Water-Wise Landscaping
Design Guidelines
Pre-Approved Xeriscape Designs for Front Yard Installation
Legal Authority & Adoption Notice
These guidelines are adopted in compliance with Colorado SB23-178 (effective August 7, 2023), which amended the Colorado Common Interest Ownership Act (CCIOA § 38-33.3-106.5). Under state law, this Association may not prohibit the use of xeriscape or drought-tolerant landscaping. All detached single-family home communities are required to offer homeowners at least three pre-approved water-wise garden designs for front yard installation. Designs below satisfy that requirement. This document does not constitute legal advice; consult your HOA attorney regarding your specific governing documents.
State-Mandated Protections & HOA Authority
HOA Cannot
Prohibit xeriscape, drought-tolerant plantings, or nonvegetative turf grass in the backyard. Require hardscape on more than 20% of landscaped area. Block any design that is ≥ 80% drought-tolerant plantings.
HOA May
Adopt aesthetic and design guidelines for drought-tolerant landscapes. Regulate type, number, and placement of plantings and hardscapes. Require front yard designs to match one of the pre-approved options below (or submit custom plan).
Vegetable Gardens
Permitted in front, back, and side yards for detached single-family homes under SB23-178. HOA may regulate placement and appearance but may not prohibit them outright.
Water Conservation
Arvada is served by Denver Water and Consolidated Mutual Water. Rebates may be available for turf removal. Irrigated xeriscape landscapes must use drip or low-flow irrigation systems only.
Three Pre-Approved Front Yard Designs
Homeowners may install any of the three designs below without additional ARC approval, provided they adhere to the specifications listed. Custom designs require standard ARC submission. All designs assume a typical 25 ft × 20 ft front yard area (~500 sq ft) but may be scaled proportionally.
Prairie Pollinator Garden
Native grasses, wildflowers, and structured stone path — year-round color and wildlife habitat
| Plant | Type | Water Needs | Height | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bouteloua gracilis Blue Grama Grass |
Native Grass | Very Low | 12–18" | CO state grass; eyelash seedheads; winter interest |
| Sporobolus heterolepis Prairie Dropseed |
Native Grass | Low | 18–24" | Fine texture; fragrant fall blooms |
| Penstemon strictus Rocky Mountain Penstemon |
Native Perennial | Very Low | 18–30" | Blue-purple; hummingbird magnet; late spring |
| Achillea millefolium Yarrow |
Perennial | Very Low | 18–24" | White/yellow flat-top blooms; spring–fall |
| Rudbeckia hirta Black-eyed Susan |
Native Perennial | Low | 18–24" | Gold daisy; pollinator favorite; summer–fall |
| Thymus serpyllum Creeping Thyme |
Groundcover | Very Low | 2–4" | Fragrant; edging & path softener; pink blooms |
| Nepeta ssp. Catmint |
Perennial | Very Low | 18–24" | Blue-lavender; blooms all summer; deer resistant |
Structured Shrub & Stone Garden
Low-water shrubs with gravel mulch and ornamental boulders — low maintenance, four-season structure
| Plant | Type | Water Needs | Height | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fallugia paradoxa Apache Plume |
Native Shrub | Very Low | 4–6 ft | Feathery pink seed plumes; CO native; craggy winter silhouette |
| Potentilla fruticosa Potentilla / Cinquefoil |
Native Shrub | Low | 2–4 ft | Yellow or white blooms; deer resistant; long season |
| Chamaebatiaria millefolium Fernbush |
Native Shrub | Very Low | 4–6 ft | Fern-like leaves; white blooms; semi-evergreen |
| Arctostaphylos × coloradoensis Panchito Manzanita |
Native Groundcover Shrub | Very Low | 12–18" | Evergreen; pink flowers; red berries; CO native |
| Perovskia atriplicifolia Russian Sage |
Perennial Shrub | Very Low | 3–5 ft | Silver stems; lavender; roadside-hardy; late bloomer |
| Caryopteris × clandonensis Blue Mist Spirea |
Deciduous Shrub | Low | 2–4 ft | Blue tufts; graceful winter branching; late summer |
| Agastache ssp. Hummingbird Mint |
Perennial | Low | 2–4 ft | Orange–pink tubular blooms; hummingbird magnet |
Cottage Perennial & Groundcover Mix
Layered perennials and low groundcovers with a focal specimen tree — lush, colorful, and neighborhood-friendly
