Water Wise Landscaping

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The Edgewater City Council unanimously passed a new waterwise landscaping ordinance earlier this month, which was developed with support from policy experts at Western Resource Advocates.  

The new ordinance establishes waterwise landscaping standards for new development and certain redevelopment projects. The standards include:

  • Prohibiting non-functional cool season turf grass on commercial, civic, and institutional properties as well as in parking lots and on streetscapes.
  • Limiting the use of cool season turf grass to 25% of the landscaped area on residential properties.
  • Prohibiting the use of cool season turf grass in landscaped areas less than eight feet wide or with slopes greater than 25%.
  • Establishing a minimum number of trees that must be planted in landscaped areas and along streets to provide shading and cooling.
  • Requiring that multi-family, commercial, civic, and institutional properties use technologies to maximize irrigation efficiency, including installing smart irrigation controllers to ensure that plants are not overwatered.
  • Prohibiting the use of artificial turf in landscaped areas, which can leach harmful chemicals into the environment.

What will be included in the new landscape code?

In addition to reducing landscape water demand in new development and redevelopment, the proposed landscape code will serve to improve the visual quality of Edgewater’s landscapes, reduce stormwater runoff, expand the City’s tree canopy and reduce urban heat island impacts, create green space essential for community health and well-being and promote biodiversity and pollinator habitat.

The proposed landscape code will not apply to existing landscapes in Edgewater. The code is applicable to all new residential, mixed-use, commercial, civic and institutional primary structures, as well as new or expanded parking lots. Only

What will be included in the new landscape code?

In addition to reducing landscape water demand in new development and redevelopment, the proposed landscape code will serve to improve the visual quality of Edgewater’s landscapes, reduce stormwater runoff, expand the City’s tree canopy and reduce urban heat island impacts, create green space essential for community health and well-being and promote biodiversity and pollinator habitat.

The proposed landscape code will not apply to existing landscapes in Edgewater. The code is applicable to all new residential, mixed-use, commercial, civic and institutional primary structures, as well as new or expanded parking lots. Only redevelopment that involves replacing an entire structure or the expansion of a building’s footprint by more than 500 square feet will be required to comply with the ordinance.

The code is organized into different sections that pertain to different property and development types in Edgewater. These sections currently include:

  • General Landscaping Standards

  • Required Landscaping & Irrigation for Single-Family & Two-Family Residential

  • Required Irrigation for all Non-Single Family and Two-Family Residential

  • Required Landscaping for Multi-Family Properties

  • Required Landscaping for Parking Lots

  • Required Landscaping for Streetscapes, Medians, and Rights-of-Way

  • Landscape & Irrigation Design Plan

  • Landscape Maintenance

  • Definitions

The General Landscaping Standards section includes - but is not limited to - the following proposed standards for all property types:

  • Plant material quality, installation and sizing standards

  • Plants must be hydrozoned, grouped together by water demand for effective irrigation

  • 25% of total landscaped area must be low or very low water use plants

  • Soil amendment and mulch must be added to the landscape

  • No artificial plant or turf materials are allowed

  • 1 tree must be planted for every 1,500 sq ft of landscape area


Living plant material standards are one important component included in the code which requires a certain percentage of the total landscaped area to be covered in living plants, at maturity. Living plants can improve the visual quality of landscapes, reduce urban heat island effects, increase stormwater infiltration and provide pollinator habitat. The proposed code requirements are:

  • Single-Family & Two-Family Residential

    • 65% living plants in front yard; 50% in backyard, 0% in side yard

  • Multi-Family, Commercial, Civic, Institutional

    • 65% living plants at maturity

  • Streetscapes, Medians, Rights-of-Way

    • 50% living plants at maturity

Cool season turf limits are another component of the code that limits the amount of high water use, cool season turfgrass lawns - like Kentucky Bluegrass - installed in new development. Cool season turf uses the majority of the water applied to landscapes in Colorado and limiting its installation to areas that serve a functional purpose is an effective way to reduce landscape water demand. Please take the survey below to share your perspective on turfgrass limits in Edgewater. The proposed code requirements are:

  • General Standards (for all development types)

    • No cool season turf or overhead irrigation in areas less than 8ft

    • Not permitted in areas with slopes greater than 25%

    • Preferred, low water turf species provided in the code

  • Single-Family, Two-Family & Multi-Family Residential

    • Limited to 25% of landscaped area

  • Commercial, Civic & Institutional, Parking Lots, Streetscapes, Medians & ROWs

    • No cool season turf is permitted except in active or programmed recreation areas

