City of Colorado Springs / Land Use Review / General Land Use and Zoning Information / Types of Zone Districts

Types of Zone Districts

The following information is for reference and informational purposes. For the most up-to-date information, contact the Land Use Review office at 385-5905.

 

Types of Zone Districts:

There are a wide range of residential, office, commercial, industrial and special purpose zone districts along with overlays used within the City of Colorado Springs. The development standards will vary depending on the type of zone district.

 

Residential Zone Districts:

PUD (Planned Unit Development): Intended to provide the means through which land may be developed through an overall unified approach rather than the traditional lot by lot approach.  The district encourages clustering of units by means of flexibility in design in order to create a better living environment, preserve the unique features of the site, and provide services in a more economic manner. The PUD zone allows for a variety of use types and encourages appropriate mixed use developments. Each development will identify its own development standards.

 

TND (Traditional Neighborhood Development): Intended to provide a pedestrian-oriented residential neighborhood development pattern with diverse housing types integrated with neighborhood schools, parks, civic spaces and commercial uses. Each development will identify its own development standards.

 

MU (Mixed Use Development): Intended to combine and integrate two or more principal land uses i.e., office, commercial, residential with a strong pedestrian orientation linking places for living, working, shopping, school and recreation thereby reducing vehicle trips, traffic congestion and improving air quality. Each development will identify its own development standards.

 

A (Agricultural): Intended for large lot residential development that is primarily on the periphery of the City limits.

·   Minimum Lot Size:  5 acres

·   Maximum Lot Coverage:  15%

·   Minimum Lot Width:  200'

·   Minimum Front Yard Setbacks: 25'

·   Minimum Side Yard Setback: 10'

·   Minimum Rear Yard Setback: 35'

·   Maximum Building Height: 30'

 

R (Estate Residential):  Intended for single‑family dwellings with a minimum lot size of 20,000 square feet.

·   Maximum Lot Coverage:  20%

·   Minimum Lot Width:  100'

·   Minimum Front Yard Setback:  25'

·   Minimum Side Yard Setback: 10'

·   Minimum Rear Yard Setback:  35'

·   Maximum Building Height:  30'

 

R - 1 - 9000 (Single‑family residential): Intended for medium sized lots for single‑family residential use with a minimum lot size of 9,000 square feet.

·   Maximum Lot Coverage:  25%

·   Minimum Lot Width:  75'

·   Minimum Front Yard Setback:  25'

·   Minimum Side Yard Setback: 10'

·   Minimum Rear Yard Setback:  30'

·   Maximum Building Height:  30'

 

R - 1 - 6000 (Single‑family residential):  Intended for single‑family residential lots with a minimum lot size of 6,000 square feet.

·   Maximum Lot Coverage: Depends on the building height of the principal structure

·   Minimum Lot Width:  50'

·   Minimum Front Yard Setback:  25'

·   Minimum Side Yard Setback:  5'

·   Minimum Rear Yard Setback:  25'

·   Maximum Building Height:  30'

 

R - 2 (Two‑Family Residential):  Intended for single‑family or duplex residential lots.

·   Minimum Lot Size per dwelling unit: 5,000 square feet for single family; 3,500 square feet for two-family

·   Maximum Lot Coverage:  Depends on the building height of the principal structure(s)

·   Minimum Lot Width: 50'

·   Minimum Front Yard Setback:  25'

·   Minimum Side Yard Setback: 5'

·   Minimum Rear Yard Setback: 25'

·   Maximum Building Height: 30'

 

R - 4 (Eight‑Family Residential):  Intended for multi-family development of not more than eight units per lot.

·   Minimum Lot Size: Varies depending on the type of use and the number of stories

·   Maximum Lot Coverage: 35%

·   Minimum Front Yard Setback: 20'

·   Minimum Side Yard Setback: 5'

·   Minimum Rear Yard Setback: 25'

·   Maximum Building Height: 40'

 

R - 5 (Multi‑Family Residential):  Designed to accommodate medium to high-density residential development.

·   Minimum Lot Size: Varies depending on the type of use and the number of stories

·   Maximum Lot Coverage: 40%

·   Minimum Lot Width: 50'

·   Minimum Front Yard Setback: 20'

·   Minimum Side Yard Setback: 5'

·   Minimum Rear Yard Setback: 25'

·   Maximum Building Height: 45'

 

SU (Special Use): Provides for uses customarily located near a college or university.

