The update, reported by Community Impact Newspaper, gives homeowners far more freedom to landscape with xeriscaping, the practice of limiting mowed grass in favor of native and drought-tolerant plants. Under the old rules, residential front and visible side yards were capped at 30% xeriscaping; that cap is gone, and homeowners may now use xeriscaping on up to 100% of their yards, eliminating grass entirely if they choose, though they must still incorporate trees and planting beds. At the same time, the ordinance tightens grass restrictions for apartments and non-residential areas, largely prohibiting turf in those settings going forward.
Development Services Director Dusty McAfee has said turf is one of the city’s biggest water users during peak summer periods, and that it’s the grass itself being watered in summer — not trees — that drives up demand. City officials say less grass in landscaping can help Celina save water and help residents save on their own water bills. A presentation at a June 18 Planning and Zoning Commission meeting, covered by starlocalmedia.com, put a finer point on the stakes: roughly half of the city’s water use during peak summer heat comes from outdoor irrigation.
Functional Versus Non-Functional Turf
The ordinance draws a line between functional turf — grass used for recreation, such as a sports field or an event-hosting park — and non-functional turf, which serves a purely aesthetic purpose, like a sidewalk-to-street buffer strip. In multifamily and non-residential areas, irrigation will generally be allowed only for functional turf. City staff may still permit grass in some non-functional spots, such as the backyard of an apartment complex, but that grass can only be watered during its initial establishment period before the tap gets shut off.
City staff will also update other city rules, including building codes, to align with the new grass and xeriscaping standards, according to McAfee.
Months of Debate Before the Vote
The ordinance change didn’t happen overnight. Celina officials began considering xeriscaping rules in 2025, per McAfee, and staff solicited feedback from the developer and builder community on water conservation strategies starting that summer. The topic came up repeatedly at council and commission meetings in January, February, June, July and October, including a July 14 council discussion of xeriscape design standards led by McAfee, according to meeting records posted by celinatx.new.swagit.com…