Arapahoe County, CO Building Setbacks & Zoning: Structure Height Limits (2026)
Key Facts
- A-E / A-1 max height
- 50 feet
- RR-A/RR-B/RR-C/R-1-A/R-1-B max height
- 35 feet
- R-1-C max height
- 38 feet
- R-MF multi-family max height
- 55 feet
- Applies to
- Unincorporated county only
- Enforced by
- PWD Building Division
Summary
In unincorporated Arapahoe County, Table 4-1.1 of the Land Development Code caps residential structure height at 50 feet in the A-E and A-1 agricultural districts, 35 feet in the RR-A, RR-B, RR-C, R-1-A and R-1-B rural residential districts, and 38 feet in R-1-C. The limits apply to every primary and accessory structure unless another LDC section states a different standard.
All primary and accessory structures in the agricultural and residential districts shall comply with the dimensional standards in Table 4-1.1, unless an exception or a different standard is stated in another section of this LDC. ... TABLE 4-1.1 AGRICULTURAL AND RESIDENTIAL DISTRICT DIMENSIONAL STANDARDS ... A-E A-1 RR-A RR-B RR-C R-1-A R-1-B R-1-C R-1-D R-2-A R-2-B R-M R-MF ... Building Standards (Maximum) (feet) Building Height (feet) All DUs 50 50 35 35 35 35 35 38 ... 40
Full Breakdown
1's 'Building Standards (Maximum) (feet)' block sets a 'Building Height (feet)' row for 'All DUs' (all dwelling units) that runs, column by column, across the district header in order: A-E and A-1 (the county's large-lot Agricultural Estate and Agricultural districts) are capped at 50 feet; RR-A, RR-B, RR-C (Rural Residential) and R-1-A and R-1-B (single-family residential) are capped at 35 feet; and R-1-C is capped at 38 feet. 1, not the 'All DUs' row above. PUD (Planned Unit Development) zoning instead follows the height set in its individually approved Development Plan rather than a fixed table figure.
planning and zoning authority, which does not reach land inside Aurora, Centennial, Littleton, Englewood, Greenwood Village, Sheridan, Glendale, Foxfield, Bow Mar, Columbine Valley, Cherry Hills Village, or Deer Trail. A resident inside any of those cities is governed by that city's own zoning code, not the county LDC.
Violations & Fines
Because Table 4-1.1 compliance is mandatory for 'all primary and accessory structures,' the Public Works and Development (PWD) Building Division will not issue a building permit for a residence exceeding its district's height cap. A landowner who wants to build above the table limit must first obtain a variance or, in a PUD, secure Board of County Commissioners approval of a Development Plan authorizing the greater height before construction begins.
Frequently Asked Questions
How tall can I build a house in unincorporated Arapahoe County?
Does this height limit apply if I live in Centennial or Aurora?
Can I build taller than Table 4-1.1 allows?
What about multi-family or mobile homes?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Arapahoe County
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