Most people in my experience have no idea of the myriad of laws that restrict what they can do with their property. In some states, you can’t dig a whole more than 6-inches deep in your own yard without calling a utility locate company. Trust me when I say private property owners don’t know that that is actually the law and when told think it is absurd (which it is). Most cities have ordinances preventing a property owner from cutting down the trees in their yard, or once a tree cutting permit is obtained (for a nominal fee) the property owner is required to spend additional money to mitigate the removal of said tree. Usually inch for inch or a fee-in-lieu determined on a per inch basis.
The big city I currently live in as well as other big cities I’ve lived in have a book larger than a telephone book with rules and regulations detailing what one can and cannot do with their property. Mind you if you try to develop your own property you will find out very quickly that the city or county you live in can demand all kinds of improvements to their infrastructure should it be deemed necessary. They can even demand you deed over some of your property to the City for future infrastructure improvements.
So when I came across this story by Amina Khan in the LA times about a dispute between the City of Orange and couple who tore out their lawn and put in drought resistant plants and bark chips, I thought there could be some grist for the mill.
Some Southern California cities fine residents for watering their lawns too much during droughts.
But in Orange, officials are locked in a legal battle with a couple accused of violating city ordinances for removing their lawn in an attempt to save water.
I don’t necessarily agree with this couple’s motives for wanting to save water, but I believe that they should have the right to modify their yard in such a way if that is their desire. In fact I would be happy to see more people in arid climates ditch their lawns for low water alternatives. Some desert landscaping is actually quite nice when done properly. I don’t know how the utility set up is in Orange, but I do wonder if the City bills the homeowners for their water usage. An 80% reduction is pretty substantial.
UPDATE: More absurdity over at The Other McCain.
