Broomfield, CO Landscaping Rules: Artificial Turf (2026)

Section 17-70-050(B) of the Broomfield Landscape Code, effective January 1, 2024 under Ordinance No. 2215, permits artificial turf in four limited situations: in sports field applications; to replace sod or native seed in the backyards of single-family detached and attached homes, provided the property still meets the Residential Yard Landscape Requirements of Table 1; as part of an engineer-designed civil infrastructure project such as landfill or brownfield covers, or revetments for slopes, channels, levees and dams; and in dog parks, where the turf must be specifically designed for pet use.

Where installed, artificial turf must be a cut-pile infill type manufactured from polypropylene, polyethylene, or a blend of the two, stitched onto a polypropylene or polyurethane mesh or hole-punched backing with holes spaced no more than four by six inches on center, and it must be installed per the manufacturer's recommendations, with additional drainage required on a case-by-case basis. Installation on slopes greater than 6.6% requires consultation with the manufacturer on installation and use. The code then draws hard lines against overuse: artificial turf may not be installed in curbside landscape areas or medians in any zone district, may not be used to satisfy living-plant-material requirements, may not substitute plastic or nylon carpeting for real artificial turf, and is barred outright from the public right-of-way. Community Development reviews artificial turf as part of the landscape plan submitted with a site development plan or building permit.