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1. How high can a fence be on my property?

You can have a 6-foot high fence along the sides and rear of your property up to the front setback line. Along the sides and front of your property within the front setback you may have a fence 48 inches high if it is 50% open. You must also maintain vision clearance along the street and not create a traffic hazard with fences. If your house is located within the required front setback, an exception may be made to these rules. Please talk to the Planner at 719-276-5294 for more information and refer to Chapter 17.20.080 of the Zoning Regulations.

2. Can I have two single family homes on my property?

Generally not, unless specific permission has been given by the City through a Special Review Use approval and you’ve been issued a Certificate of Compliance for an Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU). There are 2 instances where these regulations would apply:

• In the first case, if you already have 2 houses on your property (built before 2011) you can legalize the second, accessory dwelling by getting a Certificate of Compliance. This means that you have certified that the home is a safe dwelling and that it meets the City’s minimum requirements for an ADU.
• In the second instance, if you are planning to build an ADU on your property, you would need to get a Special Review Use approval and then the Certificate of Compliance. ADUs may be allowed in these zone districts: RL, R-1, R-2 and R-3.

Contact

Please call the Planner for more information about these processes. See Chapter 17.15 of the Zoning Regulations for more information.

3. Can I have a barbed wire or electric fence on my property?

Barbed wire and electric fences are not allowed in the residential zone districts. All fences erected for the purposes of public safety, health and welfare must be reviewed and approved by the City Engineer and the City Administrator. Please refer to Chapter 17.20.080 of the Zoning Regulations for more information.

4. What is the policy concerning outdoor food vending at a particular location?

If your food cart will be part of a larger event or festival, you will be permitted through that Special Event. The responsible party for the event will also be responsible for your food cart. If you will be operating a food cart on your own and depending on where it will be located, you may need to get a temporary use permit. Please refer to Chapter 17.20.085 of the Zoning Regulations for specific regulations about food carts and kiosks. Sales and use tax licenses are also required.

5. Am I allowed to have accessory buildings on my property?

Accessory uses and structures are incidental or subordinate to the principal use of the property. In residential zones these can be garages or sheds, decks or satellite dishes. Any structure over 120 square feet requires a building permit and it must meet building height and setback requirements. For commercial and industrial properties, please email the Planning Department to discuss any accessory use or structure.

6. What uses are permitted on my property?

Permitted, conditional and special review uses are determined based on the zoning of your property. Refer to Chapter 17.12 of the Zoning Regulations for detailed uses allowed in each zone. Please call the Planning Department at 719-276-5294 with any questions.

7. How close to my property lines may I build a house, shed or garage?

Setback requirements vary depending upon the property’s zoning and the type of structure being built. Typically, a house will have greater setbacks than a garage. For instance, the rear setback requirement for a principal structure (your house) is 25 feet in the R1 zone district and it is 1 foot for an accessory structure like a garage or shed. You can look up your property on the Zoning Map (PDF) and the development standards for your zone district in the Zoning Regulations, but it is always best to contact the Planning Department to get a verification of zoning and the development standards for each district. Chapter 17.12 of the Zoning Regulations Handouts.