In 2024, the Colorado General Assembly enacted Senate Bill 24-005 to promote water conservation by regulating landscaping practices. The bill prohibits local governments, starting January 1, 2026, from permitting the installation of nonfunctional turf, artificial turf, or invasive plant species in new or redeveloped commercial, institutional, industrial properties, and certain public areas like medians and rights-of-way. The Department of Personnel is also barred from including such installations in state facility projects with designs commencing on or after January 1, 2025. Artificial turf used on athletic fields is exempt from these restrictions.
The bill defines "nonfunctional turf" as grass not used for civic, community, or recreational purposes, such as grass lining parking lots or sidewalks. "Functional turf" includes grass areas like playgrounds and sports fields.
Additionally, the bill requires local entities, by January 1, 2026, to enact or amend laws to enforce these restrictions on applicable properties. By January 1, 2028, local entities must also establish limits on turf installation for all residential properties, including apartments and condominiums, as part of new development or redevelopment projects.
These measures aim to encourage water-wise landscaping, reduce reliance on non-native, water-intensive plants, and promote the use of native species better suited to Colorado's arid climate.
Summary
In the 2024 regular legislative session, the general assembly
enacted Senate Bill 24-005, which:
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Prohibits a local entity, on and after January 1, 2026, from installing, planting, or placing, or allowing any person to install, plant, or place, any nonfunctional turf, artificial turf, or invasive plant species, as part of a new development project or redevelopment project, on any portion of applicable property within the local entity's jurisdiction; and
•
Requires a local entity, on or before January 1, 2026, to enact or amend ordinances, resolutions, regulations, or other laws regulating new development projects and redevelopment projects on applicable property in accordance with the new requirements.
For the purposes of Senate Bill 24-005, the bill expands the
definition of applicable property to include residential real property that is used for apartment or condominium housing (applicable residential real property).
The bill also requires each local entity to enact or amend, on or
before January 1, 2028, ordinances, resolutions, regulations, or other laws regulating new development projects and redevelopment projects within the local entity's jurisdiction to limit the installation of turf for all residential real property that is not applicable residential real property. Local entities must also impose limits on the installation of turf when enacting or amending ordinances, resolutions, regulations, or other laws on and after January 1, 2028.
