El Paso County, CO Building Setbacks & Zoning: Lot Coverage Limits (2026)
Key Facts
- RS-6000/RS-5000 base cap
- 40% of lot area
- Single-story ranch bonus
- 45% of lot area
- RM-12 multifamily cap
- 70% of lot area
- Districts with no cap
- A-35, A-5, RR-2.5, RR-0.5
Summary
Unincorporated El Paso County limits building footprint by zoning district under Table 5-4, from 20% in RS-20000 up to 70% in RM-12, with single-story ranch homes in RS-6000 and RS-5000 allowed 45% coverage instead of 40%.
Where a single-story ranch style residence is proposed, the maximum lot coverage may be 45% of the total lot area.
(Res. No. 16-164, 5-17-2016; Res. No. 16-165 , Exh. A, 5-17-2016; Res. No. 17-374 , Exh. A, 12-12-2017; Res. No. 18-496 , Exh. A, 12-20-2018; Res. No. 19-330 , Exh. A, 8-27-2019; Res. No. 22-400 , Exh. A, 11-15-2022; Res. No. 23-219 , Exh. A, 6-20-2023)
Table 5-5. Density and Dimensional Standards for Commercial, Industrial and Obsolete Districts
Zoning District
Zoning District Area
Minimum Lot Size
Minimum Setbacks
Maximum Lot Coverage
Maximum Height
Minimum
Front
Rear
Side
Commercial Zoning Districts
CC
1 acre
11
25 ft
1,11
25 ft
2,11
25 ft
2,11
40 ft
CR
5 acres
11
50 ft
3,4,11
25 ft
2,3,4,11
25 ft
2,3,4,11
45 ft
CS
2 acres
11
25 ft
1,3,11
25 ft
1,2,3,11
25 ft
1,2,3,11
45 ft
Industrial Zoning Districts
I-2
20 acres
1 acre
11
50 ft
5,11
50 ft
5,11
30 ft
5,11
35%
45 ft
I-3
40 acres
1 acre
11
30 ft
6,11
30 ft
6,11
30 ft
6,11
25%
40 ft
7
Obsolete Zoning Districts
C-1
15 ft
1,11
15 ft
9,10
8, 9
30 ft
C-2
15 ft
1,11
20 ft
9,10
8, 9
50 ft
M
15 ft
1,11
15 ft
10
50 ft
R-4
All development standards for principal and accessory uses are established by the Development Plan.
1
Gasoline pumps and canopies shall be at least 15 feet from the front property line or public right-of-way, except where the landscaping regulations require a greater setback.
2
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Land Development Code: Supplement 3 | Drainage Criteria Manual: Publication | Engineering Criteria Manual: Supplement 3 | Ordinances: Reformat).
Full Breakdown
Table 5-4 of the Land Development Code sets maximum lot coverage for every agricultural, residential and special-purpose zoning district in the unincorporated county. F-5 and RR-5 cap coverage at 25%, RS-20000 at 20%, and RS-6000/RS-5000 at 40%, rising to 60% and 70% in the RM-30 and RM-12 multifamily districts. A footnote to the table gives single-story ranch-style homes in the RS-6000 and RS-5000 districts a bump to 45% lot coverage, while several large-lot agricultural districts (A-35, A-5, RR-2.5, RR-0.5) carry no maximum at all.
Violations & Fines
PCD Director enforcement for exceeding the coverage cap follows LDC § 11.3.2: a notice of violation with 14 days to correct, then an executive determination, BoCC appeal, and potential injunction or criminal prosecution.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the maximum lot coverage in El Paso County's RS-6000 zone?
Does every zoning district have a lot coverage limit?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in El Paso County
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