Lakewood, CO Building Setbacks & Zoning: Lot Coverage Limits (2026)
Key Facts
- R-1-43 min. open space
- 65% (35% max coverage)
- R-1-18/12/9 min. open space
- 60% (40% max coverage)
- R-1-6 / R-2 min. open space
- 50% (50% max coverage)
- R-MF min. open space
- 30% (70% max coverage)
- Accessory structure cap
- 10% of total lot area
- Major variance threshold
- 20%+ deviation, Board of Adjustment
- Governing table
- Zoning Ordinance Table 17.5.1
Summary
Lakewood's Zoning Ordinance caps how much of a residential lot can be covered by buildings, porches, parking and drives by setting a minimum open-space percentage in Table 17.5.1, ranging from 65% in R-1-43 estate lots down to 30% in R-MF multi-family zones. Detached accessory structures carry their own separate 10%-of-lot coverage sub-limit.
17.5.2.1: Dimensional Standards All development in residential zone districts must comply with the dimensional standards of Table 17.5.1, except that the minimum lot size and minimum lot width requirements apply only to the creation of new lots. Lots existing prior to the adoption of this Zoning Ordinance and recognized as legal by the City, do not need to comply with the lot size or lot width requirements identified in Table 17.5.1. ... Minimum Open Space (Percent) 65 60 60 60 50 50 30 ... Lot Coverage: Determined by dividing that area of a lot which is occupied or covered by the total horizontal projected surface of all buildings, including covered porches and accessory buildings, and parking and drives, by the gross area of that lot. ... An accessory structure or combination of accessory structures shall not exceed more than 50 percent coverage of the rear, side, and non-primary front yard area of a lot, and no more than 10 percent of the total lot area.
Full Breakdown
1's dimensional standards. The table's "Minimum Open Space (Percent)" row reads 65-60-60-60-50-50-30 across those seven columns in order, meaning R-1-43 lots must keep at least 65% of the site as qualifying open space, R-1-18/R-1-12/R-1-9 lots 60%, R-1-6 and R-2 lots 50%, and R-MF lots only 30%. The Ordinance's Article 14 definitions make this a real coverage cap: "Open Space" is land "not occupied by primary or accessory structures, automobile parking spaces, parking aisles, or driveways," while "Lot Coverage" is calculated by dividing the horizontal projected area of all buildings, covered porches, accessory buildings, and parking and drives by the gross lot area, so the two figures are direct complements of each other.
1, but that exemption does not extend to the open-space/coverage percentage, which still applies. 1: a structure or combination of accessory structures cannot exceed 50% coverage of the rear, side, and non-primary front yard area, and cannot exceed 10% of the total lot area, regardless of the underlying zone's open-space percentage.
Violations & Fines
Violating any Zoning Ordinance provision, including the Table 17.5.1 open-space/coverage standards, is enforced under Section 17.1.11 and may be prosecuted under the Lakewood Municipal Code; each day a violation continues after written notice to abate constitutes a separate violation. A property owner who cannot meet the coverage standard can apply for a variance under Section 17.2.5: a deviation of 20% or more from the numeric standard is a major variance decided by the Board of Adjustment, while anything under 20% is a minor variance the Director can approve, with denied requests barred from resubmission for six months.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the maximum lot coverage for a Lakewood, CO single-family lot?
Do driveways and parking count against Lakewood's lot coverage limit?
Is there a separate coverage limit just for sheds and detached garages?
Can I get a variance from Lakewood's lot coverage standard?
What happens if a Lakewood property exceeds the coverage limit?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Lakewood
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Lot Coverage Limits in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Jefferson County handle lot coverage limits.