Manteca is ahead of the state when it comes to front yards for new homes.

The state this past week adopted rules requiring no more than 25 percent of a front yard can be planted in grass.

While their definition of yard is different than Manteca’s the rules that the Manteca City Council adopted last month essentially is as restrictive as the state’s newest directive.

City Manager Karen McLaughlin pointed out that once driveways and homeowner’s  sidewalks are factored in that it doesn’t leave a lot of space for grass based on city rules.

The state edict is based on the fact front yards are essentially visual issues and are rarely used for children to play or daily gatherings as backyards are.

As for commercial landscaping, the city adheres to existing state rules that prohibit a new commercial project of 500 square feet or more from planting grass. They must instead either do trees or drought tolerant plantings.

The state is considering modifying that requirement to include any commercial project 50 square feet or larger essentially throwing all new commercial endeavors under the no grass edict.

Grass is the biggest single use of urban water in California.