Loveland, CO Landscaping Rules: Rainwater Harvesting (2026)

Colorado was the last state to legalize residential rain-barrel capture. House Bill 16-1005, codified at CRS 37-96.5-103, allows residents of single-family households and multi-family households with four (4) or fewer units to collect precipitation in a maximum of two (2) rain barrels with a combined storage capacity not exceeding one hundred ten (110) gallons. Captured rainwater must (a) be collected from rooftop downspouts only, (b) be used on the same property from which it was captured, and (c) be used only for outdoor purposes — including watering outdoor lawns, plants, and gardens. Indoor reuse, drinking, and bathing are prohibited. The 110-gallon cap and rooftop-only requirement are enforced statewide by the Colorado Division of Water Resources (DWR) and reflect the state's strict prior-appropriation doctrine, which treats precipitation as belonging to downstream senior water-right holders. Loveland follows the state framework — the City does not require a separate permit for a compliant two-barrel residential rain-barrel installation. Larger cisterns, plumbed rainwater systems, and any commercial or multi-family-over-four-unit collection require Colorado DWR approval and may not be allowed under Loveland Water and Power service rules without a plumbing permit and backflow-prevention compliance. Loveland Water and Power and Northern Water generally encourage rain barrels and other conservation measures as part of voluntary drought response.