Invasive Plant Rules in Colorado (2026)
22 rules on the books across Colorado, 20 cities and counties. Select a rule to read the full details.
Severity: Few Restrictions · Light Restrictions · Some Restrictions · Significant Restrictions · Heavy Restrictions
Prohibited Species
Plants that are banned or regulated in your area, including Japanese knotweed, kudzu, purple loosestrife, and other species that threaten native ecosystems.
Parker
Heavy RestrictionsParker's Municipal Code bars selling, importing or planting female cottonwood, Boxelder or Siberian Elm trees anywhere…
Read full rule →Arvada
Significant RestrictionsArvada's property maintenance code bans noxious weeds outright and caps all other weeds and dead plant growth at 12…
Read full rule →Colorado Springs
Significant RestrictionsColorado Springs' Undesirable Plant Management Ordinance, City Code § 9.6.314, names five species, leafy spurge…
Read full rule →Fort Collins
Significant RestrictionsFort Collins's nuisance code bans growing any of dozens of named noxious weed species regardless of height. Municipal…
Read full rule →Greeley
Significant RestrictionsGreeley bans growing, selling, offering or knowingly allowing any noxious weed on its designated list, and the city can…
Read full rule →La Plata County
Significant RestrictionsIn unincorporated La Plata County, Colorado, Section 70-17.III.B prohibits planting state and county noxious weeds plus…
Read full rule →Littleton
Significant RestrictionsLittleton prohibits planting any species listed as a Colorado noxious weed, naming Chinese and Siberian elms…
Read full rule →Longmont
Significant RestrictionsLongmont declares ragweed, thistle, knapweed, bindweed, dandelion and any state-listed Type A, B or C noxious weed a…
Read full rule →Pueblo
Significant RestrictionsPueblo bars planting cottonwood, box-elder, fruit-bearing mulberry, Russian olive, tamarisk and tree of heaven in any…
Read full rule →Arapahoe County
Some RestrictionsLandscape plans in unincorporated Arapahoe County can't use noxious plant species. Land Development Code §…
Read full rule →Aurora
Some RestrictionsAurora's development code bans planting Russian olive, aspen, tamarisk, ash, Siberian elm and tree of heaven citywide…
Read full rule →Boulder
Some RestrictionsBoulder caps state-listed noxious weeds at twelve inches on any lot, developed or vacant, plus the sidewalk, street, or…
Read full rule →Commerce City
Some RestrictionsCommerce City's Land Development Code bars any plant species named as prohibited in the city's approved plant list and…
Read full rule →Denver
Some RestrictionsDenver requires every property owner to keep private land clear of noxious weeds regulated under the Colorado Noxious…
Read full rule →El Paso County
Some RestrictionsDevelopment on land flagged on the county's Noxious Weed Map must address state-listed noxious weeds with a management…
Read full rule →Lakewood
Some RestrictionsLakewood requires property owners to eradicate or suppress any noxious or designated undesirable plant defined under…
Read full rule →Loveland
Some RestrictionsLoveland's Unified Development Code bans plants identified as noxious, invasive, or prohibited by the United States or…
Read full rule →Weld County
Some RestrictionsWeld County Code § 23-5-520(A)(3) bars five plant types from any landscaping design inside the I-25 Overlay District…
Read full rule →Grand Junction
Light RestrictionsNew development landscaping in the City of Grand Junction may not include noxious or invasive species under GJMC §…
Read full rule →Front Yard Gardens
Whether your city allows vegetable gardens, wildflower meadows, or native plant landscapes in the front yard, including any height limits or appearance standards.
Tree-of-Heaven Removal
Rules requiring removal of Ailanthus altissima (tree-of-heaven), the invasive species that hosts spotted lanternfly, including state programs and city-level mandates.
Aurora
Heavy RestrictionsAurora's Unified Development Ordinance bans planting Tree of Heaven (Ailanthus sp.) anywhere in the city, alongside…
Read full rule →Broomfield
Heavy RestrictionsBroomfield's Landscape Code outright bans planting Tree of Heaven, along with Russian Olive, Aspen, Tamarisk, Ash and…
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