Water Use Rules in Colorado (2026)
21 rules on the books across Colorado, 14 cities and counties. Select a rule to read the full details.
Severity: Few Restrictions · Light Restrictions · Some Restrictions · Significant Restrictions · Heavy Restrictions
Turf Replacement Rebates
Rebate programs paying residents to replace turf with drought-tolerant landscaping, including per-square-foot incentives and approved plant lists.
Aurora
Significant RestrictionsAurora Water bans new aesthetic turf citywide and restricts new grass: none in front or side yards, and backyard turf…
Read full rule →Arapahoe County
Some RestrictionsArapahoe County's Land Development Code caps turf on any new or redeveloped lot in unincorporated Arapahoe County…
Read full rule →Centennial
Some RestrictionsCentennial's Land Development Code limits where artificial turf and decorative non-functional turf are allowed, but…
Read full rule →Colorado Springs
Some RestrictionsNew Colorado Springs landscapes can't put more than 25 percent of the total green space into High Water Use Turfgrass…
Read full rule →Fort Collins
Some RestrictionsFort Collins guarantees homeowners the right to replace a turf-grass lawn with xeriscaping. Municipal Code § 12-122…
Read full rule →Littleton
Some RestrictionsNew residential landscapes in Littleton may not exceed 75 percent turf coverage of the total landscaped area, bluegrass…
Read full rule →Longmont
Some RestrictionsStarting January 1, 2026, Longmont's land development code bars new landscape plans from installing nonfunctional turf…
Read full rule →Boulder
Light RestrictionsBoulder removes a permitting hurdle for water-conscious landscaping: under Section 9-9-12(d), B.R.C. 1981, a property…
Read full rule →Manitou Springs
Light RestrictionsManitou Springs does not ban high-water turfgrass outright, but every new residential and nonresidential development…
Read full rule →Weld County
Light RestrictionsNew landscaping inside Weld County's I-25 Overlay District must favor drought-tolerant turf over thirsty bluegrass…
Read full rule →Recycled Water Rules
Where purple-pipe recycled water is required for irrigation, dual-plumbing requirements for new construction, and cross-connection-control rules.
Boulder
Heavy RestrictionsBoulder prohibits any water utility customer from installing graywater treatment works or using graywater on their…
Read full rule →Weld County
Heavy RestrictionsWeld County bans the installation of any graywater treatment system on land or in structures anywhere in the…
Read full rule →Fort Collins
Significant RestrictionsFort Collins allows graywater reuse only for toilet flushing, and only on properties where both the water and…
Read full rule →Westminster
Significant RestrictionsWestminster limits reclaimed and non-potable water under Chapter 12 of Title VIII to landscape irrigation on…
Read full rule →Aurora
Some RestrictionsAurora, Colorado requires new irrigation systems to connect to reclaimed water where it's available, with purple pipe…
Read full rule →Denver
Some RestrictionsDenver permits beneficial reuse of graywater from residential, commercial, and industrial buildings under a citywide…
Read full rule →Littleton
Some RestrictionsLittleton's landscape code requires new and redeveloped irrigation systems to use non-potable or reclaimed water…
Read full rule →Leak Reporting Duty
Property owner's duty to report and repair water leaks within a set window once notified, plus how utilities issue leak-adjustment credits and impose penalties.
Arvada
Some RestrictionsArvada splits leak repair at the curb stop or meter yoke: the department of utilities fixes leaks on the water-main…
Read full rule →Manitou Springs
Some RestrictionsManitou Springs splits water leak responsibility at the curb stop: the owner must fix and pay for any leak from the…
Read full rule →Thornton
Some RestrictionsThornton requires customers and owners to keep plumbing, pipes, meter connections, and irrigation systems free of…
Read full rule →Westminster
Some RestrictionsWestminster treats an unrepaired leaking irrigation system as unlawful water waste under Code Section 8-7-25(A)(2). The…
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