Landscaping Rules in Littleton, CO (2026)
7 verified landscaping rules for Littleton, Colorado, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Tree Trimming
Owners of property adjacent to a Littleton public right of way must care for and trim trees so overhanging limbs clear at least 10 feet above a sidewalk and 14 feet above a street. The duty extends to watering, pruning, disease and pest control, and removal of trees and plants located on the adjacent right of way.
Littleton Street Tree Trimming Clearance Duty
Some RestrictionsLittleton City Code § 8-4-4
A. Every owner shall comply with the regulations adopted by the city manager, or his designee, and shall be responsible for the normal care, including the watering, pruning, control of diseases and pests, and removal (if required), of trees and plants located on rights of way adjacent to their property. ... ... C. It shall be the duty of any person planting or growing a tree on any public prope...
Tree Removal & Heritage Trees
Littleton requires a written city permit before removing a public or private property tree with a trunk over 4 inches in diameter, except on lots with single-family residences. The permit is free, but removal is granted only for defined reasons like disease, death, safety hazard, construction necessity, or overcrowding.
Littleton Tree Removal Permit Requirement
Significant RestrictionsLittleton City Code § 8-4-5(A)
A. It shall be unlawful for any person or entity on any public or private property within the city, excluding lots which contain single-family residences, to remove a tree whose trunk is greater than four inches (4") in diameter (as measured 12 inches from the ground) without first having obtained a written permit from the city to do so. ... "Removal" shall also mean the pruning down of any tre...
Weed Ordinances
Littleton caps weeds, grasses and herbaceous plants at 8 inches on any lot in the city. City Code Section 7-4-4 declares taller growth a nuisance on occupied or unoccupied land alike, with exceptions for city parks, natural areas and detention basins.
Littleton 8-Inch Weed and Grass Height Limit
Some RestrictionsLittleton City Code § 7-4-4(A)
A. It is unlawful, and shall constitute a nuisance for any owner of any occupied or unoccupied lot or any parcel of land within the City limits, including, without limitation, public and utility easements and drainage ways within such property, to fail to comply with the terms and conditions of any noxious weed management plan adopted by the City or to permit or maintain on any such parcel of l...
Water Restrictions
Littleton requires new landscape plans to follow xeriscape design principles that minimize high-water turf, group plants by water need, and use efficient irrigation, and bars automatic irrigation systems from over-watering beyond what the landscape actually needs, under the city's Water Wise Landscaping standard.
Littleton Xeriscape Design Requirement
Some RestrictionsLittleton City Code § 10-1-3.6.A(C)(2)(a),(c) (Water Wise Landscaping)
2. Water Wise Landscaping (Xeriscape). Landscape improvements shall be designed for water efficiency and in accordance with these guidelines. a. Landscapes shall use the following xeriscape design principles to facilitate water conservation: 1. Minimize the use of high-water turf; 2. Use of organic mulch to maintain soil moisture and reduce evaporation; 3. Zoning of plant materials according to...
Rainwater Harvesting
Littleton permits single-family homeowners to install rainwater capture and reuse devices, cisterns, rain filters and underground storage basins, capped at two containers per residential unit with a maximum storage of 110 gallons, consistent with Colorado water law, as one of the city's sustainable development practices.
Littleton Residential Rainwater Container Limit
Light RestrictionsLittleton City Code § 10-1-3.4.E; Table 10-1-3.4.2 (Rainwater Capture and Re-use)
Inclusion of rainwater capture and re-use devices such as cisterns, rain filters, and underground storage basins is ... permitted for single-family residential units to capture and ... reuse rainwater, with up to two containers per residential unit with a maximum storage of 110 gallons, in accordance with Colorado water law, as amended
Native Plants
Littleton's Unified Land Use Code requires landscape plans in the MFR, NC, CM, BC and IP districts to prioritize native and xeric plant species, caps turf at 75 percent of the landscaped area, and bans bluegrass except in heavy foot-traffic areas under the Greenscape Design Standards in Section 10-1-3.6.
Littleton Native Plant and Xeriscape Rules
Some RestrictionsLittleton, CO Unified Land Use Code § 10-1-3.6.C.2 (Greenscape Design Standards, Water Wise Landscaping)
b. Native, adapted, and xeric plant species shall be used in all landscapes with priority consideration of native species. Plant materials must be grouped according to similar moisture, light, and drainage needs. Landscape improvements shall consist of a variety of species to enhance the visual and functional aspects of the landscaped area, such as shading and windbreaks. ... The total area of ...
Artificial Turf
Littleton allows artificial turf in residential landscaping only with the Director's approval after review of product samples and manufacturer specifications, and bans it outright on nonresidential property, under the Unified Land Use Code's Plant Materials Standards.
Littleton Artificial Turf Approval Rule
Some RestrictionsLittleton City Code § 10-1-3.6.B(A)(5) (Artificial Turf)
5. Artificial Turf. Proposals to use artificial turf as part of any residential landscaping plan shall provide product samples and manufacturer's specifications to the Director. Director approval is required for use of any such turf. Installation of artificial turf is expressly prohibited on nonresidential properties.
Looking for Arapahoe County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Littleton city rules.
Landscaping Rules in Arapahoe County →