Welcome to Denver's Resilient Landscape Project! Ready to get involved?

Thank you for joining the email list for Denver's Resilient Landscape Project.

As you know, the City and County of Denver is working on potential updates to citywide landscaping requirements to help build a more climate-ready, water-wise, and pollinator-friendly future. The Denver Resilient Landscape Project will look at potential zoning updates to promote sustainable, drought-tolerant landscapes that support urban nature and community well-being.

If you care about the future of Denver’s landscapes, are passionate about pollinators or sustainable design, and are interested in playing an active role throughout the process, we encourage you to apply to join the Denver Resilient Landscape Advisory Committee and help shape these important changes.

Many developments in Denver use non-functional turf, defined as ornamental grass in an area that does not get public use. Nonfunctional turfgrass uses a lot of water and does not serve a recreation or civic purpose. This type of turf can be found in areas along roadways, in medians and in parking lots. Instead of nonfunctional turf in new development and some redevelopment, the city may require a mix of native grasses, shrubs and trees or other landscape design that focus on species that are successful in Denver's climate.  

In 2024, the State of Colorado passed a bill (SB 24-005) that prohibits new non-functional turf and artificial turf in commercial, industrial, and institutional development in Colorado. This project will address the requirements of this bill and go beyond to look at the future of all landscape to ensure it meets the vision of the Denver community.

Denver’s Department of Community Planning and Development (CPD) complies with applicable federal civil rights laws and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, or gender to include language. It is your right to request oral or written language assistance services in your primary language, sign language interpretation, real-time captioning via CART, or disability-related accommodations, if needed. Please fill out our language services request form, and these services will be provided free of charge. If you have any questions, contact CPD’s Operations Team at cpdoperations@denvergov.org.