Syracuse, population about 35,488 (Census ACS 2020–2024), is mostly new houses: median build year 2005, with 30% built in 2010 or later (Census Reporter). Section 10.30.050(G) of the city code requires water-wise landscaping on all lots. It bars new turfgrass in park strips and areas eight feet wide or less, limits turfgrass for new yards to 35% of the front and side yards, and requires WaterSense smart irrigation controllers (Syracuse code via Zoneomics).
The same section says "landscapes completely devoid of planned live vegetation are prohibited." The chapter we read does not mention artificial or synthetic turf, and it defines turfgrass, sod or lawn as a plant, so we could not find a published rule specific to artificial turf. We also cannot say how the city applies the live-vegetation line to a mostly synthetic yard. Mixing turf with trees and shrubs is the cautious design, but ask the city. The code text came from a mirror of the municipal code, so confirm the current wording. Nearby, Clearfield and Layton have related rules.
The City Owns The Secondary System
Syracuse owns and operates its own pressurized secondary system for outdoor watering. A 2021 city water conservation plan said secondary water was billed at a flat monthly rate and that only about 4% of connections were metered (335 of 8,752) (Syracuse Water Conservation Plan, 2021). That plan is dated, and state law now requires every secondary connection to be metered by 2030, so ask the city where metering stands. On a flat rate, less watering does not lower the secondary bill. Savings show up in mowing, fertilizer and time instead.
Weber Basin Rebates
Syracuse is on Weber Basin's $2.50 per square foot Landscape Lawn Exchange list. The program does not pay where lawn is replaced with artificial turf, concrete or other hard surfaces (Weber Basin, Oct 2026). See our rebate guide.
Low Ground Near The Lake
Syracuse sits on the low west side of Davis County near Great Salt Lake. The Utah Geological Survey says shallow groundwater is more likely in low-lying valley areas near lakes, and that perched water can build up over clay-rich soil from heavy landscape irrigation (UGS, Shallow Groundwater Hazard in Utah, 2023). For a turf job, that is a general reason to ask the installer how the base will drain. We have no Syracuse-specific soil data.
Syracuse Homes at a Glance
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates, via Census Reporter. Estimates carry margins of error. With 93% single-family houses and many in newer subdivisions, expect HOA design review and builder-installed lawns that are only a few years old.
| Measure (Census ACS 2020–2024) | Syracuse |
|---|---|
| Population | 35,488 |
| Median year built | 2005 |
| Built 2010 or later | 30% |
| Owner-occupied | 90% |
| Single-family detached | 93% |
Costs
See the artificial turf cost guide for published ranges and the artificial grass lawns page. Backyard greens and play areas are popular with newer family lots, see putting greens.
2026 Update On Syracuse Secondary Water
The city's integrated land and water use element, posted on the state site in May 2026, says Syracuse bills most homes a flat $27.44 a month for secondary water, applied year-round. It reports secondary meter installation about 90% complete and on track for the 2030 deadline, and says state law (HB 501, as the city cites it) requires a tiered fee based on usage by 2030. The secondary season was shortened to May 1 through October 1, with no watering on Sunday and one other day by location. The city owns 14,503.6 acre-feet of secondary shares and used 8,927.78 acre-feet in 2025 (Syracuse Water Element). This is newer than the 2021 plan quoted above, so metering is further along than that plan says.
The practical point for a turf swap: on a flat fee, using less water does not lower your secondary bill today. That may change once tiered billing starts, so ask the city when billing by usage will begin for your address.
Park-Strip Help And A Price Check
The same element says the city has an incentive program that excavates grass from single-family park strips at no charge. Our site has a separate page on park strip rules. For pricing, HomeYou's automated estimate for a 535 square foot Syracuse job is $8,822 to $11,021, or $18 to $22 per square foot (updated Oct 14, 2026; HomeYou). It is a sample job, not a quote.
Services available in Syracuse
Artificial Grass Lawns
Front and back lawns replaced with turf on a proper compacted base, priced in writing.
Artificial Grass Lawns →Backyard Putting Greens
Contoured synthetic greens with fringe and cups, sized to the yard you have.
Backyard Putting Greens →Playground and Commercial Turf
Padded playground turf, HOA common areas and low-water commercial frontage.
Playground and Commercial Turf →Turf Removal and Replacement
Worn or failed turf pulled up, the base repaired, and new turf laid properly.
Turf Removal and Replacement →See typical artificial turf costs in Salt Lake City & Syracuse →
Turf Questions From Syracuse Homeowners
Does Syracuse allow artificial turf in front yards?
We could not find a published Syracuse rule specific to artificial turf. The code limits turfgrass, requires some live vegetation, and bars landscapes completely devoid of planned live vegetation, so ask the city before planning an all-synthetic yard.
Is Syracuse secondary water metered?
A 2021 city plan said about 4% of connections were metered and secondary water was billed at a flat rate. The city's newer 2026 water element, summarized elsewhere on this page, reports meters about 90% installed, so the 2021 figure is out of date. Confirm your own billing with the city; state law requires metering by 2030.
Will Weber Basin pay for turf removal if I install artificial turf in Syracuse?
No. The Landscape Lawn Exchange covers qualifying water-wise conversions, not lawn replaced with artificial turf, concrete or other hard surfaces.
How much is Syracuse secondary water per month?
The city's 2026 water element says most homes pay a flat $27.44 a month, billed year-round even though the system runs only in warmer months.
When is Syracuse secondary water turned on?
The element says the city shortened its season to May 1 through October 1 and prohibits watering on Sunday and one other day depending on location.
How much does artificial turf cost in Syracuse, UT?
HomeYou's automated estimate for a 535 square foot Syracuse job is $8,822 to $11,021, about $18 to $22 per square foot (Oct 2026). Get a written estimate from the installer we refer for your actual yard.
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