1     
LANDSCAPING REQUIREMENT PROHIBITION

2     
2022 GENERAL SESSION

3     
STATE OF UTAH

4     
Chief Sponsor: Raymond P. Ward

5     
Senate Sponsor: ____________

6     

7     LONG TITLE
8     General Description:
9          This bill addresses the planting and maintaining of lawn or turf.
10     Highlighted Provisions:
11          This bill:
12          ▸     prohibits certain government or private entities from requiring a property owner or
13     resident to plant or maintain lawn or turf.
14     Money Appropriated in this Bill:
15          None
16     Other Special Clauses:
17          None
18     Utah Code Sections Affected:
19     ENACTS:
20          10-9a-535, Utah Code Annotated 1953
21          17-27a-531, Utah Code Annotated 1953
22          57-8a-231, Utah Code Annotated 1953
23          57-16-20, Utah Code Annotated 1953
24     

25     Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
26          Section 1. Section 10-9a-535 is enacted to read:
27          10-9a-535. Lawn requirements.

28          (1) As used in this section:
29          (a) Except as provided in Subsection (1)(b), "lawn or turf" means nonagricultural land
30     planted in closely mowed, managed grasses.
31          (b) "Lawn or turf" does not include a golf course, park, athletic field, or sod farm.
32          (2) A municipality may not enact or enforce an ordinance, resolution, or policy that
33     requires, or has the effect of requiring, a property owner to plant or maintain lawn or turf on the
34     property owner's property.
35          Section 2. Section 17-27a-531 is enacted to read:
36          17-27a-531. Lawn requirements.
37          (1) As used in this section:
38          (a) Except as provided in Subsection (1)(b), "lawn or turf" means nonagricultural land
39     planted in closely mowed, managed grasses.
40          (b) "Lawn or turf" does not include a golf course, park, athletic field, or sod farm.
41          (2) A county may not enact or enforce an ordinance, resolution, or policy that requires,
42     or has the effect of requiring, a property owner to plant or maintain lawn or turf on the property
43     owner's property.
44          Section 3. Section 57-8a-231 is enacted to read:
45          57-8a-231. Lawn requirements.
46          (1) As used in this section:
47          (a) Except as provided in Subsection (1)(b), "lawn or turf" means nonagricultural land
48     planted in closely mowed, managed grasses.
49          (b) "Lawn or turf" does not include a golf course, park, athletic field, or sod farm.
50          (2) An association may not enact or enforce a governing document that requires, or has
51     the effect of requiring, a lot owner of a detached dwelling to plant or maintain lawn or turf on
52     the lot owner's property.
53          Section 4. Section 57-16-20 is enacted to read:
54          57-16-20. Lawn requirements.
55          (1) As used in this section:
56          (a) (i) Except as provided in Subsection (1)(a)(ii), "lawn or turf" means nonagricultural
57     land planted in closely mowed, managed grasses.
58          (ii) "Lawn or turf" does not include a golf course, park, athletic field, or sod farm.

59          (b) "Park operator" means an owner, operator, or manager of a mobile home park,
60     including an employee, agent, or independent contractor of the owner, operator, or manager.
61          (2) Notwithstanding Subsection 57-16-7(3), a park operator may not require, or adopt a
62     rule that has the effect of requiring, a mobile park resident to plant or maintain lawn or turf on
63     the property that the mobile park resident leases or rents.