| Plant | Type | Water Needs | Height | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chilopsis linearis Desert Willow |
Specimen Tree | Very Low | 15–25 ft | Sculptural; pink-white blooms; slow growing; focal |
| Aquilegia caerulea Colorado Blue Columbine |
Native Perennial | Low | 18–30" | CO state flower; blue-white; partial shade tolerant |
| Linum lewisii Blue Flax |
Native Perennial | Very Low | 12–24" | Sky-blue; self-seeds; spring through summer |
| Gaillardia × grandiflora Blanket Flower |
Native Perennial | Very Low | 12–24" | Red-orange-yellow; blooms all season; xeric champion |
| Artemisia ludoviciana Prairie Sage |
Native Perennial | Very Low | 18–30" | Silver foliage; texture contrast; deer resistant |
| Sedum ssp. Stonecrop |
Groundcover | Very Low | 4–8" | Succulent; edging; pink fall blooms; winter structure |
| Festuca glauca Blue Fescue |
Ornamental Grass | Low | 8–12" | Blue-grey clumps; edging; year-round texture |
| Asclepias tuberosa Butterfly Milkweed |
Native Perennial | Very Low | 18–24" | Orange; Monarch host plant; deep taproot |
| Yucca ssp. Yucca |
Native Accent | Very Low | 2–5 ft | Bold architectural accent; evergreen; limit 1–2 per yard |
Compliance Checklist & Submission Requirements
Homeowners using a pre-approved design above are exempt from standard ARC review, but must still provide a simple notification form. Custom designs require full ARC submission.
| Requirement | Pre-Approved Design | Custom Design |
|---|---|---|
| Written notification to HOA | ✓ Required (simple form) | ✓ Required |
| Plant list submission | ✓ Use design plant list | ✓ Full list required |
| Site plan / diagram | Optional (use template above) | ✓ Required |
| ARC committee review | Not required | ✓ Required (30-day window) |
| ≥ 80% drought-tolerant plantings | ✓ Met by design | Required per SB23-178 |
| Drip/low-flow irrigation only | Required | Required |
| Hardscape ≤ 20% of area | ✓ Met by design | Required per SB23-178 |
| Mulch 3" minimum depth | Required | Required |
| No invasive/noxious species | Required | Required |
| Maintain neat appearance | Required (ongoing) | Required (ongoing) |
Installation Process
Select a Design & Review
Choose Design A, B, or C above (or prepare a custom plan). Review all specifications and confirm your yard's sun exposure, soil drainage, and dimensions are compatible.
Submit Notification Form
Submit the HOA Landscaping Notification Form to the management office or ARC email at least 14 days before planned start date. Include which design you are using. No approval is required for pre-approved designs — only acknowledgment.
Check for Rebates
Contact Denver Water or Consolidated Mutual Water Co. about turf removal rebates before installation. Some programs require pre-approval and photos of existing lawn.
Prepare Soil & Remove Turf
Remove existing turf by solarization, sheet mulching, or mechanical removal. Amend soil with compost (3–4" worked in). Mark irrigation lines before digging.
Install Irrigation Before Planting
Install drip or soaker hose irrigation before plants go in. Zone placement by plant water needs. Irrigation must target root zones — no overhead spray permitted in front yard xeriscape areas.
Plant & Mulch
Plant in early spring or fall for best establishment. Apply 3" mulch layer around all plants. Keep mulch 2" away from plant stems. Water deeply during establishment period (first full growing season).
Notify HOA of Completion
Submit a completion notice and photos to the HOA within 30 days of installation. This initiates the maintenance expectations record and closes out your file.
Local Resources & Incentives
Turf Removal Rebates
Denver Water offers rebates for replacing irrigated lawn with xeriscape. Contact Consolidated Mutual Water Co. (serving much of Arvada) for local programs. Some rebates require pre-approval photos.
Garden in a Box
Resource Central offers curated pre-designed xeriscape plant kits for Colorado Front Range yards, often at subsidized prices through water utility partnerships.
CSU Extension
Jefferson County CSU Extension offers free and low-cost resources on xeriscape design, native plants, and soil health. Visit jeffco.extension.colostate.edu
Colorado Statute
Full text of SB23-178 and homeowner rights are available at leg.colorado.gov. HOA questions may be directed to the Colorado Division of Real Estate HOA office.