HOAs cannot prohibit water efficent landscaping
“Effective January 1, 2010, Assembly Bill 1061 makes any provision of the governing documents of a common interest development void and unenforceable if it prohibits the use of low water-using plants as a group, or if it has the effect of prohibiting or restricting compliance with a local water-efficient landscape ordinance or water conservation measure. In other words, Home Owners Associations (HOAs) can no longer force homeowners to maintain lush green lawns if the homeowners prefer other low water-using plants.” – Sonia M. Younglove, Esq., C.A.R. senior counsel
It’s pretty obvious to those in the know about water that our landscaping won’t look like the images above and will change dramatically over the coming years in Orange County, CA. Installation costs are expected to nearly double due to more sophisticated watering systems along with water prices that are rising as quickly as our National Debt. Just kidding, nothing is exploding upwards quicker than the US Debt.
More and more Orange County homeowners will begin to embrace the ideas of rainwater harvesting guru Brad Landcaster and Orange County’s own Reggie Durant of Back to Natives. Their deep understanding of the nurturing of our soil and link to local ecology has been off the radar for long enough.
The commercial landscapers who jump on this niche 1st and show the proposed maintenance and water savings achievable by pursuing drought tolerant and native landscaping will reap some serious installation contract awards. Of course they’ll also be selling themselves out of a monthly paycheck. Where will they send their gas powered mowers and their ear busting leaf blowers? Think about that owners of homes who’s landscaping is controlled by an HOA!!
1 Comment
Kevin
June 22, 2010Very, very good post.
Love the last 2 sentences, but there is an alternative to gas powered mowers and noisy leaf blowers.
Clean Air Lawn Care is here in Orange County and offers clean and quite lawn maintenance for those of you that going drought tolerant and native is not yet an option.
We use electric equipment that is 100% solar powered and 50%-70% quiter then our gas counter parts.
If you have any questions in regard to our services or what you can do to yourself to maintain your lawn in a more sustainable fashion, please contact me or even contact Evan, he has my contact info, I’d love to talk to you.
We also offer organic fertilization options for turf and your precious plants.
Great work in spreading knowledge Permaculture….Keep it up!