Aurora, CO Building Setbacks & Zoning: Lot Coverage Limits (2026)
Key Facts
- 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
Summary
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).
F. Accessory Buildings for Residential Uses. ... 1. Larger than 120 Square Feet. Accessory buildings in residential districts larger than 120 square feet shall: a. Be constructed within the rear yard only; b. Not occupy more than 50 percent of the total rear yard; c. Not exceed 450 square feet or 50 percent of the gross floor area of the principal building, whichever is greater; d. Not exceed the height of the principal building or 20 feet; e. Be set back from each side property line a minimum of five feet; f. Be set back from each rear property line a minimum of: i. Three feet from each alley; ii. Five feet from each rear property line
Official source re-checked September 8, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: current through Ordinance 2026-30, passed June 22, 2026).
Full Breakdown
Aurora's zoning code doesn't set a flat maximum lot-coverage percentage for a whole residential lot. Instead, coverage is controlled structure-by-structure: any detached accessory building over 120 square feet, sheds, detached garages, workshops, must sit entirely in the rear yard, can occupy no more than 50% of that rear yard, and is capped at 450 square feet or 50% of the principal home's gross floor area, whichever is greater. It also can't exceed the height of the house or 20 feet, and needs 5-foot side and rear setbacks (3 feet off an alley). Buildings 120 square feet or smaller skip these limits but still need a 3-foot setback from every property line.
Violations & Fines
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.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Aurora limit how much of my whole lot I can cover with buildings?
Can I build a shed that covers my whole rear yard?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Aurora
Compare Aurora to another location·View the Colorado building setbacks & zoning overview
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Lot Coverage Limits in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Arapahoe County handle lot coverage limits.