Landscaping Rules in Colorado Springs, CO (2026)
8 verified landscaping rules for Colorado Springs, Colorado, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Grass Height Limits
Colorado Springs requires weeds and grasses to be kept below 9 inches in height. If a property borders an alley, the owner is also responsible for the strip from the property line to the middle of the alley.
Weeds and grass must stay below 9 inches
Some RestrictionsCity of Colorado Springs Neighborhood Services, "Common Code Violations" (official city page)
Weeds and Grasses need to be kept below 9" in height. Remember, if your property borders an alley, you are responsible for the area from your property line to the middle of the alley.
Tree Trimming
City Code requires trees to be kept trimmed to at least 14 feet of clearance over streets and 8 feet of clearance over sidewalks. Property owners are responsible for pruning the street trees and right-of-way vegetation adjoining their property to maintain these clearances.
Tree clearance over streets and sidewalks
Some RestrictionsCity of Colorado Springs Forestry, "Frequently Asked Questions & Useful Information" (official city page)
City Code requires at least 14ft clearance over streets and 8ft clearance over sidewalks. Homeowners are responsible for maintaining shrubs, weeds, and landscaping in the city right of way. Homeowners are responsible for maintaining shrubs or weeds in alleys. Our current budget does not support a regular pruning schedule. Instead, we respond to citizen requests.
Tree Removal & Heritage Trees
Colorado Springs generally does not require a permit to remove trees on private property, except for trees in designated preservation areas or impacting public rights-of-way. No heritage tree protection ordinance exists citywide.
Colorado Springs Tree Removal Regulations
Few RestrictionsWeed Ordinances
Colorado Springs City Code Part 3 (Weeds) controls weed growth that becomes a fire hazard, a traffic and pedestrian hazard, that clogs drainageways, or that is a designated noxious weed. Colorado's Noxious Weed Act (C.R.S. 35-5.5) separately requires all landowners to manage state-listed and locally designated noxious weeds.
Weeds regulated as fire and pedestrian hazard
Some RestrictionsColorado Springs City Code Sec. 9.6.301 (Purpose; Exclusion)
The purpose of this part is to protect the public health, safety and welfare of the people of the City by eliminating and controlling, to the extent possible, the growth and proliferation of weeds within the City, which become a fire hazard, a traffic and pedestrian hazard, which clog drainageways and are designated as noxious weeds or undesirable plants.
Water Restrictions
Colorado Springs has permanent year-round watering rules: sprinkler irrigation is limited to any three days per week of the customer's choosing, and from May 1 to October 15 sprinklers cannot run between 10:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. Drip irrigation, watering cans, and hand-held hoses with shut-off nozzles are allowed at any time.
Permanent water-wise watering rules
Some RestrictionsCity of Colorado Springs, "New water-wise rules now in effect" (official city news page summarizing City Code Sec. 12.4.1304)
Watering with sprinklers is limited to any three days of your choice per week. From May 1-Oct. 15, sprinklers can't be operated between 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Drip irrigation, watering cans, and hose watering with a shut-off nozzle are allowed at any time. Permits are required for Utilities customers who need to temporarily water more than three days a week to establish new landscapes. Broken or leakin...
Rainwater Harvesting
Colorado law (HB 16-1005) allows single-family and duplex homes to collect rainwater in up to two 55-gallon barrels (110 gallons total) from rooftop runoff for outdoor, non-potable use only. The collected water must be used on the same property. Larger collection systems are prohibited without a specific water-court-approved plan due to Colorado's strict prior-appropriation doctrine.
Landscaping: Rainwater Harvesting
Some RestrictionsNative Plants
Colorado Springs encourages native-plant landscaping through Colorado Springs Utilities Water Wise rebates, typically 1 to 2 dollars per square foot of turf converted to xeriscape with native species. HOAs cannot prohibit xeriscape under Colorado's HOA xeriscape law (CRS 38-33.3-106.5), which mandates HOA approval of water-efficient landscaping using drought-tolerant plants including native species.
Landscaping: Native Plants
Few RestrictionsColo. SB 23-178 (Water-Wise Landscaping in Common Interest Communities)
Bill Summary: Under current law, a unit owners' association (association) of a common interest community may not prohibit the use of xeriscape, nonvegetative turf grass, or drought-tolerant vegetative landscapes to provide ground covering to property for which a unit owner is responsible. There is, however, an exception authorizing an association to adopt and enforce design or aesthetic guideli...
Artificial Turf
Colorado Springs permits artificial turf as a residential landscaping option under general zoning and does not require a permit for installation. HOAs may impose restrictions under their covenants, but Colorado's HOA xeriscape protection (CRS 38-33.3-106.5) is generally interpreted to cover water-efficient landscaping, which some courts have extended to artificial turf.
Landscaping: Artificial Turf
Few RestrictionsColo. HB 19-1050 (Water Conservation - Xeriscape)
Bill Summary: Water conservation - use of xeriscape and other drought-tolerant landscaping - common interest communities - special districts. Section 1 of the act augments an existing law that establishes the right of unit owners in common interest communities to use water-efficient landscaping, subject to reasonable aesthetic standards, by specifically extending the same policy to limited comm...
Looking for El Paso County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Colorado Springs city rules.
Landscaping Rules in El Paso County →