Colorado Zoning

Colorado Zoning uses zoning to prescribe the allowable development on parcels of land. By enacting a zoning ordinance, a community can divide a given geographic area into zones or districts, each with its own set of development regulations and standards that strike a balance between the rights of private property owners to use their land for their own purposes and the public’s general health, safety, and welfare.

For instance, a piece of property is located in a neighborhood commercial zone, which permits both residential and commercial usage.

The zoning code further specifies restrictions for any commercial development, including maximum building height and setback from the public right-of-way. This is done, in particular, to preserve the existing character of the community. Since it is a neighborhood commercial zone where single-family residential use is primary, these regulations are essential for maintaining the area’s unique feel.

TYPES OF ZONING

Types of common zoning practices in Colorado include:

• Form-based zoning focuses on the form of the built environment rather than specifying permitted land uses within a particular district. On the other hand,
• Planned Unit Developments (PUDs) prescribe development standards and land uses for a specific property or subdivision rather than an entire district.
• Planned Unit Developments, or PUDs, which prescribe the development standards and land uses on a specific development property (or subdivision) rather than an entire district.
• Hybrid zoning, where communities are using a mix of traditional zoning and form-based zoning practices.

Colorado Zoning Laws by County