If you’ve searched “artificial turf PFAS law California,” you’ve probably landed on conflicting answers. Some articles claim California banned PFAS in artificial turf starting January 1, 2026. Others say nothing has changed. Here’s the honest answer: California does not currently have a law banning PFAS in artificial turf, despite what a lot of 2026 headlines imply.
That confusion is understandable. Colorado and Vermont did pass real PFAS bans on artificial turf that took effect this year. California’s version of that bill, Assembly Bill 1423, passed the legislature back in 2023 but was vetoed by Governor Newsom before it ever became law. As a San Jose installer who has watched this issue since 2010, we think Bay Area homeowners deserve the real story, not a recycled headline.
This guide breaks down exactly where California’s PFAS regulation stands right now, what the state’s own toxics agency is actually doing about artificial turf, and how to make sure the turf going into your yard is safe regardless of what the law requires.
PFAS, short for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, are a group of manufactured chemicals nicknamed “forever chemicals” because they resist breaking down in the environment. They’ve shown up in some older artificial turf backing and infill materials, which is why parents, HOA boards, and school districts across the Bay Area have started asking questions before approving new installs.
Assemblymember Pilar Schiavo introduced AB 1423 in 2023 specifically to restrict PFAS in artificial turf and synthetic surfaces statewide. It cleared both the Assembly and Senate with strong support, passing 64-9 in a final vote. Governor Newsom vetoed it that October, citing a lack of designated regulatory oversight rather than disagreement with the underlying health concern.
For San Jose families with young kids or pets spending afternoons on a play area or backyard lawn, that regulatory gap can feel unsettling. It’s a fair concern, and it deserves a straight answer instead of a scary headline borrowed from a different state’s law.
Since the veto, California hasn’t passed a replacement bill specifically targeting PFAS in artificial turf. Instead, the state’s Department of Toxic Substances Control has been quietly working the issue through its Safer Consumer Products program. In February 2026, DTSC published a technical review of PFAS in artificial turf and confirmed it is pausing formal “Priority Product” listing while it verifies manufacturer claims.
Here’s the key detail: DTSC noted that the Synthetic Turf Council told the agency its member manufacturers have been proactively removing PFAS-based processing aids from their products, with a goal of PFAS-free turf by 2025. California is monitoring that voluntary shift rather than enforcing a formal ban, which is very different from Colorado and Vermont, where PFAS turf sales are now legally prohibited.
That doesn’t mean California will never regulate this. DTSC has said it will move forward with formal rulemaking if testing shows PFAS is still showing up in turf sold here. For now, though, no state law prevents you from installing artificial turf in your San Jose or Bay Area yard, and none requires a PFAS disclosure at point of sale.
Just because California hasn’t mandated PFAS-free turf doesn’t mean you should skip the question. Ask your installer for the manufacturer’s PFAS testing documentation before you sign anything. Reputable turf manufacturers now test finished products for total organic fluorine and will share those results on request.
We only install turf systems from manufacturers who can document PFAS-free production, built on a 3-inch soil removal, weed-prevention membrane, and 3-inch compacted decomposed granite base for proper drainage. Every system we install carries an 8-year manufacturer warranty, so you have a paper trail if a safety or durability issue ever comes up.
If a company can’t answer a direct question about PFAS testing, that’s a red flag worth taking seriously, regardless of what state law currently requires.
It also helps to ask when the turf was manufactured. Since the Synthetic Turf Council’s industry-wide phaseout targeted 2025, turf produced before that shift is more likely to carry legacy PFAS processing aids than turf rolling off the line today.
Whatever California decides about PFAS regulation down the road, you don’t have to wait to get a safe, beautiful lawn today. Turf Grass King has served San Jose and the Bay Area since 2010, and we’ll walk you through exactly what’s in the turf we install, no jargon, no runaround.
Request a free in-home consultation and we’ll email you an accurate quote within one business day. Most installs are complete in 1 to 3 days once scheduled, backed by our 8-year manufacturer warranty. Call (408) 636-6442 or email turfgrassking@gmail.com to get started.
No. Assembly Bill 1423 would have done this, but Governor Newsom vetoed it in October 2023 over enforcement concerns. California currently has no law banning PFAS in artificial turf, unlike Colorado and Vermont.
Colorado and Vermont both prohibited installing artificial turf with intentionally added PFAS starting January 1, 2026. California’s DTSC is monitoring the issue but has not issued a similar enforceable ban yet.
Yes. California law prevents HOAs from banning drought-tolerant landscaping outright, and that protection generally covers synthetic turf installations in residential yards across Sunnyvale and the Bay Area.
Ask your installer for the manufacturer’s total organic fluorine test results before signing a contract. Turf Grass King only installs systems from manufacturers who document PFAS-free production.
No. Local rebate programs exclude artificial turf from drought-tolerant landscaping incentives, even though they aren’t legally required to disclose that. We tell every customer this upfront before they buy.
