Landscaping Rules in Arapahoe County, CO (2026)

Arapahoe County Land Development Code § 4-1.3.1.b.ii

No trees 2-inch caliper or larger shall be removed from a property in the six months preceding the submission of a qualifying development application pertaining to that property unless deemed by a certified arborist that the risk of potential harm can be documented, and tree removal deemed necessary for safety. If evidence is provided that trees were removed within the six months prior to the s...

Arapahoe County Land Development Code § 4-1.4.E.9

i. Weed Control i. The use of weed-free seed, gravel, or fill dirt is required. ii. The use of competitive grasses, shrubs, or trees that provide sufficient ground cover may be required where weed problems already occur or may occur in the future. iii. Plant species that appear on the Colorado Department of Agriculture Noxious Weed lists are unacceptable for use in proposed landscaping. iv. For...

Arapahoe County Land Development Code § 4-1.4.4.i.iv

iv. Watering Schedule All automatically irrigated landscape areas shall be scheduled for no more than three days per week and irrigation between the hours of 6:00 p.m. and 10:00 a.m. An exception shall be given for new turf, seeded, and native grass areas being established whereby additional watering can occur but not for more than 21 days after installation.

Colorado SB23-178 — Water-wise Landscaping In HOA Communities

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 guidelines or rules t...

Colorado HB19-1050 — Encourage Use Of Xeriscape In Common Areas

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 common elements, w...