Colorado Governor Signs Bill to Limit Non-Functional Turf, Curbing Water Usage in the State
Written by: Howard Beale
In a move aimed at conserving Colorado’s water resources, Governor Jared Polis has signed a bill into law that restricts the use of non-functional turf across the state.
The legislation, Senate Bill 24-005, marks Colorado's most aggressive effort to address water allocation for urban landscaping.
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Beginning in 2026, local governments will no longer be permitted to install, plant, or place non-functional turf, artificial turf, or invasive plant species. This restriction applies to commercial, institutional, and industrial properties, as well as common-interest community properties, including those governed by homeowners' associations (HOAs).
Moreover, the planting of non-functional turf in street rights-of-way, parking lots, medians, and transportation corridors will also be prohibited. The law will extend to new or redeveloped state facilities from 2025 onwards, according to the bill text.
This legislation follows a series of steps taken by the state since 2022 to incentivize the removal of non-functional turf, which refers to imported grass species with high water requirements that receive minimal use. The state allocated $2 million in grants to approximately three-dozen communities, primarily in Front Range cities where the majority of Colorado's residents reside.
In September 2023, the Colorado Water Conservation Board awarded a $1.5 million grant to Boulder-based nonprofit Resource Central.
The organization, established in 1976 to promote conservation, completed 604 lawn-replacement projects along the Front Range in 2023. Their flagship program, Garden In A Box, offers low-water plants and has partnered with numerous municipalities along the Front Range. Thanks to the state grant, Resource Central will expand its programming to the Western Slope.
In October 2023, a legislative water committee chaired by Senator Dylan Roberts reviewed a proposal from Denver Water, Western Resource Advocates, and other stakeholders. This proposal served as the basis for the new law, which emphasizes restraint rather than incentives for change.
The legislation allows native grass species, such as buffalo and blue gamma, as well as hybrids adapted for arid conditions. Imported species like Kentucky bluegrass, which require double the amount of water, will not be permitted.
While the state law does not directly impact water use at individual homes, several jurisdictions in Colorado have already implemented restrictions on residential water use for landscaping. Aurora and Castle Rock, anticipating significant population growth, have limited water portfolios to meet the rising demand.
Various municipalities and water providers across the state, from Broomfield to Grand Junction, have also enacted laws to discourage water-intensive vegetation. These measures reflect the tightening water supplies in Colorado, where cities consume only 7% of the state's water, with approximately half of that dedicated to landscaping.
Developing new water sources often requires diverting water from agriculture, a costly and complex endeavor. For instance, Parker Water and Sanitation District and Castle Rock are planning a pipeline to the Sterling area, along with a new reservoir near Akron. This infrastructure project comes with significant expenses, although it has the support of an irrigation district in the Sterling area.
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While the bill faced little opposition in the Legislature, most House Republicans, particularly those from rural areas, voted against it.
With the new law in effect, Colorado aims to mitigate water usage, protect its limited resources, and encourage more sustainable landscaping practices across the state.