Landscape Code

Water Conservation

• Eliminates automatic irrigation requirements for low-water plantings.
• Requires more efficient irrigation systems.
• Restricts nonfunctional and non-hybridized turf.
• Requires use of the City-maintained Plant List, emphasizing regionally appropriate and drought-tolerant species.
• Requires smart irrigation controllers that adjust watering schedules based on weather and soil conditions.

Wildfire Defensible Space

• Incorporates Class II defensible space requirements from the Colorado Wildfire Resiliency Code.
• Limits landscaping and other flammable materials adjacent to buildings.
• Requires regular maintenance of landscaping to reduce wildfire risk.

Landscape Areas

• Enhances screening standards and provides additional compliance options.
• Requires landscaping along parking lot perimeters and within riparian areas.
• Consolidates existing streetscape requirements to improve usability.
• Removes the current alternative compliance provision due to ineffectiveness and unclear language.
• Eliminates interior landscaping requirements to reduce unnecessary plantings and support water conservation.
• Removes parking lot setback landscaping requirements and replaces them with updated parking lot screening standards.

Plantings

• Reduces minimum plant sizes to better align with local availability.
• Allows substitutions when planting requirements conflict with defensible space needs, easements, or similar constraints.
• Requires all plantings to comply with the City Plant List.

Plant List

• Includes plant species appropriate for Steamboat Springs’ climate.
• Provides key details such as mature height, spread, nativity, and water requirements.
• Identifies ignition-resistant plants as designated by the Colorado State Forest Service.
• Will remain outside of the code to allow for regular updates over time.

Minimum Requirements for Plans

• Requires landscape plans to be stamped by a Colorado-licensed landscape architect.
• Requires irrigation plans to be certified by an irrigation design professional (effective date to be determined by Planning Commission/City Council).

Other Code Updates

• Updates additional sections of the Community Development Code, including:
  • Article 2 (Zone District Standards)
  • Article 3 (Use Screening)
  • Article 4 (Buffering, Fencing, and Retaining Walls)
  • Article 8 (Definitions)

This non-exclusive list of plant materials is intended to enhance the Yampa Valley and Rocky Mountain regional plant character of Steamboat Springs. Included plants are adapted and suitable for our high-altitude climate and will provide diversity to support the local ecology and ecosystem services.

This Plant List is not intended to be an exhaustive list. Alternative plant materials may be approved by the Planning Director, provided they are consistent with the desired landscape character and all other applicable standards. Alternative plant materials shall be evaluated through the development review process and shall not require a variance. Plant material shall be regionally sourced to ensure viability throughout the life of the plant.

• View the Plant List

The stakeholder group includes representatives from state and local agencies, along with local nonprofit organizations, all of whom bring subject matter expertise relevant to this effort. Participants include:

• Colorado State Forest Service
• Routt County Extension Office
• Mount Werner Water and Sanitation District
• Routt County Wildfire Mitigation Council
• Western Resilience Center (formerly Yampa Valley Sustainability Council)

City of Steamboat Springs staff are also represented, including:

• Utility Division
• Engineering Division
• Water Resources
• Fire Services
• Planning and Community Development Department

Public comment may be provided at the Planning Commission and City Council public hearings or ahead of the hearings via email at the email addresses below. In addition questions or further understanding of the proposed changes can be emailed to Development Review Manager Bob Keenan.

Official Comment for the Public Record

• Email Planning Commission

Questions on the Proposed Changes

• Email Development Review Manager Bob Keenan