Douglas County proposal would restrict nonfunctional turf at multifamily, commercial sites
Douglas County’s proposed zoning amendment would limit nonfunctional turf and invasive plants on new and redeveloped properties while preserving turf for recreation, civic uses, erosion control and infrastructure.
Douglas County is considering zoning rules that would prohibit nonfunctional turf, nonfunctional artificial turf and nonnative invasive plants in new developments and qualifying redevelopment projects, including multifamily housing with at least 12 units.
The proposal, identified as zoning amendment DR2026-001, would apply to commercial, institutional and industrial properties; state-owned properties; common-interest-community common areas; street rights-of-way, parking lots and medians; and multifamily projects approved after Jan. 1, 2026. The county staff report says the amendment would change Parts 27, 32 and 36 of the Douglas County Zoning Resolution.
The proposal would not ban all turf. Functional turf and artificial turf could remain in areas regularly used for civic, community or recreational purposes, including sports fields, playgrounds, picnic areas, amphitheaters and portions of parks. It would also preserve turf used for necessary erosion control, nonirrigated turf required in a permitted water-quality treatment system and artificial turf incorporated into some civil-infrastructure projects, such as slope, channel, levee or dam protections.
For redevelopment, the proposal would use a threshold based on the scale of landscape disturbance. After comments from Dominion Water and Sanitation District, county staff revised the definition to track the state-law threshold for projects requiring a building or landscaping permit, plan check or design review and disturbing more than 50% of the aggregate landscape area.
Castle Rock Water and Parker Water and Sanitation District sought tighter restrictions and clearer definitions for arid-adapted plants, irrigation and functional park areas. The proposal would require landscape plans to identify irrigated turf and high-water-use plants while allowing water providers to recommend additional restrictions during project review.
The Planning Commission has not taken final action. Its Sept. 28 agenda schedules a 6 p.m. hearing. The Board of County Commissioners is scheduled to consider the amendment Oct. 27 at 2:30 p.m. A public workshop was held Feb. 19, and hearing notice was published Sept. 10.
The proposal is intended to implement Colorado’s Senate Bill 24-005 and House Bill 25-1113 while allowing individual water providers to impose stricter landscape requirements.