Residential Artificial Turf

The West Valley City Council has passed an ordinance allowing for installation of artificial turf in residential areas.

WHERE CAN I INSTALL ARTIFICIAL TURF?

Artificial turf can be used anywhere on a residential lot except for the park strip, which is the area between the street and the sidewalk. When artificial turf is used in the front yard there must also be at least 15 percent live plant material.
Artificial turf should be kept at least 20 feet from any lawn that’s on the property.
When artificial turf is installed next to new trees or shrubs, a minimum of a 2-foot separation between the edge of the turf and tree trunks or shrubs should be maintained.

The selected material must have lifelike individual blades of grass that emulate natural turf in look and color. The use of indoor or outdoor plastic or nylon carpeting is not allowed.
Pile height must be at least 1.5 inches and have a face weight of 50 ounces per square yard.
A minimum eight-year manufacturer’s warranty that protects against color fading and decreased pile height is required.

A two-inch minimum layer of aggregate, such as compacted gravel or crushed stone, must be below the artificial turf.
Artificial turf must be anchored to withstand the effects of wind, and all seams must be nailed and glued, not sewn.
A solid barrier device such as a concrete mow strip, sidewalk, driveway, or bender board is required to separate artificial turf areas from planters, live vegetation, and property boundaries.
Artificial turf should be visually level, with the grain pointing in a single direction.
All edges must be trimmed to fit against all regular and irregular edges to resemble a natural look.
Proper grading, compaction, and drainage shall be provided to prevent excess runoff or pooling of water.
There must be a minimum water permeability of thirty inches per hour per square yard after installation.
Artificial turf needs to be cleaned regularly and maintained in an appropriate and neat manner. If it is worn, uneven, discolored, or damaged it needs to be replaced.

A simple, no-fee permit must be obtained from the City before artificial turf is installed. The following information should be provided in an email, with “Artificial Turf Permit” in the subject line, and sent to [email protected]:
- Property address
- Product specifications for the proposed artificial turf
- A simple site plan that shows areas where the artificial turf will be installed on the property. The site plan should also show all paved areas, areas of live plant material and other non-living landscaped areas such as bark or rock mulch.

Download an Artificial Turf information sheet here.