Colorado’s water resources have faced increased strain from climate change, drought, and population growth, prompting action to implement policies and programs that transition the state away from water intensive turfgrass and toward water-wise landscaping practices.
In 2024, the Colorado legislature passed SB24-005, which prohibits the installation of nonfunctional turfgrass on all new and redeveloped nonresidential properties starting on January 1, 2026. Faced with this deadline, it is useful to understand the status of turf limits in Colorado and provide communities with resources as they work to meet or exceed the state’s requirements and improve their water and climate resilience.
This report analyzes the state of water-wise landscaping codes among 40 Colorado communities. It details different turf limits in these communities, the motivations behind these policies, and anticipated changes in future years. It also highlights several communities with robust water-wise landscaping standards and provides an analysis of four communities with turf limits that align with the requirements in SB24-005.
