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SUSTAINABILITY - ACTION ITEM - (1) Discuss a Presentation by the Current Planning Division on a Zoning Code Amendment to the Landscaping Ordinance; (2) Discuss a Presentation Regarding a Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District Study; (3) Discuss Options Regarding Regulation of Artificial Turf; and (4) Provide Direction to Staff.
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Meeting Date: August 25, 2026
Contact Person: Gabriel Barreras, Senior Planner, Current Planning Division
Sean Singletary, Public Works Department, EPO
Contact: (310) 253-5776
(310) 253-6457
Fiscal Impact: Yes [ ] No [X] General Fund: Yes [ ] No [X]
Attachments: Yes [X] No [ ]
Public Notification: Email via GovDelivery (08/20/2026): Meetings and Agendas - Sustainability Subcommittee, Parks, Recreation, and Community Services Commission; Stay Informed - Community Gardening, Sustainability and Environmental Issues, Urban Forest Management, Environmental Programs and Events
Dept Approval: Emily Stadnicki, Planning & Development Director (08/20/2026)
Nick Zornes, Acting Public Works Director (08/20/2026)
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RECOMMENDATION
The Standing Sustainability Subcommittee will:
• receive, discuss, and provide direction to staff regarding the status of a draft Zoning Code Amendment to the City’s Landscape Ordinance;
• receive and discuss a presentation from a representative of the Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District regarding an ongoing study comparing grass and artificial turf field surfaces; and
• receive and discuss the options regarding regulation and enforcement of artificial turf and provide direction to staff and/or make a recommendation to City Council.
BACKGROUND/DESCRIPTION
The City’s current Landscape Ordinance, codified in CCMC Section 17.310, was last updated on September 9, 2024, as part of the City’s comprehensive Zoning Code Update. Since that time, staff from Planning and Development, Parks, Recreation and Community Services, and Environmental Programs and Operations (EPO) have continued to coordinate on potential updates to the Landscape Ordinance. These updates are intended to incorporate emerging best management practices, improve clarity and consistency, and further align the City’s landscape regulations with State requirements and the goals and policies of the General Plan, as described below.
Best Management Practices
The proposed Zoning Code Amendment would further clarify the Landscape Ordinance by establishing and incorporating new definitions, including:
• Graywater;
• Ground Cover;
• Ornamental Feature;
• Hardscape and Softscape Areas;
• New and Rehabilitated Landscape Areas;
• Planters, including removable/temporary and permanent planters; and
• Turf, including natural and artificial turf.
The proposed amendment would codify several best management practices to improve the clarity, consistency, and effectiveness of the City’s landscape regulations, such as:
• Clarifications of Landscape Plan submittal requirements;
• Codified standards consistent with the California Model Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance (MWELO);
• Increasing the ratio of minimum tree sizes to support greater health and resilience of new landscape projects; and
• Promoting the use of drought-tolerant and native plant species through the Water Use Classification of Landscape Species (WUCOLS) and California Native Plant Society (Calscape) databases.
Native Species Requirement
City staff have been asked to explore the opportunity to establish a native planting requirement for new development. Currently, relatively few California cities have adopted requirements specifically addressing the use of native plant species. Based on staff’s research, Culver City would be among the first jurisdiction in the state to establish such a requirement. The following cities have or are considering native plant species requirements:
• Encinitas adopted a 50% native planting requirement in 2026;
• San Clemente adopted a 60% requirement in 2022;
• Rio Dell adopted a 25% requirement in 2020;
• Fullerton has required native plants since 2009 without specifying a minimum percentage; and
• Los Angeles is also considering a native planting requirement within its Wildlife Overlay District, although that regulation remains in draft form.
City staff are currently evaluating pragmatic levels of native plants to be required locally, as well as what types of uses or development will be subject to such provisions. Additionally, City staff have conducted outreach to several local and regional nurseries, who confirmed their ability to source and supply natives, depending on seasonal and supply-chain constraints.
