--- title: "Sports Field Turf in the Denver Metro | TIMELESS Grass & Greens" description: "How Brighton, Arvada, Lafayette, Boulder and Westminster codes treat an artificial turf sports field, plus Colorado’s PFAS rule. Free visit and written price." url: https://www.timelessgrass.com/denver-metro/sports-field-turf/ --- Denver Metro # Sports field turf in the Denver Metro, shaped by your city's code. Brighton, Arvada, Lafayette, Boulder and Westminster each set different conditions for a turf field. See what yours asks, then get a free visit and written price. - See how your city’s code treats a turf field - Put PFAS and drainage terms in the order - Approve the layout and written price before work starts [Request a free estimate](https://www.timelessgrass.com/estimate/) [Call 303-349-2368](tel:3033492368) - Layout approved before installation - American-made turf - Free estimates, no pressure The short answer ## Can a Denver-area park, school or HOA still put artificial turf on a sports field? Under state law, yes. Colorado's turf law doesn't stop a city, county or district from allowing artificial turf on athletic fields, and it lets them set stricter rules. New turf statewide must also be free of intentionally added PFAS. Planning a turf installation? Get a layout, turf options and a written quote for your space. [Request a free estimate](https://www.timelessgrass.com/estimate/?use=Commercial%20or%20sports%20field) [Call 303-349-2368](tel:3033492368) We’ll call to arrange a free site visit. Before you install ## What to know before you start. The rules in short. We measure and check the ground at a free visit, then draw a layout that fits. [Request a free estimate](https://www.timelessgrass.com/estimate/) [Call 303-349-2368](tel:3033492368) - ### Colorado law State law doesn't stop a city allowing turf on an athletic field, though it bars nonfunctional turf on new commercial, institutional and HOA common-area development. Since 2026, new turf can't contain intentionally added PFAS. See the rule on colorado law State law leaves the field to your city. Since 1 January 2026, [SB24-005](https://leg.colorado.gov/bill_files/45372/download), as amended by [HB25-1113](https://leg.colorado.gov/bill_files/40673/download), has barred cities, counties, towns, special districts and metropolitan districts from installing, or allowing anyone to install, nonfunctional artificial turf in new development or redevelopment on property such as commercial, institutional and industrial sites and HOA common areas. Functional artificial turf is turf in a space regularly used for civic, community or recreational purposes, which may include a sports field, a playground or part of a park. The same law says nothing in it stops those bodies installing, or allowing, artificial turf on athletic fields of play, or setting stricter rules of their own. So the local code, and how the city reads your site, sets the conditions. Our [Colorado turf law guide](https://www.timelessgrass.com/guides/colorado-turf-law/) covers the rest of the law. A second law reaches every field. From the same date, [SB24-081](https://leg.colorado.gov/bill_files/46185/download) bars anyone from installing artificial turf that contains intentionally added PFAS chemicals on any property in Colorado. Get the supplier’s written documentation for the turf you order, and check which parts of the system it covers. Our [article on PFAS in turf](https://www.timelessgrass.com/blog/does-artificial-turf-contain-pfas/) explains the background. - ### Brighton, Arvada, Lafayette Brighton needs the turf and any pad to percolate at least 5 inches an hour, Arvada wants the field on an approved plan, and Lafayette won't count it toward required landscaping. See the rule on brighton, arvada, lafayette Three codes name fields, each with a condition. As posted in September 2026, [Brighton’s landscape standards](https://library.municode.com/CO/Brighton/codes/land_use?nodeId=ART8LASIDEST_8.02LADE) let artificial turf be used in place of irrigated turf on athletic fields or designated recreation areas approved by the Director. Its [plant specifications](https://library.municode.com/CO/Brighton/codes/land_use?nodeId=ART8LASIDEST_8.04PLSP) add a drainage standard: the turf and any underlayment below it must have a minimum percolation rate of 5 inches per hour, with permeable liner and bedding so water reaches the soil below. Get the supplier’s percolation rate for the turf and for any pad before the plan goes in. [Arvada’s code](https://library.municode.com/co/arvada/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=LADECOARCO_CH4ENSIDE_ART4-6LABU_DIV4-6-7ADTERE_4-6-7-2GRPLBE) keeps artificial turf from being a permanent, primary ground cover in the landscaped area, except where it is used as part of an approved plan for recreational fields or common amenities such as a clubhouse. Show the turf field on the plan you submit for approval. [Lafayette’s code](https://library.municode.com/co/lafayette/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=COOR_CH26DEZO_S26-19DEIMST_S26-19-5LAREGU) says artificial grass may be used for athletic fields, but not in any way that meets the city’s landscaping requirements. Plan the required planting separately from the field. Lafayette is also in the adoption stage of a [new Land Use Code](https://lafayette-listens.com/landusecode), so ask its Planning Division whether that section has changed. - ### Boulder and Westminster Boulder allows functional turf like sports fields, but not in landscape areas, so ask how it classes yours. Westminster judges each field; its draft would add a planted buffer of at least four feet. See the rule on boulder and westminster Two cities judge the field by its use. Where a Boulder project needs a landscape or irrigation plan, the city’s [landscape manual](https://bouldercolorado.gov/landscape-manual) prohibits artificial turf in all new development unless it is functional artificial turf, a definition that names a sports field. Section 5(B) of the same manual also lists artificial turf among materials prohibited within landscape areas, and takes the meaning of landscaped area from the city code. Ask the city whether it will treat your field as a landscape area before the plan is drawn. Westminster’s landscape regulations, effective 1 September 2004, generally prohibit artificial turf outside certain house and duplex yards, but let the city consider sports fields case by case. Artificial turf must meet