Arvada, CO Landscaping Rules: Artificial Turf (2026)
Key Facts
- Front yard artificial turf
- Not allowed if visible from public areas
- Backyard/side yard exception
- Allowed only when not in public view
- Putting green exception
- Up to 400 sq ft, even if visible
- Rock ground cover cap
- 25 percent of front yard maximum
- Mulch depth
- Minimum 2 inches, 75 percent coverage
Summary
Arvada Land Development Code § 4-6-7-2 bars artificial turf as permanent ground cover in landscaped areas except in specific cases: backyards and side yards out of public view, approved recreational fields or clubhouse amenities, and putting greens up to 400 square feet, which are allowed even if visible from a street, sidewalk, park, or trail.
B.Inorganic Ground Cover. Inorganic material such as river rock, cobble rock, gravel, artificial turf, artificial plant material, concrete, or asphalt paving may not be used as a permanent, primary ground cover within the landscaped area, except where:1.Rock is utilized as an integral part of the landscape design, and does not exceed 25 percent of the front yard and is part of an approved plan;2.Drainage or soil conditions require a non-irrigated and/or surface pan at finished grading adjoining the building's foundation;3.Artificial turf is used as part of an approved plan for recreational fields or common amenities such as a clubhouse;4.Artificial turf is used for backyard and side yard applications that are not in public view. Public view includes any area viewable from areas with public access such as streets, sidewalks, parks, and trails. Artificial turf for a putting green not larger than 400 square feet may be placed in side or rear yard even if in public view;
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: City Council Policy Manual: Supplement 1 | Code of Ordinances: Supplement 67).
Full Breakdown
Section 4-6-7-2 treats artificial turf as an inorganic ground cover, grouped with river rock, cobble rock, gravel, artificial plant material, concrete, and asphalt paving, and states that such materials may not be used as a permanent, primary ground cover within the landscaped area, except under five listed circumstances. Artificial turf is allowed for backyard and side yard applications that are not in public view, where the Code defines public view to include any area viewable from areas with public access such as streets, sidewalks, parks, and trails.
A carve-out inside that same exception permits a putting green up to 400 square feet in a side or rear yard even if in public view. Artificial turf is also allowed when it is used as part of an approved plan for recreational fields or common amenities such as a clubhouse, meaning larger multifamily or commercial sites can install it with landscape-plan approval that a single-family front yard cannot get. Rock used as an integral part of an approved landscape design is capped separately at no more than 25 percent of the front yard.
The Section also regulates mulch, requiring inorganic or organic mulch to be applied at a minimum two-inch depth and covered by plant material so the mulched area is at least 75 percent covered at maturity, and requires plant beds to include mulch over a weed barrier with edging along turf areas.
Violations & Fines
Installing artificial turf as primary ground cover in a location the Code doesn't exempt, most commonly a front yard visible from the street, is a landscape standards violation enforced the same way as other Article 4-6 landscaping deficiencies: through the development review and certificate-of-occupancy process for new construction, and through code compliance action for existing properties where the installation departs from an approved landscape plan. The City can require removal or replacement with a conforming ground cover as a condition of resolving the violation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I install artificial turf in my front yard in Arvada?
Is artificial turf allowed in an Arvada backyard?
How much rock ground cover can I use in my Arvada front yard?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Arvada
How Arvada compares: Most Artificial Turf-Friendly Cities·Compare Arvada to another location·View the Colorado landscaping rules overview
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