Artificial Turf
Lastly, Culver City’s Landscape Ordinance prohibits the use of artificial shrubs, ground cover, and turf. Artificial turf may provide certain benefits, including reduced water consumption, lower routine maintenance requirements, faster field recovery following use, a consistent playing surface, and a year-round appearance. Its use also presents several environmental and sustainability concerns, including the potential for microplastics in stormwater, end-of-life disposal and waste management, manufacturing impacts, the replacement of living soil and vegetation and associated habitat, and increased surface temperatures resulting from heat buildup.
Currently, State Assembly Bill 1423 limits California cities and counties, K-12 public and private schools, and public and private institutions of higher education from purchasing or installing artificial turf/synthetic surfaces containing regulated PFAS. However, there has been renewed interest in revisiting artificial turf options as new materials are becoming available for use.
At present, the Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District (District) is undertaking a public process to evaluate the use of natural grass versus artificial turf on District school fields. The discussion was initially prompted by the Franklin Elementary School modernization project, which included consideration of replacing an existing grass/dirt field with an artificial turf field. As part of this evaluation, the District considered a newer generation of artificial turf developed by TenCate that utilizes an advanced stitching technology designed to eliminate the need for infill material.
The District had previously transitioned away from traditional crumb-rubber infill in favor of organic cork infill, which offers environmental benefits and is generally considered to have a low toxicity profile. The TenCate product under consideration represents a further evolution in artificial turf technology, with potential advantages related to environmental performance, playability, and player safety. A representative from the District will provide additional information.
City Council Directive
At the October 13, 2025 City Council meeting, the City Council discussed and provided direction to staff regarding multiple proposed restrictions recommended by the Sustainability Subcommittee, specifically restrictions of balloons, plastic carry-out bags, smoking, and single-use plastic bottles. City Council sent the restrictions back to the Sustainability Subcommittee for additional recommendations regarding how these restrictions would be enforced. At that meeting, City Council also added a prohibition of artificial turf for research and recommendation by staff and the Subcommittee.
At their January 8, 2026 and March 12, 2026 Sustainability Subcommittee meetings, although the Subcommittee deferred discussion of artificial turf regulations generally to a later meeting, they did discuss possible enforcement strategies for all the proposed bans. Members expressed a preference for a combination of Complaint-Led Enforcement and Inspection-Led Enforcement, as well as proactive educational outreach. Members also expressed a preference for the 18-month phase in and a hardship waiver for all proposed bans, as suggested by City Council.
Subcommittee Considerations
As Culver City continues to prepare a draft Zoning Code Amendment of the Landscape Ordinance for a potential Planning Commission hearing on September 23, 2026, staff welcomes questions and direction from the Standing Sustainability Subcommittee regarding the Ordinance generally.
Regarding artificial turf specifically, staff recommends the Sustainability Subcommittee (1) make final recommendations regarding regulation of artificial turf and enforcement; and (2) direct staff to present Subcommittee recommendations to City Council.
Staff recommends using the Landscape Ordinance as the vehicle to regulate artificial turf.
Staff presents the following options, individually or in combination, for consideration for inclusion in the Landscape Ordinance:
• A comprehensive ban of artificial turf for all uses;
• A comprehensive ban of artificial turf for all uses by Culver City but allowing private use;
• A ban of artificial turf for all uses with defined exceptions for specific material types;
• A ban of specific material types of artificial turf and/or uses;
• A comprehensive ban on the sale of artificial turf in Culver City;
• A ban on the sale of artificial turf with defined exceptions for specific material types.
Members may also discuss and direct staff regarding enforcement strategies for artificial turf regulations. Members previously expressed a preference for a combination of Complaint-Led Enforcement and Inspection-Led Enforcement, as well as proactive educational outreach.
ATTACHMENTS/LINKS
• SMMUSD: Long-term Considerations of Natural Grass & Artificial Turf Fields <https://drive.google.com/file/d/1kXRZhCSmM0qNWbJbyv_R29RZWQegVlE_/view>
FISCAL IMPACT
The fiscal impact of artificial turf regulations to the City depends on the chosen enforcement strategy. Complaint-Led Enforcement and Inspection-Led Enforcement Strategies, as well as any significant educational outreach efforts, may require additional budgeted resources in the Public Works EPO Division and Code Enforcement to provide effective enforcement.