·   Minimum Lot Size: Varies depending on the type of use and the number of stories

·   Maximum Lot Coverage: 50%

·   Minimum Lot Width: 50'

·   Minimum Front Yard Setback: 25'

·   Minimum Side Yard Setback: Varies depending on the number of stories

·   Minimum Rear Yard Setback: 25'

·   Maximum Building Height: 60'

 

Office Zone Districts:

PUD (Planned Unit Development): Intended to provide the means through which land may be developed through an overall unified approach rather than the traditional lot by lot approach.  The district encourages clustering of units by means of flexibility in design in order to create a better living environment, preserve the unique features of the site, and provide services in a more economic manner. The PUD zone allows for a variety of use types and encourages appropriate mixed use developments. Each development will identify its own development standards.

 

TND (Traditional Neighborhood Development): Intended to provide a residential neighborhood development pattern that was common prior to World War II with diverse housing types integrated with neighborhood schools, parks, civic spaces and commercial uses and based on a pedestrian environment. Each development will identify its own development standards.

 

MU (Mixed Use Development): Intended to accommodate patterns of development that provide a mix of residential and commercial uses that support public transit and walking while linking places for living, working, shopping, school and recreation thereby reducing vehicle trips, traffic congestion and improving air quality. Each development will identify its own development standards.

 

FBZ (Form-Based Zone): Intended to regulate development within a physical urban form and to provide an option which accomodates the changing use of buildings with an emphasis on intermodal transportation. The zone also encourages flexibility, innovation in design and a variety of development types.

 

OR (Office Residential): A transitional district for both residential and professional office uses.

·   Minimum Lot Size: Varies depending on the type of use and the number of stories

·   Maximum Lot Coverage: 50%

·   Minimum Lot Width: 50'

·   Minimum Front Yard Setback: 25'

·   Minimum Side Yard Setback: None unless adjacent to a residential zone

·   Minimum Rear Yard Setback: 20'

·   Maximum Building Height: 35'

 

OC (Office Complex): Residential or office uses providing administrative, professional and personal services. Transitional in nature between intensive uses and less intensive uses of land.

·   Minimum Lot Size: None unless a residential use

·   Maximum Lot Coverage: 40%

·   Minimum Front Yard Setback: 25' along district boundary

·   Minimum Side Yard Setback: None unless adjacent to a residential zone

·   Minimum Rear Yard Setback: 20' along district boundary

·   Maximum Building Height: 45'

·   Minimum District Size: 10,000 square feet

 

Commercial Zone Districts:

PUD (Planned Unit Development): Intended to provide the means through which land may be developed through an overall unified approach rather than the traditional lot by lot approach.  The district encourages clustering of units by means of flexibility in design in order to create a better living environment, preserve the unique features of the site, and provide services in a more economic manner. The PUD zone allows for a variety of use types and encourages appropriate mixed use developments. Each development will identify its own development standards.

 

TND (Traditional Neighborhood Development): Intended to provide a residential neighborhood development pattern that was common prior to World War II with diverse housing types integrated with neighborhood schools, parks, civic spaces and commercial uses and based on a pedestrian environment. Each development will identify its own development standards.

 

MU (Mixed Use Development): Intended to accommodate patterns of development that provide a mix of residential and commercial uses that support public transit and walking while linking places for living, working, shopping, school and recreation thereby reducing vehicle trips, traffic congestion and improving air quality. Each development will identify its own development standards.

 

FBZ (Form-Based Zone): Intended to regulate development within a physical urban form and to provide an option which accomodates the changing use of buildings with an emphasis on intermodal transportation. The zone also encourages flexibility, innovation in design and a variety of development types.

 

PBC (Planned Business Center): Designed for commercial uses that serve adjoining neighborhoods with an ease of vehicular circulation and a compatible relationship to surrounding properties through an overall planning approach; typically occur near intersections of major arterials with market area of community wide or regional.

