Limit Turf in New Residential Development
In the 2024 regular legislative session, the general assembly enacted Senate Bill 24-005, which:
- Prohibits a local entity, on and after January 1, 2026, from installing, planting, or placing, or allowing any person to install, plant, or place, any nonfunctional turf, artificial turf, or invasive plant species, as part of a new development project or redevelopment project, on any portion of applicable property within the local entity's jurisdiction; and
- Requires a local entity, on or before January 1, 2026, to enact or amend ordinances, resolutions, regulations, or other laws regulating new development projects and redevelopment projects on applicable property in accordance with the new requirements.
For the purposes of Senate Bill 24-005, the bill expands the definition of "applicable property" to include a multifamily residential real property housing premises property that is used for apartment or condominium housing includes more than 12 dwelling units (applicable residential real property).
The bill also requires each local entity with land use planning and zoning authority to enact or amend, on or before January 1, 2028, ordinances, resolutions, regulations, or other laws regulating new development projects and redevelopment projects within the local entity's jurisdiction to limit regulate the installation of nonfunctional turf for all residential real property that is not and include consideration of applicable residential real property.
(Note: Italicized words indicate new material added to the original summary; dashes through words indicate deletions from the original summary.)
(Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.)