Real Estate & Property Law

Artificial Grass for HOAs and Condos - Which Side Are You On?

California Assembly Bill 1793 would prevent HOAs and Condos from prohibiting artificial grass products in landscape plans.

The bill is aimed at reducing irrigation water consumption by homeowners in homeowners associations. It targets HOAs.

There are some very nice products available produced by companies like Heavenly Greens. Many interested in "greening" America and preserving natural resources have installed the grass systems and are very thrilled with the result. The installation has a hefty up front cost, but the company tracks return on investment and it seems very reasonable.

There are people that are opposed as well. There are many association Boards that would not want to allow artificial turf, and some that have engaged in litigation to get stubborn owners who have installed Astrofurf in their yards to remove it. Let's face it, there is a BIG DIFFERENCE between Astroturf and Heavenly Greens!

There is a group that is fighting for HOAs that want to prohibit the product, and that has investigated the other side - leaching chemicals. Per the Community Associations Institute -California Legislative Action Committee -

"...the bill has a huge unintended consequence... some turf products contain lead chromate and several other hazardous substances and should not be installed. Associations should be able to ban the toxic turf products.

During the rain season these substances can run off the yards into the community and city water supply, polluting them. Skin contact among children and pets will also be extremely dangerous if there is hand-to-mouth contact.

The presence of these hazardous substances has been firmly established in tests conducted by environmental quality testing labs. And, the California Attorney General recently concluded its successful litigation against some of the turf manufacturers."

Which side are you on? You can email me through the California Condo Guru Website and let me know!

And you can review the research prepared by CAI-CLAC and weigh in on their website, which to date seems to be largely ignored by legislators focussed on the water preservation aspects.

Full post as published by California Condo & HOA Law on September 09, 2010 (boomark / email).