From Castle Rock and Parker to Highlands Ranch, Lone Tree, Castle Pines, Roxborough, The Pinery and Larkspur, every Douglas County community is living with tighter water rules. In July 2026, Castle Rock moved to mandatory Stage 2 restrictions with two watering days a week, and new neighborhoods like Macanta are being built with almost no lawn at all. If your yard depends on a thirsty bluegrass lawn, each dry summer gets harder and more expensive. A well designed xeriscape changes that, and right now water providers across the county will help pay for it.
Key takeaways
- Douglas County has long depended on slow to refill Denver Basin groundwater, so every community faces water limits, not just Castle Rock and Parker.
- Outdoor irrigation is more than 75 percent of Castle Rock's summer water use, so the yard is where restrictions bite first.
- New communities such as Macanta follow stricter rules: no front lawn, limited backyard turf, and inspections before you move in.
- Xeriscape is a planted, water wise landscape. A rock only “xeroscape” is something different, and it earns less in rebates.
- Castle Rock Water pays $3.25 per square foot for qualifying conversions; Highlands Ranch Water pays $2.50; Parker customers can get up to $750 off lawn removal.
- Colorado law protects your right to xeriscape a detached single family home, even in an HOA.
- Rebates require approval before work begins, so fall and winter are the time to design.
Why water is tight across Douglas County
For decades, much of Douglas County relied on groundwater from the Denver Basin aquifers, which refill very slowly and are considered nonrenewable. In 2004, local water providers formed the South Metro Water Supply Authority to move toward renewable supplies, including the WISE partnership with Denver Water and Aurora Water. Learn about South Metro water supply. Its members now serve about 80 percent of Douglas County residents. See the member providers.
Renewable water costs more to bring in and treat, and every provider is working to stretch it. That is why rules, rates and rebates look similar from Highlands Ranch to Larkspur, and why the lawn is the first place to save.
Your Douglas County community at a glance
Tap your community to see who supplies your water, the rules that apply and the help available.
Water restrictions right now
Douglas County's fast growing towns depend on limited water supplies, and summer demand is driven by lawns. When Castle Rock declared Stage 2 on July 22, 2026, the goal was to cut water use by 25 percent. Town officials noted that outdoor irrigation accounts for more than 75 percent of summer water use. Read the Colorado Politics report.
Under Stage 2, Castle Rock's Tier 2 outdoor water budgets drop by half, so households reach higher priced tiers sooner. Castle Rock explains how budgets change. The town's drought page now shows Stage 1 advisory restrictions, and the same two day schedule is still encouraged this fall.
Find your watering days
Choose your water provider and the last digit of your street address.
New communities, stricter landscape rules
If you bought a new home anywhere in Douglas County in the last few years, your landscape rules are likely stricter than your neighbors' in older subdivisions. In Castle Rock, every home permitted since January 1, 2023 must have a ColoradoScape front yard with no lawn, and no more than 500 square feet of lawn in back. See Castle Rock new home rules.
Some neighborhoods go further. In Macanta, homeowners must pass a final landscape and irrigation inspection under the builder agreement, and any new backyard design has to be approved by the town before work begins, which can take up to 10 business days. At Sterling Ranch, water wise lawns are required, homes have separate indoor and outdoor water meters, and single family homes average about 0.18 acre feet of water a year, well under Douglas County's original 0.75 acre foot standard. Read about Sterling Ranch.
For new build owners, that means the backyard has to be designed to the rules from day one. We design to your builder agreement, HOA guidelines and ColoradoScape standards, prepare the plans for approval, and build it to pass inspection the first time.
Xeriscape vs xeroscape: what is the difference?
You will see both spellings across Douglas County, and they usually describe two very different yards. Xeriscape comes from the Greek word for dry. The term was created by Denver Water in 1981 for landscaping that saves water through good design, the right plants and efficient irrigation. It is full of life and color. Xeroscape, often heard as “zeroscape,” is how many people describe a yard that is mostly rock with few or no plants.
