Watering your lawn in a drought draws lawmaker attention

Differences in water usage best practices during a drought and homeowners’ association landscaping requirements are the target of new legislation.

The goal of House Bill 1165, introduced by District 34 Rep. Tina Orwall, D-Des Moines, is to require HOAs’ landscaping guidelines to align with water conservation guidelines during a drought.

Many HOAs or condominium associations have requirements on the type of landscaping allowed – which often excludes fire resistant or low-water plants. The bill would prohibit HOAs from fining residents for employing low-water landscaping, but does not require th...