Denver is turning up the heat on water‑guzzling lawns and wants residents and developers in the room while it does it. The city is inviting the public to a free Resilient Landscapes symposium on Saturday, April 25, from 10 a.m. to noon at the Confluence Theater on the CSU Spur campus, where officials will walk through a proposed overhaul of Denver’s landscaping rules.
The draft changes would curb decorative, water‑hungry turf and push new development toward native plants, more trees and pollinator‑friendly designs. Attendees can snag free seeds, learn how to tap into rebates and chat directly with agency experts during an open house and a round of short expert talks.
State Law Pushed the Change
Colorado lawmakers passed SB24‑005 in 2024, requiring local governments to prohibit new non‑functional turf, artificial turf and certain invasive plants on many commercial, institutional and transportation projects beginning Jan. 1, according to the Colorado General Assembly. That statewide rule is the backdrop for Denver’s push to rewrite local landscape rules and bring city code into compliance.
What the Draft Rules Would Cover
Under the Denver Resilient Landscapes project, staff says the Denver Zoning Code would be updated to prioritize climate‑resilient plantings, add new tree preservation standards and set limits on non‑functional turf for applicable projects. The proposal would apply to new development and some redevelopment only and would not force homeowners or existing businesses to rip out current landscaping, according to the City and County of Denver.
Councilmember Paul Kashmann is sponsoring the effort, and city planners expect a City Council review later this year, the city says.
What to Expect at the April 25 Symposium
The free event is set up as part crash course, part resource fair. Attendees can wander a resource open house with agency tables, catch short expert talks, and fuel up on coffee and brunch while they collect giveaways like seeds and rebate information. Organizers say the Office of Climate Action and Denver Parks will also spotlight reduced‑cost or free tree programs.
The city has promoted the symposium on its official X account, according to the City and County of Denver (X). Registration is hosted on Eventbrite, where registrants are told to expect a $15 parking fee at CSU Spur and may receive a parking voucher after signing up. Accessibility services such as ASL or CART can be requested in advance by contacting project staff, the city notes.
Funding, Incentives and Local Partners
City materials say the project is funded in part by a Colorado Water Plan grant, alongside contributions from Community Planning & Development, Denver Parks and Recreation, and the Office of Climate Action, Sustainability and Resiliency, with support from the Climate Protection Fund, according to the City and County of Denver.
Denver Water has backed large landscape conversions and offers financial incentives, irrigation rebates and free native grass seed programs that the symposium will spotlight, according to Denver Water.
Next Steps and Why It Matters
After public input and advisory‑committee meetings, planners will tune up the draft before sending it for final review, with City Council action expected in 2026, according to a city presentation on the project. Supporters say the changes are designed to cut outdoor water demand, expand tree canopy in heat‑vulnerable neighborhoods and boost habitat for pollinators, outcomes the city links to its broader climate and urban‑forest plans.
Legal Implications
City officials are framing the overhaul primarily as the implementation of state law. SB24‑005 requires local adoption of non‑functional‑turf prohibitions in many non‑residential settings, and Denver’s draft would embed those limits in local code for applicable new projects, according to the Colorado General Assembly. Builders and developers working on commercial, institutional or transportation projects are being urged to track the rulemaking and consult city planners to understand how the draft rules could affect upcoming permits.
