Denver, CO Landscaping Rules: Weed Ordinances (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing law
- DRMC Chapter 57, Article III
- Enforcing agency
- CPD neighborhood inspection services
- Abatement notice
- 10 days to comply
- City remedy
- City clears vegetation, bills owner
- State overlay
- Colorado Noxious Weed Act also applies
Summary
Denver requires owners and lessees to keep private property and the abutting right-of-way clear of unattended vegetation, including overgrown weeds, brush, and grasses, under DRMC Chapter 57.
It shall be the duty of the owner, agent, or lessee of any real property located within the city to provide for regular weeding, pruning, and other maintenance of all plantings located on said private property. Plant materials which exhibit evidence of pests, disease, or damage shall be appropriately treated, and dead plant materials shall be removed or replaced.(b)It shall be the duty of the owner, agent, or lessee of any real property abutting a public right-of-way located within the city to provide for landscaping and maintenance of any right-of-way area between his property line and the curb line or the edge of the roadway and between the property line and the center line of any alley.(c)Failure to perform these duties so that a violation exists on private property as proscribed by this article and by applicable rules and regulations shall constitute a nuisance for which reasonable means to abate are hereby authorized. (Ord. No. 273-02, § 1, 4-8-02)
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 147 Update 3).
Full Breakdown
Denver's Revised Municipal Code makes it a violation for any owner or responsible party to let private property go uncleared of 'unattended vegetation': overgrown or untrimmed shrubs, brush, or grasses, plus diseased, dead, noxious, or poisonous growth. The deputy director of neighborhood inspection services (Community Planning and Development) serves a notice of violation giving the owner ten days to abate. If the owner does not comply, the city can enter the property, clear the vegetation itself, and bill the owner, with unpaid costs becoming a lien on the property. Vegetation that is a fire hazard, attracts vectors, blocks sight lines, or is a state-listed noxious weed is a violation outright.
Violations & Fines
Ignoring a notice of violation lets Denver enter the property, clear the vegetation, and bill the owner; unpaid abatement costs become a lien on the property, plus possible criminal prosecution under Sec. 57-46.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Denver set a maximum grass height in inches?
Who enforces Denver's weed and vegetation rules?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Denver
How Denver compares: Cities with the Strictest Weed and Property Maintenance Rules·Compare Denver to another location·View the Colorado landscaping rules overview
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