the standards in the city’s plant list, so get that list before you choose a product. A May 2026 public review draft of Westminster’s new Unified Development Code, filed for the Planning Commission meeting of 23 June 2026, would change that. It would permit artificial turf in any zoning district where it is used for community gathering or recreation, naming active play or athletic areas in parks. It would require a planted buffer of at least four feet between the turf edge and any impervious surface, and point to a Landscape Manual for Private Development for acceptable materials. The draft leaves its effective date blank, so ask planning@westminsterco.gov which rules your application falls under, and leave room for that buffer in the layout. - ### Parks, schools and HOAs If a metro or special district runs the site, check its turf standard on top of the city's. School districts aren't covered by the state list, so start with the district's facilities office instead. See the rule on parks, schools and hoas Ask everyone with a say over the site. The state law’s list of local entities includes special districts and metropolitan districts, and any of them may set turf rules stricter than the state’s. If a metro or special district runs the park or neighborhood amenities where your field would go, check its turf standard as well as the city’s. School districts are not on that list. For a school field, start with the district’s facilities office and ask which local code, if any, the field will be reviewed under. - ### An existing field State law allows maintaining turf installed before 2026, but local codes can reach a replacement. Ask your city whether resurfacing counts as a project that brings the field under today's code. See the rule on an existing field Check whether a new surface means a new review. Colorado’s turf law lets a local entity keep maintaining turf installed before the rule’s 2026 start date. Local codes can still reach a replacement. Boulder’s manual lets landscaping installed before 7 March 2026 stay without complying, unless a project or change to the site requires it. Brighton’s specifications require artificial turf to be replaced when it no longer simulates the infiltration of sod or native grasses. Ask the city whether resurfacing your field counts as a project that brings it under today’s code. Then book a free visit. We measure, check the ground and give you a custom layout and written price to approve before work starts. See the main [sports field turf service](https://www.timelessgrass.com/services/sports-field-turf/) for layout, pad and infill options, or [turf replacement](https://www.timelessgrass.com/services/turf-removal-and-replacement/) for a worn surface. [Request a free estimate](https://www.timelessgrass.com/estimate/) [Call 303-349-2368](tel:3033492368) What we install ## Sports field turf for your space. - [### Sports field turf A playing surface planned around the sport, site drainage and maintenance needs. See sports field turf](https://www.timelessgrass.com/services/sports-field-turf/) FAQ ## Questions about sports field turf in Denver Metro. ### Does a practice area or HOA field count as functional? The law doesn’t define an athletic field of play, and its functional-turf definition turns on regular civic, community or recreational use. HOA common property, such as entryways and parks, falls under the state rule, so describe the field’s scheduled use and get the city’s classification in writing. ### Does the PFAS rule reach a field installed before 2026? No. SB24-081 says nothing in it stops anyone maintaining artificial turf installed before 1 January 2026. ### Does the 2026 rule apply to a field approved years ago? SB24-005 does not apply to projects a local entity or the state’s Department of Personnel approved before the act took effect on 7 August 2024. For a later approval, confirm with the city which conditions still apply. ### My field is in Denver, Aurora or another city. Where do I start? Ask the planning office for the code section on artificial turf for a sports field, any product or drainage standard it points to, and whether a draft code would change it. Put the same questions to any district that runs the site. ### What should we send before the site visit? The address, who owns the land and which city or district reviews it, the sports and rough field size, any drawings, and any code section, test standard or product list the city has given you. Areas we cover in Denver Metro - [Brighton, CO](https://www.timelessgrass.com/denver-metro/brighton-co/) - [Arvada, CO](https://www.timelessgrass.com/denver-metro/arvada-co/) - [Lafayette, CO](https://www.timelessgrass.com/denver-metro/lafayette-co/) - [Boulder, CO](https://www.timelessgrass.com/denver-metro/boulder-co/) - [Westminster, CO](https://www.timelessgrass.com/denver-metro/westminster-co/) - [Denver, CO](https://www.timelessgrass.com/denver-metro/denver-co/) - [Aurora, CO](https://www.timelessgrass.com/denver-metro/aurora-co/) - [Superior, CO](https://www.timelessgrass.com/denver-metro/superior-co/) - [Everywhere we work in Denver Metro](https://www.timelessgrass.com/denver-metro/) Useful links - [Colorado SB24-005, signed act (2024)](https://leg.colorado.gov/bill_files/45372/download) - [Colorado SB24-081, signed act (2024)](https://leg.colorado.gov/bill_files/46185/download) - [City of Brighton: Land Use & Development Code 8.04, Plant Specifications](https://library.municode.com/CO/Brighton/codes/land_use?nodeId=ART8LASIDEST_8.04PLSP) - [City of Arvada: Land Development Code 4-6-7-2, Groundcovers and planting beds](https://library.municode.com/co/arvada/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=LADECOARCO_CH4ENSIDE_ART4-6LABU_DIV4-6-7ADTERE_4-6-7-2GRPLBE) - [City of Lafayette: Code 26-19-5, Landscape regulations](https://library.municode.com/co/lafayette/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=COOR_CH26DEZO_S26-19DEIMST_S26-19-5LAREGU) - [City of Boulder: landscape manual](https://bouldercolorado.gov/landscape-manual) Free estimate ## See the plan before you decide. Tell us about your project and we’ll call to arrange a free visit. [Or call 303-349-2368](tel:3033492368) Your free estimate includes - A visit to measure your space - A custom layout, drawn for your space - Turf options, side by side - A written price, with no pressure to sign [Request a free estimate](https://www.timelessgrass.com/estimate/) Five short steps. We’ll call to arrange your visit.