Grand Junction to revise landscaping code to meet state turf ban; residential controls deferred

At a Planning Commission workshop, city planning staff said Grand Junction must revise its landscaping code to comply with Senate Bill 24-5, a new state law that bans nonfunctional artificial turf and certain invasive species on commercial, industrial, public/civic and common-interest properties. City staff said the ordinance changes must be in place by Jan. 1, 2026.

The change matters because the law alters which properties can install nonfunctional and artificial turf and because Grand Junction’s current code uses a different, more restrictive definition of "functional turf." Tim Warebach, principal planner with the City of Grand Junction, said, "Senate Bill 24-5 was signed into law by the governor in early 2024 and entails that there is a ban on nonfunctional turf, artificial turf, and invasive species to be installed on commercial, industrial, and public or civic properties, as well as common interest community properties." The planning commission received staff recommendations to update local definitions and adopt voluntary, programmatic tools to encourage water-wise landscaping.

Staff described how the state and city definitions differ. The state defines functional turf as turf in recreational or civic areas regularly used for those purposes (playgrounds, amphitheaters and similar facilities) without size limits. Grand Junction’s existing…