Lakewood, CO Building Setbacks & Zoning: Structure Height Limits (2026)

Section 17.5.1.4(A) states the baseline rule: "Unless specifically excluded by this Zoning Ordinance, any building or structure, including any accessory building or structure, shall conform to the height requirements applicable to the relevant zone district as set forth in the dimensional standards." Those numbers live in Table 17.5.1 under § 17.5.2.1, which applies "to all development in residential zone districts." For a primary structure, the table sets 35 feet in R-1-43, R-1-18, R-1-12, R-1-9, R-1-6 and R-2, rising to 45 feet in R-MF multifamily and 35 feet in R-MH. Accessory structures top out lower: 35 feet in R-1-43, dropping to 20 feet in the smaller-lot single-family districts.

Height is measured under § 17.5.1.5(A)(1) from "average grade to the coping of a flat roof, the deck line of a mansard roof, the midpoint of the highest gable of a pitched or hipped roof, or the highest point of any other type of roof." Average grade itself is the average of the highest and lowest elevation points along the site's pre-development or improved grade, whichever is more restrictive, per § 17.5.1.5(A)(2)(a).

A defined list of architectural elements, including belfries, bulkheads, chimneys, cupolas, domes, elevator penthouses, flagpoles, skylights, spires, ventilators, and roof-mounted solar or wind equipment, may exceed the district's maximum height under § 17.5.1.4(B), but only to the minimum height needed to accomplish their purpose. Except for spires, belfries, cupolas, domes, flagpoles and chimneys, any such feature must also step back one horizontal foot for every foot it rises above the height limit, § 17.5.1.4(C), and enclosed mechanical equipment or elevator penthouses not serving the roof are capped at 15 feet above the district's allowed height, § 17.5.1.4(D).