Parker, CO Right to Farm: Agricultural Zoning Protection (2026)

Parker's Land Development Ordinance places farmland in the AG, Agricultural zoning district under Section 13.04.170. The purpose clause allows general farming, grazing of livestock and agriculturally related uses, plus restricted nonagricultural uses, on land that has economic agricultural value but is not yet ready for urban development. Town Council also uses AG as a default holding classification for property recently annexed into the Town until Community Development brings forward permanent zoning. Development standards under 13.04.170(b) set a 10-acre minimum lot size with no minimum lot width, and 50-foot minimum setbacks on the front, side and rear.

Principal buildings are capped at 35 feet, while accessory farm buildings such as barns can reach 70 feet. On Restricted Lots near a Protected Lot, the code layers on tighter buffers: buildings 35 feet or under must sit back at least 25 feet from the shared line, and taller buildings need 40 feet. Community Development administers AG rezonings and site plan review; the Planning Director interprets ambiguous standards. Because AG sits outside the residential, mixed-use and commercial tables, its large lots and generous accessory-building height reflect an intent to keep working farms viable inside Town limits rather than push them toward subdivision.

A parcel keeps its AG designation until Town Council approves a rezoning to a base district, so annexed ranchland can continue grazing or crop use for years before development standards apply.