XeriscapeXeriscape
- A living landscape: native and adapted plants, mulch and a smaller practical lawn
- Drip and efficient irrigation put water where roots need it
- Color through the seasons and habitat for pollinators
- Qualifies for the top ColoradoScape rebate rates when it includes living plants
Rock only “xeroscape”
- Mostly gravel or rock with few or no plants
- Uses almost no water, but can feel bare and harsh
- Castle Rock pays its full rebate only when the design includes living plants; hardscape areas earn $1 per square foot
- Artificial turf earns no rebate in Castle Rock or Highlands Ranch
The difference matters for your wallet as well as your curb appeal. Castle Rock's ColoradoScape rebate pays its full rate only for designs that include living plant material, and neither Castle Rock nor Highlands Ranch pays rebates for artificial turf.
The seven principles of xeriscape
Tap each principle.
Incentives for Douglas County homeowners
In Douglas County, most incentives come through your water provider rather than the county government. Use the community guide above for your area. Here are the largest programs in detail, with links so you can confirm the latest figures.
Castle Rock Water
A rebate of $3.25 per square foot to replace healthy, high water use lawn with ColoradoScape, the town's water wise landscape standard. The project must cover at least 400 square feet or the whole front yard, with a maximum of 1,500 square feet. Areas replaced with concrete, decks or other hardscape earn $1.00 per square foot, the design must include plants, and artificial turf does not qualify. An approved application and site inspection are required before work starts. Castle Rock Water rebates.
Highlands Ranch Water
$2.50 per square foot for ColoradoScape conversions and $1.50 for low water turf, from 250 up to 2,000 square feet. The 2026 funding has been used up, and the program reopens March 1, 2027. Conversions must be approved by the Highlands Ranch Community Association first. Highlands Ranch Water program.
Parker Water and Sanitation District
Through a partnership with the South Metro Water Supply Authority, Parker customers can get a $750 discount on lawn removal through Resource Central, plus rebates for smart irrigation controllers, efficient nozzles and converting sprays to drip. Parker Water rebates.
Lone Tree, Castle Pines, Roxborough, The Pinery and beyond
Lone Tree homes are served by Southgate west of Interstate 25, Parker Water east of Interstate 25 and Northern Douglas County Water in part of Terra Ridge. See Lone Tree utility providers. Castle Pines North offers a Lawn Replacement Program for water efficient grasses (Castle Pines North). Roxborough offers free sprinkler evaluations, free smart controllers and rain sensors (Roxborough Water), and The Pinery runs a Turf Replacement Program (Pinery Water). Rural homes in Larkspur, Franktown and Sedalia that rely on wells see the payoff in less pumping from a slow to refill aquifer.
Estimate your rebate and water savings
Pick your water provider, then slide to the size of lawn you would convert.
Water estimate: a Front Range bluegrass lawn needs about 24 inches of supplemental water a season (about 15 gallons per square foot), and CSU Extension reports xeric landscapes can save 30 to 80 percent. Rebates change each year and require approval before work begins.
The benefits of converting your yard
Lower water bills
With tiered rates and water budgets, the most expensive water you buy is the water that goes on the lawn in July. Shrinking that lawn cuts the gallons that land in the highest tiers.
A yard that survives restrictions
Established xeric plants handle two day watering schedules far better than bluegrass. When the next drought stage arrives, your landscape keeps looking good instead of turning brown.
Less mowing, more living
Fewer square feet of lawn means less mowing, fertilizing and reseeding. Weekends go to enjoying the yard instead of maintaining it.
Rebates that offset the cost
On a 1,000 square foot conversion in Castle Rock, the rebate alone is $3,250. Pair it with a new patio, path or seating area and the whole yard becomes more useful.
Protected by Colorado law
Under SB23 178, an HOA cannot prohibit xeriscape or drought tolerant landscapes on a detached single family home, and it must offer an option that is at least 80 percent drought tolerant plantings. HOAs can still set design guidelines, so a professional plan makes approval smoother. Read the law.
