Colorado protects water-wise landscaping. Under CRS 38-33.3-106.5, an HOA may not prohibit xeriscape or drought-tolerant vegetative landscapes on property a unit owner is responsible for. Jefferson County encourages native-plant gardening and imposes no rule against it.
Jefferson County, through CSU Extension, actively promotes native-plant and pollinator gardening and does not restrict planting natives on private land. Statewide, the Colorado Common Interest Ownership Act (CRS 38-33.3-106.5) bars HOAs from prohibiting xeriscape or drought-tolerant vegetative landscapes for ground cover on a unit owner's property, though associations may adopt reasonable design or aesthetic guidelines. SB23-178 (2023) further requires HOA rules to allow an option of at least 80% drought-tolerant plantings and not to unreasonably require hardscape. Note that some non-native noxious weeds remain regulated separately under the Noxious Weed Act.
An HOA rule flatly banning xeriscape or drought-tolerant native landscaping is unenforceable under CRS 38-33.3-106.5; no county penalty applies to planting natives.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
Jefferson County, CO
Jefferson County requires proper care for every animal and treats hoarding-type conditions (inadequate food, water, shelter, sanitation, or feces accumulatio...
Jefferson County, CO
In Jefferson County, as statewide, it is illegal to intentionally feed big-game wildlife. Colorado Parks and Wildlife prohibits placing feed, salt, or attrac...
Jefferson County, CO
Jeffco Open Space parks are open one hour before sunrise to one hour after sunset. Entering or occupying Open Space Lands during closed hours (unless posted ...
Jefferson County, CO
Jeffco Section 12 requires that luminaires and their supporting structure be wholly confined to the property, and it caps light measured at the property line...
Jefferson County, CO
Jeffco Section 12 requires exterior lights to be full cut-off fixtures above set brightness thresholds - all lamps in mountain areas, and lamps over roughly ...
Jefferson County, CO
Jeffco has no separate garage-sale sign category; they fall under content-neutral "Temporary Ground Signs." Up to six per property need no permit, each up to...
See how Jefferson County's native plants rules stack up against other locations.
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