Pasadena City Council Committee to Review State’s Residential Artificial Turf Regulations

The Pasadena City Council’s Municipal Services Committee is set to discuss the implications of Senate Bill (SB) 676 during its meeting on Tuesday, May 13. Signed into law by Gov. Gavin Newsom on Oct. 8, SB 676 allows cities and counties to ban or regulate the installation of artificial turf solely on residential properties. This reverses a previous law that prohibited such restrictions.

The committee may direct the Environmental Advisory Commission to further evaluate the bill and provide parameters for the Commission’s evaluation.

SB 676 does not affect the use of artificial turf on non-residential properties, such as public schools, parks, or commercial sites.

During a joint meeting of the Pasadena City Council with the Pasadena Unified School District Board on April 29, PUSD Board President Kimberly Kenne expressed concern about the potential broader impact of restricting artificial turf on the District’s maintenance and operations program.

The state bill, is narrowly focused on residential uses and does not apply to PUSD or other non-residential artificial turf installations, was introduced to address environmental and public health concerns associated with artificial turf used residentially, such as the presence of toxic chemicals like PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) and the release of microplastics that can pollute water sources and enter the food chain. Sen. Ben Allen, the bill’s author, stated that while the previous law aimed to encourage residential water conservation, emerging research revealed significant environmental problems with artificial turf products used in residential settings.

The new law empowers local governments to impose reasonable regulations or outright bans on residential artificial turf installations to manage environmental impacts.

The City of Pasadena has not taken any steps toward restricting the installation of synthetic turf on residential, commercial, or park properties.

The meeting will be held at Pasadena City Hall, Council Chamber, 100 North Garfield Avenue, Room S249. To join the meeting by computer or electronic devices, visit cityofpasadena.net/cczoom. To join by telephone only, dial 1-669-900-6833, Meeting ID: 161 482 446.