Commercial property managers in the Rancho Water service area have until Dec. 7 to RSVP for a free workshop on California's ban on watering decorative grass.

Rancho California Water District, led by General Manager Jason Martin, is hosting the lunch-and-learn to help managers of commercial, industrial and institutional properties plan for compliance with Assembly Bill 1572 (AB 1572). The district has not posted the workshop's date, time or location. Registration and details are available on the district's workshop page. Lunch is first-come, first-served.

AB 1572 prohibits using drinking water to irrigate nonfunctional turf on non-residential properties. The State Water Resources Control Board defines nonfunctional turf as mowed grass not in a recreational use area or community space. That covers ornamental lawns in medians, parkways and areas around office parks or shopping centers.

Grass used for sports, playgrounds, pet exercise, community gatherings or civic events is exempt.

The law sets a phased compliance schedule. State and local government properties face a Jan. 1, 2027, deadline. Commercial, industrial and institutional properties must comply by Jan. 1, 2028. HOA common areas, mobile home parks and retirement community common areas have until Jan. 1, 2029. Government properties in disadvantaged communities have until Jan. 1, 2031, or when funding becomes available.

The law does not apply to residential customers, according to the district. Single-family homes are exempt, including those inside an HOA. Front and back yards tied to single-family homes are not considered HOA common areas under the law.

Churches fall under the commercial category and must comply by Jan. 1, 2028, according to Riverside's AB 1572 guidance page. Buildings of five or more units are not classified as single-family residential, so their common-area turf is subject to the ban. Buildings of four units or fewer are considered residential and exempt.

Properties with more than 5,000 square feet of nonfunctional turf must also submit a certification form to the State Water Resources Control Board, according to the Riverside guidance page.

Property managers in the Rancho Water service area can register on the district's website.