Landscaping Rules in El Paso County, CO (2026)
5 county-level rules, plus city-specific rules for 1 city in El Paso County, Colorado.
Verified from official government sources
Tree Removal & Heritage Trees
El Paso County's land code requires required parking lot trees be shielded from vehicle damage with curbs, planters, or barriers: the only mandatory tree-protection rule in the unincorporated area's land code.
El Paso County Parking Lot Tree Protection Rule
Some RestrictionsEl Paso County Land Development Code § 6.2.2(C)(3)
Parking lot trees shall be protected from vehicle damage by curbs, planters or other barriers. (4) Storm Drainage for Irrigation Encouraged. Parking lots designs that allow runoff to enter landscaped areas for irrigation and controlling non-point source pollution are encouraged. (5) Required Parking Lot Screening. Parking lots shall be screened from view from adjacent roads and properties w...
Weed Ordinances
El Paso County requires a noxious weed management plan for any development application on land flagged on the county's Noxious Weed Map, implementing the Colorado Noxious Weeds Act during plat and permit review.
El Paso County Noxious Weed Development Review Rule
Some RestrictionsEl Paso County Land Development Code § 6.3.7(B)(1)
Noxious weed management shall be undertaken in association with a development application and permit when noxious weeds are identified on the Noxious Weed Map or by the Forestry and Noxious Weed Manager as being located on the subject property. Noxious weeds shall be addressed through the preparation of a noxious weed management plan. (2) Early Consultation with ESD. The ESD should be consult...
Native Plants
El Paso County encourages xeriscaping and native plant landscaping for water conservation in Colorado's semi-arid Front Range climate. Colorado HB 19-1050 and SB 23-178 bar HOAs from prohibiting xeriscape. Rebates available through Colorado Springs Utilities.
landscaping/native-plants
Few RestrictionsSB23-178 (Water-wise Landscaping In HOA Communities), Colorado General Assembly
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...
Artificial Turf
Artificial turf counts as landscape material in unincorporated El Paso County only on a case-by-case basis, not as a by-right substitute for living plants.
El Paso County Artificial Turf Rule
Significant RestrictionsEl Paso County Land Development Code Sec. 6.2.2(G)(2)(g)(i)
The use of artificial vines, turf, or groundcovers as landscape material may be allowed on a case-by-case basis where live landscaping materials may be at risk or inappropriate due to land use, water availability, or location. (ii) Prohibited/Noxious planting list is included in the Landscaping and Planting Manual. (h) Calculating the Required Number of Plants. (i) Fractional Numbers Roun...
Composting
El Paso County's Land Development Code regulates commercial and industrial composting facilities but expressly exempts backyard composting from those standards, leaving residential composting unregulated countywide.
El Paso County: Backyard Composting Unregulated
Few RestrictionsEl Paso County Land Development Code § 5.2.56(E)(4)(a)
The regulations of this Section do not apply to: · Backyard composting, processing yard or landscaping waste into mulch, or a business that accepts finished compost for bagging or handling; · Agricultural composting if: (1) compost materials are derived from onsite agricul- tural activities by the generator only; and (2) the faci...
Landscaping Rules by City in El Paso County
1 cities in El Paso County have their own landscaping rules rules. Each link goes to that city's dedicated page with code citations.
All El Paso County ordinances
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