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Land Use Codes

A land use code is a planning implementation tool of the community’s comprehensive plan. The land use code can include zoning regulations, subdivision regulations, annexation policy, impact fees, public hearing processes, fence and sign permitting, and more. For example, a land use code may prescribe how tall a single-family home can be, the density of a planned community, the minimum parking requirements for a retail complex, or the allowed uses within a commercial building.

DOLA Template Land Development Code 

The Division of Local Government’s Community Development Office has released an updated Template Land Development Code (formerly known as the Model Land Use Code) to ensure local governments and consultants can access a modernized code that is representative of current best practices and in support of compliance with the 2024 land use laws that impact land use and zoning.

This code is intended to be usable as:

  • A unified development code that integrates all of the basic land use regulatory tools available to Colorado towns/cities and counties; or
  • A source of recommended best practice approaches to specific topics – such as accessory dwelling units, telecommunications facilities, or parking requirements.

Key changes from the previous code include:

  • There are now four versions of the code, which include two annotated versions for counties and municipalities and, by request, two streamlined versions that are easier to implement by smaller counties and municipalities.
  • The CDO has also developed a best practices companion guidebook to enable users to learn more about key topics and access best practice examples and links to valuable resources when developing or updating a code. This was not available with the previous version of the code.
  • There is a Word user guide available to guide you through the process to update the Word file.

Template Code and Materials

Template Code

How to use articles

Each document below is an individual article from the County Template Land Development Code (Streamlined). This allows you to download and use only the articles you need instead of downloading the entire Code.

  • Please refer to the How to Use This Code section in the County Template Land Development Code (Streamlined) for general guidance on using the information in these articles.
  • These articles retain the section numbers from the County Template Land Development Code (Streamlined), but use simplified headers and numbering. You will need to manually change section numbers to reflect your existing code organization and numbering.
  • Page numbers in these documents refer to pages within that article rather than the complete code document.
  • Please refer to the Best Practices Guide for additional information on resources for specific Articles.
     

Individual Articles (Downloads in Word)

Template Code

How to use the articles

  • Each document below is an individual article from the County Template Land Development Code (Annotated). This allows you to download and use only the articles you need instead of downloading the entire Code.
  • Please refer to the How to Use This Code section in the County Template Land Development Code (Annotated) for general guidance on using the information in these articles.
  • These articles retain the section numbers from the County Template Land Development Code (Annotated), but use simplified headers and numbering. You will need to manually change section numbers to reflect your existing code organization and numbering.
  • Page numbers in these documents refer to pages within that article rather than the complete code document.
  • The More Info boxes are not meant to be part of the official code; they provide additional context that may be helpful in tailoring the code to your jurisdiction.
  • Please refer to the Best Practices Guide for additional information on resources for specific Articles.

Individual Articles (Downloads in Word)

Template Code:

How to use the articles

  • Each of these documents is an individual article from the Municipal Template Land Development Code (Annotated). This allows you to download and use only the articles you need instead of downloading the entire Code.
  • Please refer to the How to Use This Code section in the Municipal Template Land Development Code (Annotated) for general guidance on using the information in these articles.
  • These articles retain the section numbers from the Municipal Template Land Development Code (Annotated), but use simplified headers and numbering. You will need to manually change section numbers to reflect your existing code organization and numbering.
  • Page numbers in these documents refer to pages within that article rather than the complete code document.
  • The More Info boxes are not meant to be part of the official code; they provide additional context that may be helpful in tailoring the code to your jurisdiction.
  • Please refer to the Best Practices Guide for additional information on resources for specific Articles.
     

Individual Articles (Downloads in Word)

Template Code: 

How to Use the Articles

  • Each of these documents is an individual article from the Municipal Template Land Development Code (Streamlined). This allows you to download and use only the articles you need instead of downloading the entire Code.
  • Please refer to the How to Use This Code section in the Municipal Template Land Development Code (Streamlined) for general guidance on using the information in these articles.
  • These articles retain the section numbers from the Municipal Template Land Development Code (Streamlined), but use simplified headers and numbering.
  • You will need to manually change section numbers to reflect your existing code organization and numbering.
  • Page numbers in these documents refer to pages within that article rather than the complete code document.
  • Please refer to the Best Practices Guide for additional information on resources for specific Articles.

Individual Articles (Downloads in Word)

Looking for Your Local Land Use Code?

Local government land use authority depends on the government's classification (e.g., statutory vs. home rule municipalities). One way municipalities and counties regulate land use is through zoning (with notable limitations, e.g., federal limitations on telecommunications, group homes, signs). Questions regarding zoning as it applies to a specific parcel in a Colorado jurisdiction, such as allowed uses, should be directed to the local planning department.

Planning for Hazards: Land Use Solutions for Colorado

The Planning for Hazards: Land Use Solutions for Colorado guide and website enables Colorado communities to prepare for and mitigate multiple hazards by integrating resilience and hazard mitigation into plans, codes, and standards related to land use and the built environment. The guide includes model code language for integrating hazards into 11 planning strategies including development agreements, 1041 regulations, cluster subdivisions, stream buffers and setbacks, and stormwater ordinances.

Visit the Planning for Hazards Website

This form should be used to report problems or issues with this website. Questions pertaining to a program or service provided by DLG should be addressed to contact information located on the specific program pages.

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