For the first time ever in August 2021, the Bureau of Reclamation announced a water shortage at Lake Mead and mandatory water restrictions were put in place for Arizona, Nevada and Mexico. Does your homeowners association have guidelines/specifications for installation of artificial turf? These cookies collect information that is used either in aggregate form to help us understand how our website is being used or how effective our marketing campaigns are, or to help us customize our website and application for you in order to enhance your experience. HOA Manager. Artificial turf varies in manufacturing quality, life, and durability.