Aurora, CO Water Use Rules: Turf Replacement Rebates (2026)
Key Facts
- Aesthetic turf
- Not permitted at all
- Front/side yard turf
- Prohibited (narrow exception)
- Backyard turf cap
- 45% or 500 sq ft
- Ornamental water features
- May not use water
- Effective date
- Sept. 12, 2022 (Ord. 2022-46)
Summary
Aurora Water bans new aesthetic turf citywide and restricts new grass: none in front or side yards, and backyard turf is capped at 45 percent or 500 square feet, whichever is smaller, to curb water use.
(d) Turf that serves primarily an aesthetic purpose shall not be permitted. (e) The installation of new turf shall be restricted as follows: (1) Turf shall not be installed in the front or side yards of any single-family dwelling except as specified in subsection (e)(2) of this section. ... (3) The installation of new turf in residential backyards shall not exceed the lesser of: 45 percent of the backyard area as defined by the Unified Development Ordinance or 500 square feet.
Official source re-checked September 8, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: current through Ordinance 2026-30, passed June 22, 2026).
Full Breakdown
Aurora City Code § 138-191, effective September 12, 2022 (Ord. No. 2022-46) and amended by Ord. No. 2023-44 in 2023, applies citywide across all three counties Aurora sits in. Arapahoe, Adams and Douglas. It bars aesthetic-only turf entirely, prohibits new turf in front or side yards of single-family homes (narrow exception for undersized alley-load lots), and limits new backyard turf to 45 percent of the yard or 500 square feet, whichever is less. Removing water-wise landscaping to install turf is banned outright, turf cannot go in medians, curbside strips, or golf courses, and ornamental fountains and ponds may not use water at all. Only site plans submitted before September 30, 2022 are exempt; no other waivers are allowed.
Violations & Fines
Aurora Water and city code enforcement administer this section; subsection (j) bars any waiver or variance outside the narrow site-plan exemptions, and noncompliant turf can be required to be removed or corrected.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I install new grass in my Aurora, CO front yard?
How much backyard turf can I install?
Are decorative fountains and ponds allowed?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Aurora
Compare Aurora to another location·View the Colorado water use rules overview
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Turf Replacement Rebates in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Arapahoe County handle turf replacement rebates.