   ·   Minimum Building Setback: 25' from district boundary

·   Maximum Building Height: 45'

·   Minimum District Size: 1 acre with a maximum of 5 acres

 

C - 5 (Intermediate Business): Provides for general commercial uses of moderate intensity.

·   Minimum Front Yard Setback: 20'

·   Minimum Side Yard Setback: None unless adjacent to residential

·   Minimum Rear Yard Setback: 20'

·   Maximum Building Height: 45'

 

C - 6 (General Business): This zone provides for general commercial uses that are typically high volume traffic generators and are generally dependent on more than the immediate neighborhood for their market area.

·   Maximum Building Height: 50'

 

Industrial Zone Districts:

PIP - 1 (Planned Industrial Park): Provides for quiet professional, administrative, research, design and manufacturing uses that operate primarily indoors or totally screened.

·   Minimum Lot Size: 1 acre

·   Maximum Lot Coverage: 30%

·   Minimum distance between buildings and adjacent residential zone: 100'

·   Minimum Front Yard Setback: 50'

·   Minimum Side Yard Setback: 30'

·   Minimum Rear Yard Setback: 50'

·   Maximum Building Height: 45'

·   Minimum District Size: 10 acres

 

PIP - 2 (Planned Industrial Park): Provides for industrial and manufacturing uses in a large district with more intensive uses.

·   Minimum Lot Size: 5 acres

·   Maximum Lot Coverage: 40%

·   Minimum distance between buildings and adjacent residential zone: 100'

·   Minimum Front Yard Setback: 25'

·   Minimum Side Yard Setback: 10'

·   Minimum Rear Yard Setback: 25'

·   Maximum Building Height: 45'

·   Minimum District Size: 20 acres

 

M - 1 (Light Industrial):  Light industrial uses with some commercial uses that are complimentary and compatible with industrial uses.

·   Minimum Front Yard Setback: 20'

·   Minimum Side Yard Setback: None unless adjacent to residential zone

·   Minimum Rear Yard Setback: 10'

·   Maximum Building Height: 40'

 

M - 2 (Heavy Industrial): Uses likely to have an extensive impact on surrounding areas and should be separated from residential districts by intervening zones.

·   Minimum Side Yard Setback: 3'

·   Minimum Rear Yard Setback: 3'

·   Maximum Building Height: 80'

 

Special Purpose Zone Districts:

PF (Public Facility): Intended to allow City, County, State or Federal governmental or public utility buildings and operations. Contact the Land Use Review office for additional information.

 

PK (Public Parks): Intended for land set aside for use as public recreational and open space areas. Contact the Land Use Review office for additional information.

 

APD (Airport Planned Development): Intended to accommodate principal and accessory uses normally associated with a civilian airport. Contact the Land Use Review office for additional information.

 

PCR (Planned Cultural Resort): Intended to provide a framework for the unified development of unique mixed‑use cultural, resort or recreational developments. Contact the Land Use Review Office for additional information.

 

Overlay Zone Districts:

DFOZ (Design Flexibility Overlay Zone): May be used in conjunction with R, R‑1‑9000, and R‑1‑6000 zones in order to provide greater variations in development standards in order to minimize environmental impacts and to preserve and enhance significant natural features.

 

HR (High‑Rise): Can be included with any zone district to allow for the construction of high‑rise buildings in accord with certain special height, area and bulk limitations.

 

HS (Hillside): Applied to certain areas of the City characterized by slope, vegetation, drainage, rock outcroppings, geologic conditions and other physical factors which require special attention during development.

 

HP (Historic Preservation): May be used in conjunction with any zone district. Recognizes historic and architecturally significant resources and provides for the public review of requested alterations to designated historic and architecturally significant properties.

 

AO (Airport Overlay): Used to promote public safety and general welfare in obtaining maximum safety in all aircraft operations in the Municipal Airport and to protect structures and buildings in the vicinity of the Airport.

 

P (Planned Provisional): Can be included with any zone district. All conditions of record designated by the City Council are made a part of the ordinance. The overlay is distinguished by the addition of the suffix "P" to the normal zone designation (i.e., R‑5/P).

 

SS (Streamside Overlay): Can be included with any zone district. Characterized by intermittent and perennial streams which provide significant wildlife habitat, riparian vegetation, flood protection and open space and multi-use trail opportunities.