Weld County, CO Building Setbacks & Zoning: Structure Height Limits (2026)
Key Facts
- R-1 / R-2 / R-3 / R-5 max height
- 30 feet
- R-4 max height
- 45 feet (no new R-4 zoning after 2019)
- E (Estate) zone max height
- 40 feet (Sec. 23-3-440)
- A (Agricultural) zone
- no numeric height cap in Sec. 23-3-70
- Height measured from
- mean natural grade to roof peak
- Variance filing fee
- $1,100 (Board of Adjustment)
Summary
Weld County's Table 23.2 caps residential building height at 30 feet in the R-1, R-2, R-3, and R-5 zone districts, rising to 45 feet in R-4. The Estate (E) zone, a separate rural-residential district, allows up to 40 feet under its own bulk table.
Table 23.2 Bulk Requirements for R-1, R-2, R-3, R-4, and R-5 Zone Districts Section Requirement R-1 R-2 R-3 R-4 R-5
F. Maximum BUILDING HEIGHT (feet) 30 30 30 45 30
BUILDING HEIGHT: The vertical distance from mean natural grade at foundation to the highest point of the roof or appurtenances, not including CHURCH spires and residential chimneys. [Sec. 23-1-90]
F.Maximum BUILDING HEIGHT: forty (40) feet. [Sec. 23-3-440, E Zone District]
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Charter and County Code: Supplement 95).
Full Breakdown
Sec. 2 sets row F, Maximum BUILDING HEIGHT, at 30 feet for R-1 (Low-Density Residential), 30 feet for R-2 (Duplex Residential), 30 feet for R-3 (Medium-Density Residential), 45 feet for R-4 (High-Density Residential), and 30 feet for R-5 (Manufactured Home Residential). The code defines BUILDING HEIGHT in Sec. 23-1-90 as "the vertical distance from mean natural grade at foundation to the highest point of the roof or appurtenances, not including CHURCH spires and residential chimneys," so church steeples and chimneys are measured separately from the capped structure height.
The R-4 district is capped higher than the other four residential districts, but Sec. 23-3-140(A) also bars any new land from being rezoned to R-4 after July 25, 2019, so the 45-foot allowance is shrinking to existing R-4 parcels only. Outside the numbered residential districts, the E (Estate) Zone District runs on its own bulk table, Sec. 5-to-20-acre lot size range for that district. The Agricultural (A) Zone District's own bulk requirements section, Sec. 2-style ceiling.
Violations & Fines
Constructing a building above the applicable Table 23.2 or Sec. 23-3-440 height limit without an approved variance is an unlawful use of land under Sec. 23-10-20, a misdemeanor punishable by up to a $100 fine or 10 days in the County jail for each day the violation continues. Sec. 23-10-40 separately allows a civil penalty of $25 to $1,000, plus a continuing penalty of up to $100 per day, which can be recorded as a lien against the property until paid. A property owner who wants to exceed the cap can instead apply to the Board of Adjustment for a variance, which carries a $1,100 filing fee under Appendix 5-J.
Frequently Asked Questions
How tall can a house be in Weld County's R-1 zone?
Is there a taller height limit anywhere in Weld County's residential zones?
What is the height limit in Weld County's Estate zone?
Does Weld County's Agricultural zone have a building height limit?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Weld County
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