Building Setbacks & Zoning in Aurora, CO

If you live in Aurora or are thinking about moving there, building setbacks & zoning are one of those things you probably won't think about until they affect you directly. Aurora has 3 specific rules on the books covering different aspects of building setbacks & zoning, and some of them might surprise you.

Lot Coverage Limits

Aurora, Colorado caps residential accessory buildings over 120 square feet at 50% of the rear yard and 450 square feet (or half the house's floor area, if larger).

Key details: Rear yard coverage cap: 50% of total rear yard. Size cap: 450 sf or 50% of house, greater. Height cap: 20 ft or house height. Side/rear setback: 5 ft (3 ft off alley). Small-shed exception: ≤120 sf needs only 3-ft setback.

Exceeding the rear-yard or building-size cap, or building outside the rear yard, means the accessory structure isn't permittable as-of-right; Planning staff can require it be resized, relocated, or removed before a certificate of occupancy issues.

Structure Height Limits

Aurora's UDO caps building height by zone: 38 feet in the R-R, R-1 and R-2 single-family districts, up to 45 feet in R-3 and 65 feet in R-4 multifamily zones, and 20 feet for manufactured housing.

Key details: R-R/R-1/R-2 max height: 38 feet. R-3 multifamily max: 45 feet. R-4 multifamily max: 65 feet. R-MH manufactured housing max: 20 feet. Ham/TV antenna exception: up to 45 feet, rear yard.

Exceeding the UDO height limit without an approved exception is a zoning violation; the Planning and Development Services Department can deny occupancy or require the structure altered to conform.

Setback Rules

Aurora's UDO sets minimum front, side and rear setbacks by residential zone district, ranging from 8 to 30 feet depending on district and yard.

Key details: Front setback range: 12–30 ft. by zone district. Interior side setback: 5–10 ft.. Rear setback range: 8–25 ft.. Governing table: UDO Table 4.2-1. Applies to: Subareas A and B; Subarea C uses Table 4.2-2.

Building in a required setback without an approved exception under Section 146-4.2.4 (Exceptions and Encroachments) is a zoning violation subject to code enforcement and required correction.

The Bottom Line

Aurora's building setbacks & zoning rules are a mixed bag. Some areas are strict, others are relaxed, and the details matter. The best approach is to check the specific rule that applies to your situation rather than assuming Aurora is broadly strict or permissive.

Keep in mind that Aurora can amend these rules at any council meeting. For the most current version of any rule mentioned here, check the specific ordinance page, where we track updates as they happen.