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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 meet certain landscaping requirements; and
14 ▸ directs the government or private entities to provide landscaping alternatives.
15 Money Appropriated in this Bill:
16 None
17 Other Special Clauses:
18 None
19 Utah Code Sections Affected:
20 ENACTS:
21 10-9a-535, Utah Code Annotated 1953
22 17-27a-531, Utah Code Annotated 1953
23 57-8a-231, Utah Code Annotated 1953
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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:
32 (i) golf course;
33 (ii) park;
34 (iii) athletic field;
35 (iv) sod farm;
36 (v) stormwater retention basin; or
37 (vi) shared recreational or common area in a multi-family housing development of five
38 acres or greater.
39 (2) A municipality may not enact an ordinance, resolution, or policy that requires, or
40 has the effect of requiring, a property owner to plant or maintain only lawn or turf on any
41 portion or percentage of the landscaped portion of the property owner's property.
42 (3) A municipality shall provide a property owner with landscaping alternatives to be
43 used in place of lawn or turf.
44 Section 2. Section 17-27a-531 is enacted to read:
45 17-27a-531. 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:
50 (i) golf course;
51 (ii) park;
52 (iii) athletic field;
53 (iv) sod farm;
54 (v) stormwater retention basin; or
55 (vi) shared recreational or common area in a multi-family housing development of five
56 acres or greater.
57 (2) A county may not enact an ordinance, resolution, or policy that requires, or has the
58 effect of requiring, a property owner to plant or maintain only lawn or turf on any portion or
59 percentage of the landscaped portion of the property owner's property.
60 (3) A county shall provide a property owner with landscaping alternatives to be used in
61 place of lawn or turf.
62 Section 3. Section 57-8a-231 is enacted to read:
63 57-8a-231. Lawn requirements.
64 (1) As used in this section:
65 (a) Except as provided in Subsection (1)(b), "lawn or turf" means nonagricultural land
66 planted in closely mowed, managed grasses.
67 (b) "Lawn or turf" does not include a:
68 (i) golf course;
69 (ii) park;
70 (iii) athletic field;
71 (iv) sod farm;
72 (v) stormwater retention basin; or
73 (vi) shared recreational or common area in a multi-family housing development of five
74 acres or greater.
75 (2) An association may not enact a governing document that requires, or has the effect
76 of requiring, a lot owner of a detached dwelling to plant or maintain only lawn or turf on any
77 portion or percentage of the landscaped portion of the lot owner's property.
78 (3) An association shall provide a lot owner with landscaping alternatives to be used in
79 place of lawn or turf.