The proposed code also includes irrigation efficiency standards. These standards are limited for single-family and two-family residential properties, acknowledging that some of these projects will be undertaken by homeowners. The standards are more robust for other properties types, anticipating that these projects will be undertaken by landscape and irrigation professionals. The proposed code requirements are:

  • Single-Family & Two Family Residential

    • No irrigation system requirements

  • Multi-Family, Commercial, Civic and Institutional Properties

    • Smart irrigation controllers required

    • Master shut-off valves and flow sensors required

    • Designed to prevent runoff, low head drainage, overspray

    • 6” min. pop up height in turf areas for spray heads and rotors

    • And additional irrigation efficiency best practices


Water Wise Landscaping Code Development

The Edgewater Sustainability Plan sets goals to save and protect Edgewater's water for our current and future residents. In January, 2023, Edgewater City Council set out to make this goal a priority for 2023 by looking at opportunities to reduce water use in Edgewater.

Outdoor watering during summer months (May - October) is one of the largest uses of water in Edgewater. One way to reduce water use is to reduce the demand for outdoor watering in landscapes by encouraging and/or requiring sustainable landscaping practices for new and redevelopment projects.

  • Spring & Fall Garden In A Box discounts
  • Lawn Replacement Program
  • Sustainable Landscaping resources and classes
  • Denver Water Summer Outdoor Watering Rules (May - October)
  • Denver Water water conservation rebates

Aside from these programs, the city has very few landscaping regulations in place for new buildings which is uncommon for a city. Creating sustainable landscaping standards, sometimes known as Water Wise Landscaping standards, is an impactful way to further reduce outdoor water use in Edgewater and preserve our water as a resource for future generations.


Why Now?
Colorado is a dry state, averaging only 15 inches of precipitation each year. As this climate warms and we continue to experience drought, water conservation has become more and more important. According to the 2023 Colorado Water Plan, if nothing changes, Colorado communities may need 230,000-740,000 more acre-feet of water each year by 2050. That's as many as 241 Billion gallons of water needed each year. Local water conservation efforts, such as creating Water Wise Landscaping Codes, have the potential to help reduce these future needs by up to 97 billion gallons per year while also creating lush and colorful landscapes that still help to reduce urban heat island effects.


The Edgewater City Council unanimously passed a new waterwise landscaping ordinance earlier this month, which was developed with support from policy experts at Western Resource Advocates.  

The new ordinance establishes waterwise landscaping standards for new development and certain redevelopment projects. The standards include:

  • Prohibiting non-functional cool season turf grass on commercial, civic, and institutional properties as well as in parking lots and on streetscapes.
  • Limiting the use of cool season turf grass to 25% of the landscaped area on residential properties.
  • Prohibiting the use of cool season turf grass in landscaped areas less than eight feet wide or with slopes greater than 25%.
  • Establishing a minimum number of trees that must be planted in landscaped areas and along streets to provide shading and cooling.
  • Requiring that multi-family, commercial, civic, and institutional properties use technologies to maximize irrigation efficiency, including installing smart irrigation controllers to ensure that plants are not overwatered.
  • Prohibiting the use of artificial turf in landscaped areas, which can leach harmful chemicals into the environment.

Please let us know your questions, comments, or concerns regarding the addition of landscaping and water wise landscaping concepts to the Edgewater Zoning Codes.

  • Share Are there any incentives given to Edgewater residents for Water Wise Landscaping or zero water landscaping? on Facebook Share Are there any incentives given to Edgewater residents for Water Wise Landscaping or zero water landscaping? on Twitter Share Are there any incentives given to Edgewater residents for Water Wise Landscaping or zero water landscaping? on Linkedin Email Are there any incentives given to Edgewater residents for Water Wise Landscaping or zero water landscaping? link

    Are there any incentives given to Edgewater residents for Water Wise Landscaping or zero water landscaping?

    Sherry McKenna asked over 1 year ago

    Info on the City's current Sustainable Landscaping Programs and Resources can be found on our website here. 

    Current sustainable landscaping incentives include: 

    • Resource Central Garden In A Box Discounts - $25 discounts on Garden In A Box low-water landscaping kits provided to Edgewater Water customers. All available discounts for the Spring 2023 sale have been claimed. A limited number of discounts will be released for the Fall 2023 sale on June 21 - browse gardens and join the interest list here!
    • Resource Central Lawn Replacement Program - Up to $500 credits toward lawn removal service fees (minimum 200 square feet), free low-water Garden In A Box garden kits, or both! All available discounts for 2023 are allocated but sign up for the interest list to be notified if more discounts become available here!
    sustainability
    sustainability