Do you have fake grass in your front yard? If you live in Salt Lake City, listen up: You have until this fall to remove it. Here's what you need to know about the city's artificial turf rule.
Why Now?
Actually, Salt Lake City has had a ban on artificial turf in front and corner yards and park strips since 1995. But the city council recently approved a new landscaping ordinance that requires property owners to comply with the rule by Sept. 18, 2025, or risk paying fines.
What’s So Bad About Artificial Turf?
Sure, the fake stuff seems like a convenient, low-maintenance landscaping option, but the (synthetic) grass isn't always greener *ba-dum-tist*. The Salt Lake City Planning Division cites three main problems with artificial turf:
🥵 Heat: It warms up our neighborhoods by holding onto heat.
🗑️ Pollution: It leaches microplastics and other chemicals into the water supply.
🌊 Flooding: It doesn't absorb water, so it increases the risk of flooding.
Who's Impacted?
The ordinance applies to all properties — residential and commercial — within Salt Lake City's boundaries, and the city could charge owners $50-$200 per day for breaking the rule. A spokesperson for the Community and Neighborhoods Department said the city is currently tracking 87 non-compliant properties.
What To Replace It With
So, you have to tear out your artificial turf. But that doesn't mean you can't still have a beautiful, waterwise yard. If you want to keep it green, consider tall fescue or clover. You could also take inspo from our desert landscape and install rocks, or xeriscape it with native plants.
If you're looking for new plants to, well, plant, check out Red Butte Garden's spring plant sale May 9 and 10 or Wasatch Community Garden's May 10.
Correction: We originally reported the wrong date for Wasatch Community Garden's plant sale.
