Greeley's Landscaping Rules: The Rules That Matter
Every city handles landscaping rules a little differently. In Greeley, Colorado, there are 6 distinct rules that residents and property owners should be aware of. Some are stricter than what neighboring cities enforce, and others are more relaxed. Here is what you need to know.
Tree Removal & Heritage Trees
In Greeley, removing or trimming a tree in the parkway strip between the street and a property requires a permit from a licensed tree trimmer, and the tree must be posted for 7 days before removal unless it's an emergency.
Key details: Permit holder: Licensed tree trimmer only. Approval grounds: Dead, hazardous, or blocks sidewalk. Public notice: 7 days posted before removal. Stump grinding: 6 inches below grade.
Unpermitted parkway tree work is enforced under §18-351 through the administrative process in chapter 10 of title 1 and chapter 12 of title 2; the city manager can also order the condition corrected under §18-352 before pursuing further sanctions.
This is not one of those rules that cities tend to ignore. Greeley actively enforces its tree removal & heritage trees requirements.
Tree Trimming
Property owners must keep parkway trees clear of sidewalks (8 ft) and streets (14 ft), and must trim or remove interfering branches under the city's street-tree code.
Key details: Sidewalk clearance: 8 feet minimum. Street clearance: 14 feet minimum. Trimming/removal: licensed permit required. Duty falls on: property owner/occupant.
Untrimmed interference is a code violation the city manager's designee can order corrected; trimming or removing a parkway tree without a licensed permit under Sec. 18-326 is itself a separate violation.
Artificial Turf
Greeley's landscape code allows artificial turf only as ground cover in areas not visible from streets or public rights-of-way, per the city's development landscaping standards.
Key details: Applies to: new development landscape plans. Artificial turf: hidden areas only. Governs: Sec. 24-802.b, Development Code. Current through: Ord. 16, 2026 (Supp. 6).
No fine is stated in the code itself; noncompliant turf placement fails landscape plan approval and can block issuance of a certificate of occupancy or trigger a director-ordered correction.
Native Plants
Greeley's development code allows and actively encourages drought-tolerant, native and xeric plantings in landscape plans, including grouping water-efficient species and pollinator gardens to cut irrigation demand.
Key details: Status: encouraged, not mandatory. Governs: Sec. 24-804.d, Development Code. Benefit: possible raw water tap reduction. Applies to: new development landscape plans.
None: xeric and native planting is optional, not required, so choosing it can't create a violation; developments skipping it must still satisfy Chapter 8's baseline plant and irrigation standards.
The rules around native plants in Greeley lean permissive, but that does not mean anything goes.
Water Restrictions
Greeley limits sprinkling to specific days and hours tied to address parity and the city's declared drought level, tightening from a three-day schedule when supply is adequate to a full ban in catastrophic drought.
Key details: Sets drought level: Water and sewer board, at least annually. Adequate-supply hours ban: 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.. First residential fine: $100, rising to $500. Catastrophic drought: All sprinkling prohibited. Adopted: Ord. No. 08, 2021, 2-16-2021.
A first residential violation draws a $100 fine, rising to $250 for a second and $500 for a third or later in the same calendar year; nonresidential fines run $200 to $1,000. A fourth violation requires installing a flow restriction device at the owner's expense.
Weed Ordinances
Every owner, tenant or agent of property in Greeley must keep weeds from growing on their lot, the abutting sidewalk strip and the alley behind it, citywide and with no exception for vacant ground.
Key details: Duty holder: owner, tenant, or agent. Covers: lot, sidewalk strip, and alley. Vacant land: explicitly included, no exemption. Repeat violation window: 365 days.
Violators can be issued a notice of violation without advance warning; unresolved cases lead to city abatement, cost assessment against the property and penalties under Chapter 10, Title 1.
The Bottom Line
Greeley's landscaping rules rules are a mixed bag. Some areas are strict, others are relaxed, and the details matter. The best approach is to check the specific rule that applies to your situation rather than assuming Greeley is broadly strict or permissive.
This guide is based on Greeley's current municipal code. Local rules can and do change, so check the individual ordinance pages for the latest details, penalties, and FAQs.