Arapahoe County residential zones typically limit structures to 35 feet or 2.5 stories per Land Development Code §3-2. Aurora UDO §146-4 follows 35 ft residential standard. Cherry Hills Village restricts to 32 ft to preserve view corridors. DIA flight-path zones impose additional FAA Part 77 height limits.
Arapahoe County Land Development Code §3-2 caps residential structures at 35 feet measured from average finished grade to the highest roof point. Accessory structures limited to 15 feet or less than the primary dwelling. Aurora Unified Development Ordinance §146-4 similarly caps R-1 and R-2 zones at 35 feet. Centennial Municipal Code §12-2 limits residential to 35 feet. Cherry Hills Village Municipal Code §16-7 restricts residential to 32 feet to preserve the community's open character and mountain/plains views; this is among the strictest Denver-metro height limits. Commercial zones allow taller buildings (55-80 ft typical); mixed-use and transit-oriented developments along the A Line light rail corridor and I-225 may reach 150+ feet with entitlements. Denver International Airport's FAR Part 77 imaginary surfaces impose federal height restrictions across northern Arapahoe County; tall structures within 20,000 feet of DIA runways require FAA Form 7460-1 filing. Centennial Airport creates similar restrictions in central county. Chimneys, antennas, and mechanical penthouses allowed to exceed limits by 5-10 ft typically. Solar panels permitted above roof plane per C.R.S. §38-30-168 (HOA preemption).
Exceeding height limit: stop-work order and correction required. Fines $250 to $2,500. May require roof or structure modification. FAA violations: federal penalties up to $32,666. Failure to file 7460-1: federal enforcement.
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See how Arapahoe County's structure height limits rules stack up against other locations.
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