Colo. Rev. Stat. § 37-99-103
Prohibition of nonfunctional turf, nonfunctional artificial turf, and invasive plant species - local entities - construction or renovation of state facilities.
Effective Aug 6, 2025L. 2024: Entire article added, (SB 24-005), ch. 26, p. 81, § 1, effective August 7. L. 2025: (1), (3), (4)(a), (4)(b), (4)(d), and (4)(e) amended and (4)(f) and (5) added, (HB 25-1113), ch. 221, p. 1015, § 3, effective August 6.
- (1) On and after January 1, 2026, a local entity shall not install, plant, or place, or allow any person to install, plant, or place, any nonfunctional turf, nonfunctional 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.
- (2) On or before January 1, 2026, a local entity shall enact or amend ordinances, resolutions, regulations, or other laws regulating new development projects and redevelopment projects on applicable property in accordance with the requirements of this section.
- (3) The department shall not install, plant, or place, or allow any person to install, plant, or place, any nonfunctional turf, nonfunctional artificial turf, or invasive plant species as part of a project for the construction or renovation of a state facility, which project design commences on or after January 1, 2025.
(4) Nothing in this section prohibits:
- (a) A local entity from maintaining, or allowing any person to maintain, any nonfunctional turf, nonfunctional artificial turf, artificial turf, or invasive plant species installed, planted, or placed before January 1, 2026;
- (b) The department from maintaining, or allowing any person to maintain, any nonfunctional turf, nonfunctional artificial turf, artificial turf, or invasive plant species installed, planted, or placed at a state facility before January 1, 2025;
- (c) A local entity or the department from installing, or allowing any person to install, grass seed or sod that is a native plant or has been hybridized for arid conditions;
- (d) A local entity or the department from establishing prohibitions on, or requirements for, nonfunctional turf, artificial turf, or invasive plant species that are more stringent than the requirements of this section;
- (e) A local entity or the department from installing, or allowing a person to install, artificial turf on athletic fields of play; or
- (f) A local entity or the department from installing or preserving urban trees.
(5)
- (a) On and after January 1, 2028, a local entity shall not install, plant, or place, or allow a person to install, plant, or place, any nonfunctional turf, nonfunctional artificial turf, or invasive plant species, as part of a new development project or redevelopment project, on any portion of applicable properties that include multifamily residential housing premises property.
(b) Notwithstanding any provision of this section to the contrary, a local entity or the department shall not restrict a person from installing or allowing another person to install grass seed or sod that:
- (I) Is a native plant;
- (II) Has been hybridized for arid conditions; or
- (III) Is a low-water grass.
(c) On or before January 1, 2028, each local entity with land use planning and zoning authority shall enact or amend ordinances, resolutions, regulations, or other laws regulating new development projects and redevelopment projects to:
- (I) Regulate the installation of nonfunctional turf in order to reduce irrigation water demand on applicable property in accordance with the requirements of this section; and
- (II) Include consideration of applicable residential real property.
Source: L. 2024: Entire article added, (SB 24-005), ch. 26, p. 81, § 1, effective August 7. L. 2025: (1), (3), (4)(a), (4)(b), (4)(d), and (4)(e) amended and (4)(f) and (5) added, (HB 25-1113), ch. 221, p. 1015, § 3, effective August 6.
Cross references: For the legislative declaration in HB 25-1113, see section 1 of chapter 221, Session Laws of Colorado 2025.