No grass landscaping in Henderson,NV.
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Streetscape desert landscaping in Henderson,NV.
Image of desert landscaping at Henderson, NV business.

Government » Departments » Utility Services » Water Conservation

Nonfunctional Grass Law

With ongoing drought conditions affecting water levels at Lake Mead the nonfunctional grass law is aimed at increasing efficient water use throughout Southern Nevada. Nonfunctional, decorative grass must be removed by December 31, 2026.

What Does the Nonfunctional Grass Law Mean?

Who the Law
Impacts

The law applies to commercial properties, HOAs and multi-family developments and will save about 10 percent of the community’s water supply.

Start Your Plan
Now

Business owners and managers of industrial, commercial and office park properties, HOAs, churches, etc. should start making plans now to eliminate the largest water consumer from their property portfolios: useless, water-thirsty grass.

No Watering Streetscape Grass

The nonfunctional grass law prohibits the use of water delivered by SNWA’s member agencies to irrigate decorative grass in streetscapes, medians, parking lots, and other areas where it is used for aesthetics and not recreational purposes by the end of 2026.

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Don’t Miss the Deadline for the Nonfunctional Grass Law!

The Nonfunctional Grass Law takes effect on January 1, 2027, and Colorado River water will no longer be permitted for irrigating decorative (nonfunctional) grass. This important change will help our community reduce overall water use by more than 10%. Let’s all do our part to protect this precious resource and start planning now.


Who Needs to Take Action?
Why Act Now?
Protecting Trees During Conversion

Are Waivers Available?

Any establishment may apply for a waiver for functional grass that provides a recreational benefit to the community and meets the functional grass definition.

For information about the waiver process, visit snwa.com.

Waiver applications must demonstrate grass substantially complies with the Functional Turf definition as indicated by:

  • Activity type
  • Activity appropriate dimensions
  • Number of persons served and use frequency
  • Location in proximity to similar turf areas
  • Public access and proximity to roadways
  • Presence of facilities and/or other recreational amenities
  • Irrigation efficiency
What Assistance is Available?

The Southern Nevada Water Authority (SNWA) offers: 

  • For functional grass: $3 per square foot of grass removed and replaced with desert landscaping up to the first 10,000 square feet converted, and $1.50 per square foot thereafter per property.
  • For non-functional grass: $2 per square foot of grass removed and replaced with desert landscaping up to the first 10,000 square feet converted, and $1 per square foot thereafter per property. 

Understanding Nonfunctional Grass vs. Functional Grass

Definition of Nonfunctional Grass

“Nonfunctional grass” or "decorative grass" means an irrigated grass area not providing functional use. Areas of nonfunctional turf include, but are not limited to:


Streetscape Turf: Grass located along public or private streets, streetscape sidewalks, driveways and parking lots, including turf within a community, park and business streetscape frontage areas, medians, and roundabouts.

Frontage, Courtyard, Interior and Building-Adjacent Turf: Grass in front of, between, behind or otherwise adjacent to a building or buildings located on a property not zoned exclusively for single-family residence, including maintenance and common areas.

Certain HOA-Managed Landscape Areas: Turf managed by a homeowner association that does not provide a recreational benefit to the community or that otherwise does not qualify as Functional Turf, regardless of property zoning.

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Definition of Functional Grass

“Functional grass” means an irrigated grass area that provides a recreational benefit to the community and is:

Located at least 10 feet from a street, installed on slopes less than 25 percent and not installed within street medians, along streetscapes or at the front of entryways to parks, commercial sites, neighborhoods, or subdivisions.

Active/Programmed Recreation Turf, athletic fields, designated use area turf, golf course play areas, some pet relief turf, playground turf or resident area turf.

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Additional Functional Grass Definitions

The following are abbreviated definitions. For a complete list of definitions and clarifications, visit snwa.com.


Active/Programmed Recreation: Grass used for recreation that is 1,500 contiguous square feet or greater; co-located with facilities; located at least 10 feet from a street or interior-facing parking lot.

Athletic Field: Grass used for sports or physical education that is 1,500 contiguous square feet or greater; not less than 30 feet in any dimension; and located at a school, daycare, religious institution, recreation center, senior center, park or water park.

Designated Use Area: Grass designated for special use at cemeteries and mortuaries.

Golf Course Play Area: Grass in driving ranges, chipping and putting greens, tee boxes, greens, fairways and rough.

Pet Relief Area: Grass at a property providing commercial and retail services for pets, such as veterinarian and boarding facilities. The area must not exceed 200 square feet.

Playground: Grass in designated play areas with playground amenities, including but not limited to slides, swings and climbing structures on homeowner association owned/managed property or at a public park, water park, school, daycare, recreation center or religious institution. Playground turf may be located less than 10 feet from a street if fenced.

Resident Area: Grass up to 150 square feet per dwelling unit at multi-family residential properties, commercial/multi-family mixed use properties, extended stay hotels/motels, or assisted living and rehabilitation centers used by tenants for recreation or leisure. May not be located in parking lots, streetscapes or other non-accessible areas.

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