Low Cost Loans for Synthetic Turf

AB.474 allowed for public and quasi-public entities to provide low cost loans to property owners for products such as synthetic turf (and porous pavers, concrete and asphalt).

California's Governor Arnold Schwartzenegger has just signed into law two very important bills  that will benefit home and property owners across the state and continue to encourage citizens to consider options such as synthetic grass and artificial turf.

One bill provides low cost loans to property owners while the other limits and may void HOA and property management guidelines that may deter or restrict the use of water or energy efficient solutions and products (such as requiring that lawn turf be installed while not allowing for synthetic grass, as an alternative).

This bill would expand these provisions to authorize the legislative body of any public agency, as defined, to determine that it would be in the public interest to designate an area within which authorized city officials and free and willing property owners may enter into contractual assessments to finance the installation of water efficiency improvements that are permanently fixed to real property, as specified.

In addition AB.1061 may void existing governing documents (guidelines) of HOA & other common interest developments

This bill would provide that a provision of any of the governing documents of a common interest development shall be void and unenforceable if it prohibits, or includes conditions that have the effect of prohibiting, 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 described above.