Arapahoe County, CO Water Use Rules: Turf Replacement Rebates (2026)
Key Facts
- Residential turf cap
- 25% of yard area or 500 sq ft, whichever is less
- Multi-family common-area cap
- 20% of required common area
- Prohibited turf threshold
- >18 gal/sq ft or 29 in/yr irrigation
- Industrial/commercial turf
- Prohibited except stormwater features
- Applies to
- New development, redevelopment, qualifying expansions
- Enforcing office
- Arapahoe County Planning Division
Summary
Arapahoe County's Land Development Code caps turf on any new or redeveloped lot in unincorporated Arapahoe County. Kentucky bluegrass and other high-water turf needing more than 18 gallons per square foot, or 29 inches of irrigation annually, is prohibited outright unless the Planning Division approves a case-by-case exception for sports fields or high-traffic areas. Single-family lots are capped at 25 percent of yard area or 500 square feet, whichever is less.
Turf Limitations. Arapahoe County recognizes that while turf (Kentucky Blue grass and other high-water use turf) has practical benefits in a landscape, the extent of and the location impacts of a site's total irrigation requirements is considered a high-water use plant material. Turf is generally considered nonfunctional since it is decorative and not used for recreational purposes or civic or community events, except for in parks and other gathering areas. Turf shall be limited as follows: i. Turf sod or turf grass seed shall be selected from the Arapahoe County-approved plant list. Kentucky bluegrass and other high water use turf that requires over 18 gallons per square foot, or 29 inches of irrigation annually are prohibited except as approved by Arapahoe County on a case-by-case basis for limited uses such as high pedestrian traffic areas, sports fields, or water quality control measures. ... iv. In single-family detached, single-family detached cluster, two-family, and townhome residential development, turf shall be limited to 25 percent of the total combined yard area or a maximum of 500 square feet on a lot, whichever is less.
Full Breakdown
d, Turf Limitations, treats turf as a high-water-use plant material and, outside parks and gathering areas, as decorative rather than functional landscaping. b: new development or redevelopment in unincorporated Arapahoe County, plus non-residential expansions that add 25 percent or more building square footage or add 20 or more parking spaces. Turf sod or seed must come from the Arapahoe County-approved plant list, and Kentucky bluegrass or any other turf requiring over 18 gallons per square foot or 29 inches of irrigation a year is prohibited except where the County approves it case-by-case for sports fields, high-pedestrian areas, or stormwater water-quality measures.
Coverage caps follow the development type: single-family detached, single-family detached cluster, two-family, and townhome lots are limited to 25 percent of the combined yard area or 500 square feet, whichever is less; single-family-attached and multi-family common areas are capped at 20 percent, restricted to high-traffic or active/passive recreation use; industrial and commercial sites cannot use turf at all outside stormwater water-quality features; and turf is barred entirely from buffers, parking-lot islands, street medians, curbside strips, subdivision entries, shopping centers, slopes steeper than 4:1, and new golf courses. i.
Violations & Fines
The Planning Division reviews turf area and species against the approved landscape plan before construction. Under the Chapter 6 landscaping-enforcement provisions, no certificate of occupancy issues until required landscaping, including turf compliant with these limits, is installed and inspected; an owner who wants early occupancy must post collateral equal to 115 percent of the estimated landscaping cost and finish within six months, extendable once by the Planning Division Manager for good cause.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the turf limit apply to my existing lawn?
Can I plant Kentucky bluegrass on a new lot?
How much turf can a single-family lot have?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Arapahoe County
Compare Arapahoe County to another location·View the Colorado water use rules overview
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