Nevada HOA Landscaping Law: NRS 116.330 and Drought-Tolerant Landscaping
NRS 116.330 (effective 2003)
Nevada Revised Statutes §116.330 gives a unit owner the right to install or maintain drought tolerant landscaping on the portion of the community they occupy and use exclusively, including the front yard and back yard, after submitting a plan for architectural review. The executive board may not unreasonably deny or withhold approval, or unreasonably decide that the landscaping is incompatible with the community. The statute defines drought tolerant landscaping to include decorative rock and artificial turf, and directs that it be construed liberally in the homeowner's favor. Separately, the Southern Nevada Water Authority pays some of the highest turf-removal rebates in the country in the Las Vegas Valley.
What Your HOA Cannot Do Under Nevada Law
- ✓Prohibit a homeowner from installing drought tolerant landscaping in the front or back yard
- ✓Ban decorative rock or artificial turf as part of a drought tolerant design
- ✓Unreasonably deny a submitted plan or unreasonably call the landscaping incompatible with the community
- ✓Enforce a CC&R provision that conflicts with NRS 116.330
What Your HOA May Still Regulate
- –Require the homeowner to submit a detailed plan for architectural review before installing
- –Set reasonable design and quality standards for decorative rock and artificial turf
- –Require that landscaping be properly maintained and not look abandoned
- –Apply general appearance and maintenance standards short of requiring turf
The law limits what HOAs can prohibit, not what they can regulate. Keeping your landscaping maintained and intentional-looking is the most effective way to avoid friction under any HOA regime.
Official source: NRS 116.330 text (opens in new tab). This page is educational context, not legal advice. For enforcement questions, consult a Nevada HOA attorney.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Nevada protect drought-tolerant landscaping in the front yard?
Yes. NRS 116.330 covers the portion of the community a unit owner occupies exclusively, which includes the front yard and the back yard, as long as the owner first submits a plan for architectural review.
Can my Las Vegas-area HOA reject my xeriscape plan?
An HOA can review your plan through architectural review, but under NRS 116.330 it cannot unreasonably deny approval or unreasonably decide that drought-tolerant landscaping is incompatible with the community. The statute is construed liberally in the homeowner's favor. Following the SNWA Water Smart Landscapes plant requirements gives a strong basis for approval.
Does Nevada law allow decorative rock and artificial turf?
Yes. NRS 116.330 expressly includes decorative rock and artificial turf in its definition of drought tolerant landscaping, so an HOA cannot ban them outright as part of a water-wise design, though it can apply reasonable quality standards.