Weld County, CO Water Use Rules: Turf Replacement Rebates (2026)

Section 23-5-520(A) sets design criteria for any landscaping plan tied to development inside the I-25 Overlay District that requires a site plan review, use by special review, special review permit, or Division 17 zoning permit under § 23-5-500. The design criteria list requires well-planned planting schemes, appropriate selection of drought-tolerant turf species to minimize water needs, mulch to reduce evaporation, microclimate-based plant zoning, organic soil improvement where needed, efficient irrigation design, and proper maintenance and irrigation scheduling. 6 goes further on turf specifically, requiring fescue, brome/fescue, or other turf types in place of bluegrass wherever heavy foot traffic isn't anticipated.

Landscape designers are also directed to maximize native species and, where native plants won't work, use regionally adapted, noninvasive species, with Appendix 23-I supplying a partial list of species native or adapted to Colorado's Front Range. Section 23-5-520(D) backs this up operationally: all required landscaping must be irrigated, though the Department of Planning Services may approve a temporary irrigation system for plants that can survive without it once established, and soil in planting areas must be amended to loosen compaction and reduce the amount of watering required.