Building Setbacks & Zoning in Westminster, CO

If you live in Westminster 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. Westminster has 3 specific rules on the books covering different aspects of building setbacks & zoning, and some of them might surprise you.

Structure Height Limits

Westminster caps principal residential buildings at 25 feet in the RE, R1, RA, R2 and O1 districts, rising to 35 feet in R3, R4 and T1. Accessory buildings top out at 15 feet in every residential zone. Business and industrial districts B1, C1&C2 and M1 allow up to 65 feet, and the City Manager may add up to 10 percent more.

Key details: RE/R1/RA/R2/O1 height cap: 25 feet, principal building. R3/R4/T1 height cap: 35 feet, principal building. Accessory building cap: 15 feet (35 feet in O1). B1/C1&C2/M1 height cap: 65 feet. Administrative increase allowed: Up to 10%.

Constructing a principal or accessory building above its district's Density Schedule height limit, without a granted 10-percent administrative increase under Section 11-4-5(B) or an approved PUD development plan allowance, is a zoning violation that blocks building permit sign-off and can require the structure to be shortened or removed.

Setback Rules

Westminster's Density Schedule sets a 30-foot front setback in the RE, R1 and RA districts, dropping to 25 feet in R3, R4 and T1. Interior side setbacks run 5 to 7 feet, with a 12-to-20-foot combined-sides minimum, and rear setbacks are a flat 20 feet across every residential district. The City Manager may shave up to 10 percent off any setback.

Key details: Front setback, RE/R1/RA/R2: 30 feet. Front setback, R3/R4/T1: 25 feet. Interior side setback: 5-7 feet depending on zone. Rear setback, all residential zones: 20 feet. Administrative reduction allowed: Up to 10%.

Building within a required setback without an approved reduction, or exceeding the permitted 10-percent administrative adjustment under Section 11-4-5(B), is a zoning code violation subject to code enforcement and can block issuance of a certificate of occupancy. Encroachments beyond the architectural-feature exceptions in Section 11-4-6(D) require a variance or plan amendment before construction proceeds.

Lot Coverage Limits

Westminster caps the principal building's footprint at 30 percent of total lot area in every residential zoning district, from RE through T1. In the O1 (Open) district, the ceiling drops sharply to just 5 percent, reflecting that district's intended low-density, open-space character.

Key details: Residential zones (RE-T1) cap: 30% of lot area. O1 district cap: 5% of lot area. B1/C1/C2/M1 districts: No numeric cap listed. Accessory building limit: 5% of lot or 600 sq ft. Combined accessory ceiling: 2,000 sq ft per lot.

Exceeding the 30 percent (or 5 percent in O1) maximum lot coverage for a principal building is a zoning violation that can block building permit approval or a certificate of occupancy. Building officials check total footprint, including the principal structure and any accessory buildings under Section 11-4-6(N), against the applicable Density Schedule percentage before sign-off.

The Bottom Line

Westminster'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 Westminster is broadly strict or permissive.

All of the above reflects Westminster's municipal code as of our last review. If you need specifics on fines, exemptions, or filing requirements, the detailed ordinance pages linked above have the full breakdown.