P&DS Services
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Zoning districts regulate land uses and development for each property in the City of Boulder. Zoning districts also designate residential, commercial, industrial, public and agricultural areas.
The city's zoning code is broken into three basic parts, or modules, that specify use, density and development requirements for each district. The combined elements of the three modules create a zoning district.
The three zoning code modules are:
In addition, planned developments (generally referred to as PUDs) are a planning tool utilized by the city since the 1960s to allow for flexibility in development and design. Submit an inquiry for assistance in determining if a parcel is located within a PUD zone.
Building coverage is the maximum horizontal area within the outer perimeter of the building walls, dividers, or columns at or above ground level, whichever is the greater area.
Building coverage standards apply to all principal and accessory residential buildings:
Building coverage does not include:
The purposes of the City of Boulder's building coverage standards are to:
To determine the maximum amount of building coverage permitted on a property, you need to know the lot size and zoning district for your property. Select the "Map of Zoning Districts" link below.
LOT SIZE (IN SQUARE FEET) | LESS THAN 5,000 | 5,000 TO 10,000 | 10,001 TO 22,500 | MORE THAN 22,500 |
---|---|---|---|---|
RR-1, RR-2, RE, RL-1, RL-2 AND RMX-1 | 0.41 | (Lot Size x 0.2) + 1,050 | (Lot Size x 0.116) + 1,890 | Lot Size x 2.0 |
Accurate lot area, as determined by a surveyor, is recommended in all circumstances but may be required if the proposed development is within 20 percent of the maximum allowed building coverage.
7,000-square-foot RL-1 lot | (7,000 x 0.2) + 1,050 = 2,450 square feet |
4,900-square-foot RMX-1 lot | 4,900 x 0.41 = 2,009 square feet |