Greeley City Council members reached a preliminary agreement Tuesday to allow some artificial turf within the city’s landscaping code, following a passionate discussion of turf regulations.
City code currently prohibits artificial turf as ground cover for front lawns or any other space visible from the sidewalk. This stipulation reduced residents’ options for complying with other aspects of the code, which essentially required homes to have grass lawns, minus some exceptions for alternative compliance.
After Tuesday’s discussion, the city council reached a consensus on allowing 50% of a yard to be made of artificial turf with city inspection and approval. City staff will now draft an official ordinance to amend the code and bring it before the council at an undetermined time for a public hearing.
State lawmakers last year passed a bill prohibiting artificial turf installation on commercial, institutional, industrial or common-interest community property, while allowing exceptions for athletic playing fields and residential homes. The law goes into effect in 2026, meaning the city must adjust its code to comply with the new law’s exceptions for turf on residential properties.
The state implemented restrictions on artificial turf due to its negative environmental impact. Artificial turf contains microplastic fibers that release harmful chemicals that leach into the surrounding environment. Additionally, artificial turf can add to floodwater or stormwater issues since most artificial turfs are not permeable.
Councilman Brett Payton was particularly irritated by the state’s new regulations, stating that this was an issue of the product and not artificial turf as a whole. Payton also pointed out the value of a lawn that doesn’t require watering in a state that frequently has drought issues.
“It’s incredulous to have a list of ways we could save water and then discuss banning a method that will save water because people don’t like it,” Payton said.
City staff presented the city council with three options for amendments to the current landscaping code.
The council could approve a maximum limit of 25% of a resident’s lawn made up of artificial turf or a 50% limit, both requiring inspection and approval by city staff to ensure it meets the city’s aesthetic and functional standards. The third option would allow up to 50% of a resident’s lawn to be artificial turf without inspection.
City council took issue with having only those three options, with some opposition to artificial turf altogether.
“I’m not a big fan of turf lawns,” Councilman Tommy Butler said. “That aside, a lot of states are now banning existing turf lawns because of the chemicals in them, and I don’t want to approve this now only to have it outlawed later.”
Deputy Director of Community Development Don Threewitt added that that there are some state-level discussions about banning turf lawns altogether.
Mayor John Gates then chimed in about his irritation regarding what he believes to be state overreach into a local municipal matter.
“I don’t care what the state thinks, and it makes my blood boil thinking about the state regulating my lawn,” Gates said. “The one thing I’ll say is this: Come get my turf.”
Gates said he was also once opposed to turf lawns, until he visited the home of a Greeley resident with artificial turf who turned him around on the issue.
“I went to their home, and their yard was pristine,” Gates said. “On my way there, I passed a bunch of lawns that had dirt spots, and I don’t mean to paint with a big brush, but for one reason or another, those property owners don’t take care of their lawns, and it drives down the value of the neighborhood.”
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