Question 1

Can my landlord charge me for a dead lawn?

Accepted Answer

It depends on your lease. If your lease explicitly assigns lawn maintenance to you and the lawn died due to your neglect (not watering, not mowing), your landlord may be able to charge for restoration. However, if the lawn died due to drought, seasonal changes, disease, or the lease is silent on lawn care, the landlord generally cannot charge you.

Question 2

Is normal lawn wear and tear chargeable?

Accepted Answer

No. Seasonal die-off, normal thinning from foot traffic on walkways, and gradual changes to landscaping from weather and age are considered normal wear and tear. Landlords cannot deduct from your security deposit for these conditions.

Question 3

What if my lease says I'm responsible for lawn care?

Accepted Answer

If your lease explicitly assigns lawn maintenance duties to you, you are generally expected to perform reasonable upkeep — mowing, basic watering, and weed control. If you completely neglected the lawn and it was demonstrably damaged beyond normal seasonal changes, the landlord may have grounds to charge for restoration. However, the charge must be reasonable and reflect actual restoration costs, not full re-landscaping.

Question 4

Can my landlord charge me for lawn damage during a drought?

Accepted Answer

Generally no. In drought-prone states like California, Nevada, Arizona, Utah, and Colorado, water restriction ordinances may actually prohibit excessive lawn watering. If the lawn suffered during a drought — especially if local water restrictions were in effect — the landlord cannot reasonably charge you for complying with the law by reducing water use.

Can My Landlord Charge Me for Lawn Damage? It Depends on Your Lease