Plan this fall, install in spring
Rebate programs open in spring, they are first come, first served, and they require approval before any work begins. That makes fall and winter the ideal time to design. We can measure your lawn, create a plan that meets ColoradoScape and HOA requirements, and have your application ready when programs open. Hardscape elements like paths, patios and boulder walls can even be built over the winter. See why fall and winter are a smart time to build.
Ready to trade thirsty lawn for a water wise yard?
Book a free design consultation. We serve Castle Rock, Parker, Highlands Ranch, Lone Tree, Castle Pines, Roxborough, The Pinery, Sterling Ranch, Larkspur, Franktown, Sedalia and every community across Douglas County, including new builds like Macanta.
Book a free consultationExplore our landscape design and installation, design process and hardscapes.
Xeriscape Questions from Douglas County Homeowners
I just bought a new build in Macanta or another new community. What rules apply?
Usually stricter ones. Castle Rock homes permitted since 2023 cannot have front lawns and are limited to 500 square feet of lawn in back, and Macanta adds a final landscape and irrigation inspection plus town approval of new backyard designs. Check your builder agreement and HOA guidelines before you plan. See the Castle Rock rules.
Is xeroscape the same as xeriscape?
Not quite. Xeriscape is the original term, created by Denver Water in 1981 for water wise landscaping built on seven principles, with plenty of living plants. Xeroscape is a common spelling people often use for yards that are mostly rock with few plants. For looks, comfort and rebates, a planted xeriscape usually wins.
Does artificial turf qualify for rebates?
Not in Castle Rock or Highlands Ranch. Both programs exclude artificial turf from turf replacement rebates. See Castle Rock Water rebates.
Can my HOA stop me from xeriscaping?
For detached single family homes in Colorado, no. Under SB23 178, an HOA cannot prohibit xeriscape or drought tolerant landscapes, though it can still set design guidelines. Many HOAs, like the Highlands Ranch Community Association, still require approval of your plan first. Read SB23 178.
When do rebate programs open?
Most Douglas County programs run each spring on a first come, first served basis, and they require approval before work begins. Highlands Ranch Water reopens March 1, 2027. Designing over the winter means your application is ready the day programs open.
How much water can I really save?
CSU Extension reports xeric plantings can achieve 30 to 80 percent water savings when paired with good design and efficient irrigation. A bluegrass lawn on the Front Range needs about 24 inches of supplemental water a season, so every square foot converted adds up. See CSU Extension.
Sources
- Colorado Politics, Castle Rock implements mandatory Stage 2 water restrictions (July 22, 2026)
- Town of Castle Rock, Understanding Drought Restrictions
- Castle Rock Water, Watering Schedule
- Castle Rock Water, Rebates (ColoradoScape Renovation)
- Parker Water and Sanitation District, Watering Restrictions
- Parker Water and Sanitation District, Rebates and Discounts
- Highlands Ranch Water, Turf Replacement Program
- Resource Central, Lawn Removal Service
- Castle Pines North Metropolitan District, Conservation
- Colorado General Assembly, SB23 178 Water Wise Landscaping in HOA Communities
- Colorado State University Extension, Best practices for lawn care in Colorado (July 2, 2024)
- Colorado State University Extension, Fine Fescues for Lawns (bluegrass irrigation need)
- South Metro Water Supply Authority, Members (serving 80 percent of Douglas County residents)
- South Metro Water Supply Authority, Supply and Infrastructure (Denver Basin groundwater and WISE)
- Town of Castle Rock, Landscape Design for Homeowners (new home ColoradoScape rules and Macanta)
- Water Education Colorado, Fresh Water News: How much water do Colorado communities actually need? (Sterling Ranch)
- City of Lone Tree, Utility Providers
- Roxborough Water and Sanitation District, Save Water
- Pinery Water and Wastewater District, Incentives and Rebates
- Xeriscape history and the seven principles (term coined by Denver Water, 1981)
Restrictions and rebate amounts change. Figures above were checked on October 2, 2026; confirm current details with your water provider before you apply.
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