Jail for an eco-friendly frontyard? Couple in Orange defend themselves for ripping out their lawn

If you missed the KTLA link from The Times' home page, here's the story: While some cities in Southern California are calling for mandatory water conservation, officials in Orange are taking a family to court because their drought-tolerant lawn alternative is not up to code.

In what sounds eerily similar to the “yard cop” stories Steve Lopez has reported in the past, Quan and Angelina Ha have been going back and forth with the city for more than a year about their lack of lawn. Prompted by one neighbor’s anonymous complaint, the Has were cited for not having 40% of their yard landscaped, per city law.

The couple were contacted after they tore out their lawn and left the yard bare. They have since planted drought-tolerant landscaping, including some lavender, rosemary and native wildflower seeds, which they say are germinating under wood chips. You can see the current landscape on KTLA video here.

The Has have been summoned to court on Tuesday. The maximum penalty: six months in jail and a $1,000 fine.

March 2: For a court update, click here.

-- Lisa Boone

Photo credit: Angelina Ha

Become a fan: We've set up a page dedicated to gardening at facebook.com/latimesgarden.

Comments

[Twiter blue]

This is completely ridiculous how there is a city law that states 40% of your lawn has to be landscaped. This is ridiculous. That piece of land is that person's home and what they choose to do with their piece of land is their business. if their neighbors have an issue with the way that there landscaping is displayed they need to converse with their neighbors, not complain to a higher authority, like a parent complaining about a child. The reality is that these people made the decision to outwardly display their home like this. That is ultimately their choice.

[Vixen]

Please let us know what happens to these poor people on Tuesday. I want to do something similar in our front yard, but I'm afraid that I might have the Lawn Police come after me.

[Jose A]

Yes please, update. Frankly, the state should sue the city of Orange for such a wasteful, environmentally irresponsible policy.

[Anna]

While this seems to be a ridiculous lawsuit, I do notice that the couple has a big honking SUV next to that bare dirt yard. Even in the video, that mulch looks pretty dry (and ugly), so I'm not so sure that, in case of fire, the whole yard wouldn't blaze up.

[RabidinL.A.]

Grrr...whining neighbors. This is a travesty, the poor Has! And yes, excellent point that the state should sue the City of Orange for such a wasteful, irresponsible policy...and that whiners got so much support. I, too, am interested on how this all unfolds.

[Dave]

I can understand the NIMBY neighbor's complaint if the owners went against an ordinance established by a homeowners' association, but the 40% landscaped yard code is just ridiculous. Cities should have no say in how one's home is landscaped.

[Jonathan]

Anna, do you really believe that wood chips are a fire hazard? Dried-out grass is a much greater one.

I'll bet that some of the same people who whine about government interference in their lives are the ones who want to force this couple to grow grass on their lawn.

[Susy]

That yard (and fence) is an eyesore!

[Carlassare]

Reminder we live in a desert and we are in a drought.

City has many miles of irrigation line for public lawns.

[Carlassare]

Do as I say not as I do.

[Zeke Smith]

March 2nd 2010 court date... does anyone know what happened?

[Lisa Boone]

Orange may drop lawsuit against couple that pulled out front lawn:

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2010/03/orange-drops-lawsuit-against-couple-that-pulled-out-front-lawn.html