Littleton, CO Water Use Rules: Turf Replacement Rebates (2026)
Key Facts
- Turf area cap
- 75% of total landscaped area (residential)
- Bluegrass
- Prohibited except in heavy foot-traffic areas
- Approved turf types
- Buffalo grass, blue grama, fescue, low-water hybrids
- Prohibited locations
- Slopes 4:1+, narrow strips, tree lawns under 6 ft
- Section
- City Code § 10-1-3.6.A(C)(2)(d) (Turf)
Summary
New residential landscapes in Littleton may not exceed 75 percent turf coverage of the total landscaped area, bluegrass is banned outside heavy foot-traffic areas, and only low-water grasses like buffalo grass or blue grama qualify, under the city's turf standard for landscape plans.
d. Turf. 1. On residential properties, when a landscape plan is required, turf areas may be installed as sod or, if approved by the Director, seed. The total area of turf shall not exceed 75 percent of the total landscaped area with the exception of functional turf, with exceptions allowed for sports fields. Bluegrass is prohibited, except in areas where heavy foot traffic is expected. All other turf areas shall use low-water varieties of turf grass such as Texas hybrid bluegrass, buffalo grass, blue grama, fescue, or other drought-tolerant turf types. Turf shall not be installed in areas that are impractical or difficult to maintain and irrigate, including the following: i. Narrow or oddly shaped areas. ii. Slopes of four to one (4:1) or greater; and iii. Tree lawns less than six feet in width;
Full Breakdown
A(C)(2)(d), Turf, caps how much of a new residential landscape can be planted in traditional lawn. Where a landscape plan is required, turf areas may be installed as sod, or as seed if the Director approves, but the total turf area cannot exceed 75 percent of the total landscaped area, with an exception carved out for functional turf such as sports fields. Standard Kentucky bluegrass is prohibited outright, except in spots where heavy foot traffic is expected and a hardier lawn is needed to survive it; everywhere else, turf must be a low-water variety such as Texas hybrid bluegrass, buffalo grass, blue grama or fescue, or another drought-tolerant type.
The code also bars turf from problem locations regardless of type: narrow or oddly shaped areas, slopes of 4:1 or steeper, and tree lawns narrower than six feet, all places where grass is hard to irrigate efficiently and prone to runoff. A separate clause in the same subsection restricts nonresidential properties even further, limiting them to functional turf only. A and was last amended by Ordinance No. 10, Series of 2025, effective June 12, 2025.
Violations & Fines
Landscape plans exceeding the 75 percent turf cap, proposing bluegrass outside a heavy-traffic exception, or placing turf on a steep slope or narrow tree lawn are not approved during Site Plan or Master Development Plan review. An installed violation is enforced as a general code violation under Section 1-4-1, carrying a fine of up to $2,650 with each day of continuing noncompliance a separate offense.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much of a new Littleton yard can be regular turf grass?
Is Kentucky bluegrass allowed in Littleton?
Where is turf prohibited outright in a Littleton landscape plan?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Littleton
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Turf Replacement Rebates in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Arapahoe County handle turf replacement rebates.