New homes won’t have large lawns

State officials have adopted stricter water limits on landscaping at new houses and businesses.

The restrictions, adopted Wednesday by the California Water Commission, effectively eliminates grass from new office commercial buildings, according to a statement by the California Department of Water Resources.

Also, turf at new homes will be reduced to 25 percent of the house’s landscaped areas. The rest of the landscaped area can feature rocks, shrubs or plants that use little water.

The new restrictions will be put in place Dec. 1. The measures are expected to cut water use at a new home by 12,000 a year, or 20 percent.

California is expected to add 472,000 single-family homes and multi-family units – all of which combined will feature about 20 acres of landscaping – during the next three years, according to the statement.