CEDAR CITY — Cedar City residents are now eligible for a statewide incentive to replace their lawns with waterwise landscaping after the City Council voted in favor of a new state-approved ordinance.
The new ordinance was initially unveiled at the May 17 City Council meeting and explained by City Planner Don Boudreau, who said its adoption would allow Cedar City residents to qualify for Utah’s Landscape Conversion Incentive Program.
The program offers a rebate of $1.50 for each square foot of turf removed and replaced with waterwise landscaping, with a maximum of $50,000 per property, the Central Iron County Water Conservancy District said in a news release.
However, they reminded residents not to remove or kill grass before their application is approved and a site visit has been completed, as doing so could disqualify them.
Other eligible locations include St. George, Washington City, Ivins, LaVerkin, and Santa Clara.
Due to “unprecedented growth,” water supply is an “issue for every community in Utah,” and 60% of residential water use is for outdoor irrigation and landscape, according to the council packet.
Despite a record snowpack this year, the typically arid state has “experienced many recent years of drought.” Because of this, the Utah Division of Water Resources is promoting conservation through the Utah Water Savers program, which incentivizes replacing turf with waterwise plants, smart irrigation controllers and water-efficient toilets, among other efforts.
Cedar City is under a state Groundwater Management Plan and “over the next 50 years, the city could lose a significant amount of water rights,” and water issues are expected to be resolved locally, Water Conservancy Board Member and Councilwoman Terri Hartley said in the release.
The new ordinance limits turf on front and side yards to 50%, which does not apply to lots with less than 250 square feet of landscaping. It prohibits grass within a park or mow strip. Lawns cannot be less than 8 feet wide at their narrowest point, Boudreau said. There is no limit placed on lawns in backyards.
For commercial, industrial, or multifamily developments, grass cannot exceed 20% of the space outside of active recreation areas like playgrounds, he added.
The new ordinance applies to new construction and doesn’t impact existing homes.
Hartley said that locals stand to “save themselves money on new water billing tiers, beautify their yards, and reduce maintenance time.”
“Landscapes consume about half of our municipal water, and participation in the State turf removal incentive program is a great way to get a cash rebate to help cover your cost of renovation,” she added.
The conservancy suggests residents that remove their turf use Localscapes principles to design a waterwise yard, according to the release.
The five-step design method was created for Utah’s climate, and those interested can find classes online or join the conservancy each spring for an in-person class.
The Cedar City Council approved the new ordinance unanimously on May 24.
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