AI-generated summary, reviewed by Better Utah staff.

Starting January 1, 2027, this bill prohibits the use of overhead spray irrigation — traditional sprinkler systems — to water decorative grass that serves no practical purpose (such as grass in highway medians, park strips between the curb and sidewalk, parking lot islands, and commercial property frontages) on new or significantly redeveloped properties within the Great Salt Lake drainage area, which covers most of the Wasatch Front and surrounding valleys. Municipalities and counties must include a notice of this prohibition on land use approvals and permits, and are encouraged to review landscaping plans and inspect completed projects for compliance. The rule applies to commercial, industrial, multifamily, and common-area properties, but exempts single-family homes, agricultural land, schools, and government properties. Developers and property owners building or significantly renovating commercial and multifamily projects along the Wasatch Front will need to plan their landscaping without traditional sprinklers for purely decorative grass, likely pushing them toward water-efficient alternatives like drip irrigation or drought-tolerant plants.