Washington County Artificial Turf Guide (2026)

Updated October 22, 2026. This guide is general information, not legal or engineering advice. Rules change, so confirm with the agency listed before you start work.

Quick reference

Topic	What to know	Source
Grass incentive	$3 per sq ft of living grass replaced; no incentive for turf itself	WCWCD
Current rate terms	$3 on the first 1,000 sq ft for projects finished by June 1, 2027, then $2 unless the board acts	Salt Lake Tribune (June 2026)
Turf in a conversion	Allowed in place of mulch only if permeable to air and water	WCWCD
Plant cover	At least 50% of the converted area at maturity, with drip irrigation	WCWCD
Before you start	Apply, get a site visit and wait for approval before removing grass	WCWCD
New St. George homes	Lawn capped at 8% of lot (with set maximums); none in park strips, areas under 8 ft wide or slopes over 15%	City of St. George
Contractor licensing	Utah DOPL; S330 covers land prep, lawns and sprinkler systems	Utah Admin. Code R156-55a

Why is the county paying people to remove grass?

Washington County is in the Mojave Desert's northeast corner, with St. George's average July high near 102°F and normal yearly rain under ten inches. KUER reported in August 2025 that the Virgin River, the county's primary water source, is described by the district as essentially tapped out, and that the whole county had been in severe or extreme drought since January 2025. The district's grass-replacement program had replaced about 2.9 million square feet of turf grass across roughly 2,300 projects since late 2022, saving an estimated 125 million gallons a year.

Does the water district's program pay for artificial turf?

No. The district's Water Efficient Landscape Program page says no incentive is paid for turf itself. Turf may be used in place of mulch only if it is permeable to air and water, and plant-cover and drip irrigation requirements still apply. Only living grass qualifies for removal credit, and replacing high-water grass with lower-water grass doesn't count. In 2024 the Deseret News quoted a state spokesman saying Washington County was the only area then allowing artificial turf in the state's Landscape Incentive Program.

What are the program's main requirements?

Apply before you dig. Submit the application, complete a pre-conversion site visit, and wait for the approval email. The district says starting before approval makes the project ineligible.
Plant cover. Plants must cover at least 50% of the converted area at maturity. Each tree counts as 350 square feet; each shrub, groundcover or perennial counts as 35 square feet. Existing plants you keep count.
Drip irrigation with a filter and a pressure regulating valve.
Mulch. Required. Ungrouted pavers or flagstone can count; concrete and other impermeable surfaces earn nothing and are subtracted from the eligible area. Weed barriers, if used, must be permeable.
Conservation easement. A perpetual easement over the converted area, notarized and recorded with the Washington County Recorder. It bars irrigated lawn, spray irrigation, pools and water features in that area.
Payment. Typically within 60 days of finishing and submitting paperwork. Rentals, second homes and commercial properties provide a W-9 and receive a 1099.

What do St. George's landscape rules say?

St. George's landscape certification for new single-family homes, and remodels that grow the footprint, limits total lawn to 8% of the lot, up to 1,500 square feet on lots up to 20,000 square feet and 2,000 square feet on larger lots, with lots under 7,500 square feet allowed up to 600 square feet. Lawn is prohibited in park strips, in landscape areas less than eight feet wide and on slopes over 15%. At least 30% of the front yard must be landscaped within a year of occupancy, half of it with live vegetation, and the lot needs at least two water-conserving trees. If the landscape is modified later, a new plan must be submitted. The form doesn't define whether synthetic turf counts as lawn, so ask the city. The district notes that the county's largest cities adopted similar ordinances in 2022 and that each city enforces its own.

How hot does turf get?

The New York State Department of Health's synthetic turf fact sheet summarizes a BYU study that found an average turf surface temperature of 117°F, a maximum of 200°F, and 78°F on natural grass. Watering cut the turf's temperature from 174°F to 85°F, but it rose to 120°F within five minutes. Plan shade over play and pet areas, and check the surface before kids or dogs use it on summer afternoons.

Who can install turf in Utah?

Utah licenses construction trades through DOPL. The S330 Landscape and Recreation Contractor scope in Utah Administrative Code R156-55a includes grading and preparing land for decorative treatment, planting lawns, and installing sprinkler systems; electrical and plumbing work is excluded unless subcontracted to the proper license. Ask for a license number and verify it with DOPL.

Questions to ask a turf installer

What's your Utah license number?
How deep will you excavate, and what base will you use?
Is this turf permeable, and will the design meet the water district's rules if I'm applying?
What infill do you recommend for heat, pets or play?
What's covered by the manufacturer's warranty and what's covered by yours?

Common questions

Does the Washington County water district pay for artificial turf?

No. It pays for living grass replaced with water-efficient landscaping. Permeable turf can be used in place of mulch, but plant-cover and drip rules still apply.

Can I remove my lawn before applying for the incentive?

No. The district says starting before approval and the pre-conversion site visit makes the project ineligible.

How much lawn can a new St. George home have?

Up to 8% of the lot, capped at 1,500 square feet on lots up to 20,000 square feet and 2,000 on larger lots; lots under 7,500 square feet can have up to 600.

Washington County artificial turf guide (2026)