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 residential real property that is used for apartment or condominium housing (applicable residential real property).

The bill also requires each local entity 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 the installation of turf for all residential real property that is not applicable residential real property. Local entities must also impose limits on the installation of turf when enacting or amending ordinances, resolutions, regulations, or other laws on and after January 1, 2028.

(Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced.)