Danville To Review Turf Replacement Plan

DANVILLE, CA — The Danville Town Council will consider a resolution approving a strategic plan to remove and replace non-functional turf with drought-tolerant, water-efficient landscaping at its meeting tomorrow.

The Camino Tassajara Master Landscaping Plan will establish design standards, land palettes, and irrigation strategies to comply with Assembly Bill 1572, which prohibits the use of potable water for irrigating non-functional turf in public spaces by Jan. 1, 2027.

Danville is required to remove what is known as non-functional turf, which is most often grass landscaping strips between sidewalks and streets. Functional turf that does not need to be replaced includes turfs on parks, sports fields, and other recreational and community gathering spaces.

Commercial properties must replace non-functional turf by 2028, and private roadsides managed by homeowner's associations must comply by 2029. Private residential landscaping is not affected by this law.

According to a town staff report, the town allocated $250,000 for the Non-Functional Turf Replacement Project in its 2025-26 budget. This includes a total of$162,890 to Callender Associates Landscape Architecture, Inc. to lead the design work, a firm that has worked with the town before and brings experience in public landscaping, drought-friendly design, and irrigation planning.

The program will roll out in phases. It will begin with the section of non-functional turf on Camino Tassajara between Tassajara Lane and Sherburne Hills Road, followed by an adjacent site between Tassajara Lane and Hill Meadow Drive. Work will include replanting the area between the sidewalk and street with plants like rose bushes.

See the agenda item for more information, which includes the resolution the council is expected to approve.

See danville.ca.gov/turf for more information, including phased dates for other types of properties. Residents can also use the site to provide feedback on the law directly to state legislators, and subscribe to updates about this and other legislation affecting Danville.

See here for Tuesday's full agenda.