[Ord. No. 2020-182, 9-9-2020; Ord. No. 2026-289, 4-6-2026]
For purposes of this Article, and as otherwise used in this Chapter, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:
BRUSH
Means voluntary growth of bushes and such as are growing out of place at the location where growing and includes all cuttings from trees and bushes and high and rank shrubbery growth which may conceal filthy deposits;
DEVELOPED PROPERTY
Means property that has been substantially improved with structures, landscaping and/or hardscape on areas zoned for residential and nonresidential uses;
GRASS
Means any variety or combination of varieties of perennial grasses, such as Kentucky bluegrass or rye, historically used for residential lawns;
LOCAL ADVISORY BOARD
Means, as provided in the Colorado Noxious Weed Act, § 35-5.5-101, C.R.S. et seq., the Town Manager and the Planning Director or their designees;
NATIVE GRASS
Means grass that is indigenous to and naturally grew in Colorado before modern development and settlement. Native grass is adapted to Colorado's climate, soils, elevation, and weather patterns, and supports local wildlife and ecosystems without needing excessive water, fertilizer, or maintenance. The Town, at its discretion, shall determine whether grass is native grass;
NON-NATIVE GRASS
Means all grass that is not native grass;
NOXIOUS WEED
Means an alien plant or parts of an alien plant designated by rule promulgated by an authorized regulatory agency as being noxious or declared a noxious weed by the Local Advisory Board and meets one of the following criteria: (i) aggressively invades or is detrimental to economic crops or native plant communities; (ii) is poisonous to livestock; (iii) is a carrier of detrimental insects, diseases, or parasites; or (iv) the direct or indirect effect of the presence of the plant is detrimental to the environmentally sound management of natural or agricultural ecosystems;
UNDEVELOPED PROPERTY
Means property that is not developed property as defined herein or property that has been overlot graded, but not improved; and
WEED
Means any undesirable plant, as determined by the Town Manager, and includes, but is not limited to, unsightly, useless, troublesome or injurious growing herbaceous plants, common ragweed, fireweed, milkweed, mustard, Russian thistle, sandburs and other similar plants and vegetation.
[Ord. No. 2020-182, 9-9-2020; Ord. No. 2026-289, 4-6-2026]
(a) 
Nuisance. Weeds, grass or brush growing on property in the Town and exceeding a certain height, as delineated herein, are hereby declared to be nuisances and shall be administered and abated as provided in this Chapter.
(b) 
Developed property. No owner of developed property shall permit weeds, grass or brush exceeding eight inches to grow, or remain when grown, on such property, on or along any sidewalk adjoining the property or in the alley behind the property.
(c) 
Undeveloped property.
(1) 
No owner of undeveloped property shall permit weeds, grass or brush exceeding eight inches to grow, or remain when grown, within a twenty-foot buffer around the perimeter of the entire property, on or along any sidewalk adjoining the property or in the alley behind the property.
(2) 
Except as set forth in Subsection (c)(1), no owner of undeveloped property shall permit weeds, non-native grass or brush exceeding 12 inches to grow, or remain when grown, on such property; provided, however, that native grass may grow to its natural height within such area.
(d) 
Agricultural property. Where property is actively used for agricultural purposes, the owner of the undeveloped properly may seek a written waiver of the requirements, or an exception to certain of the standards, contained herein from the Town Manager, except that, under no circumstance shall weeds, grass or brush exceeding eight inches be permitted to grow, or to remain when grown, on property that is directly adjacent to residential property or along public right-of-way.
[Ord. No. 2020-182, 9-9-2020; Ord. No. 2026-289, 4-6-2026[1]]
(a) 
Noxious weeds on property in the Town are hereby declared to be nuisances and shall be administered and abated as provided in this Chapter.
(b) 
Unless the owner obtained a waiver of compliance from a state or federal agency with lawful authority to issue such waiver, no owner of property shall permit noxious weeds to grow, or remain when grown, on such property.
(c) 
The owner of property shall eradicate noxious weeds from such property. For purposes of this section, eradication means reducing the reproductive success of a noxious weed species or a specified noxious weed population in largely uninfested regions to zero and permanently eliminating the species or population on infested property within a specified period of time, as determined by the Town. Once all noxious weed populations are eliminated or prevented from reproducing, the owner shall continue eradication efforts until the existing seed bank is exhausted.
[1]
Editor's Note: This ordinance also repealed former § 7-84, Removal from Town, and § 7-85, Undesirable Plant Management Advisory Commission designated, both added by Ord. No. 2020-182, 9-9-2020, which immediately followed this section.