El Paso County, CO Landscaping Rules: Artificial Turf (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- LDC Sec. 6.2.2(G)(2)(g)(i)
- Default rule
- living plants required
- Turf allowance
- case-by-case only
- Basis for approval
- water availability, land use, location
Summary
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.
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 Rounded to Closest Whole Number. Where a requirement results in a fractional number, the applicable requirement shall be the closest whole number (5.0 to 5.49 = 5; 5.5 to 5.9 = 6).
(ii) Greatest Landscape Standard Applies. Where more than 1 landscape requirement applies to the same use and landscape area, the greater requirements shall be met.
(iii) Landscaping Only Fulfills 1 Requirement. Landscaping necessary to fulfill 1 requirement shall not be counted in fulfilling a different landscape requirement, unless otherwise stipulated in this Code.
(iv) Clumping Forms of Trees Encouraged. Clumps of trees, such as Hawthorn (Crataegus sp.), are encouraged instead of single-trunk trees. Smaller caliper trees to meet the minimum caliper are accepted, however, a clump of 3 or fewer trees shall be credited as only 1 of the required trees.
(i) Approval of Certificate of Occupancy or Use. All required landscaping shall be completed, and then inspected and approved by the PCD prior to the issuance of a Certificate of Occupancy by the Building Department
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Land Development Code: Supplement 3 | Drainage Criteria Manual: Publication | Engineering Criteria Manual: Supplement 3 | Ordinances: Reformat).
Full Breakdown
Land Development Code Sec. 2(G)(2)(g)(i) places artificial vines, turf, or groundcovers in a limited category: they may be allowed as landscape material only case-by-case, where live landscaping materials would be at risk or inappropriate because of the land use, water availability, or the site's location. The default landscape-area rules in the same section otherwise require living plants, a minimum of 30% living or synthetic ground cover with the remaining area in bark, wood chips, rock, or stone, and no bare areas, so synthetic turf is treated as an exception rather than an equal option.
Because approval turns on site-specific water availability and land use, a property near a low-water zone or with an unusual land use has a stronger case than a standard residential lot in a serviced subdivision. The rule sits in Chapter 6's General Development Standards, so it is applied by PCD staff reviewing landscape plans submitted with a site development plan for the unincorporated county; it does not govern Colorado Springs, Fountain, Monument, Manitou Springs, or Palmer Lake.
Violations & Fines
A landscape plan proposing artificial turf outside the case-by-case exception can be rejected or conditioned by PCD until living plant material is substituted or the water/land-use justification is documented.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I install artificial turf in my yard in unincorporated El Paso County?
Is synthetic turf treated the same as living ground cover?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in El Paso County
How El Paso County compares: Most Artificial Turf-Friendly Cities·Compare El Paso County to another location·View the Colorado landscaping rules overview
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