Zoning Regulations

City of Golden Zoning Code

Most zoning in the City has 3 related components, Zoning, Form Zone overlay and Form Type: 

  • Zoning – Zoning determines the uses allowed on a given property 
  • Form Zone Overlay – The Form Zone Overlay determines what kind of Form Types can be built on a given property. Properties with these types of Zoning will not have a Form Zone Overlay. The lot standards for these zone types are  
  • Form Type – Form Types set the parameters for structures allowed to be built on a property, such as setbacks, height and other lot standards.  

Other zoning in Golden includes:

  • PUD: PUD zoning stands for Planned Unit Development. That means the zoning of properties with PUD zoning are governed by an Official Development Plan (ODP) document. This document may have specific land use or lot standards written. Generally, if an ODP is silent on a specific standard, the practice is to default to the standards in the most similar zone district of the Cities municipal code. 
  • RE, AG, CO, M1 & M2: These types of zoning are what is known as legacy zone districts. Property with any of these zonings follow the standards of the municipal code, specifically Chapter 18.28 for use and lot standards. They do not fall within Form Zone Overlay’s so are not subject to Form Zone standards of Chapter 18.29. Site Development of these lots are subject to Chapter 18.40.  

You can find your Zoning and Form Zone Overlay by entering your address into the City of Golden Planning Map.  

You can find out the allowed uses within your Zoning in Chapter 18.28 of the Golden Municipal Code.

Once you know your Zoning and Form Zone Overlay, you can review the Form Types allowed by searching the table in Chapter 18.29.01.004. Be sure to review the additional standards for each form type to determine if it is allowed on the property being researched.

 

Lighting Code

The City of Golden lighting code is outlined in Section 18.34.070 of the Municipal Code.

Examples of acceptable shields on outdoor lights.

Key points in the code include:

  • All outdoor lighting (excluding ornamental lighting) must be shielded. See examples to the right.
  • Light fixtures should not be greater than the equivalent of 60 watts or 8.8 LED watts.
  • Fixtures must contain an opaque or frosted shield.
  • Motion sensor security lighting must be pointed downward.

Height & Setback Requirements

All zoning districts have particular requirements for building and structure Height, as well as Setbacks, which are minimum distances between the structure and the property line.

These zoning regulations are in place to preserve existing neighborhood character, and to keep new and additional development in observance of our Comprehensive Plan. After identifying your proper zoning by using the Parcel Information Map, please click on the link below to review height and setback regulations.

Development Regulations

Every Zone District located throughout the City has specific use and density regulations, which are outlined in Section 18.28 of the Municipal Code. Each Zone District also has specific uses, which are either permitted by right or could potentially be allowable by a Special Use Permit. Please see Special Use Permits for more information.

These development regulations are a guide to not only residential standards but to commercial, industrial, planned unit developments (PUD), and other outdoor development.

Parking Regulations

Parking is free to residents and visitors in Downtown Golden for the first 2 hours, unless signage indicates otherwise.  There is both on-street parking and garage parking within easy walking distance of Washington Ave.

For new developments, additions, or construction on non-Residential lots, see Section 18.40.240 of the Municipal Code for Parking Design Guidelines and Standards. Often times parking requirements drive potential developments, so it is important to check that the minimum parking requirements will be met.

Requirements for provisions of parking differ based on the use involved, and on the area of town. If you are building on a downtown lot please visit Section 18.36.025 of the Municipal Code. If you are building on a lot that is not downtown, please visit Section 18.36.030 for regulations.

Section 18.52.025 of the Municipal Code discusses the topic of “Substitutional Parking Contributions” and the Parking Fee in lieu option for downtown parcels where there is little room to build parking on site.

Title 18 Code Enforcement

All formal complaints that wish to be investigated must have a filled out complaint form.

  • Title 18 Complaint Form
  • Once your complaint is received, staff will investigate any violations visible from the public right of
    way. If the complaint is able to be observed by staff, the owner or tenant can be contacted by staff to
    inform them of the violation.
  • If the violation is not visible from the public right of way, further investigation and assistance is
    needed to prove the violation. The party submitting the complaint must be willing to publicly present
    evidence in the form of a log of times and dates in which the violations occur and photos or written
    evidence in municipal court if required.
  • If there is enough evidence through observation and submitted evidence, the violator can be cited,
    however a citation will not be issued unless there is enough evidence of the violation.
COG Mesa

 Did You Know?
Golden was originally chosen as the territorial capital of Colorado in 1862.

Additional Resources

City of Golden, Colorado
COG Mesa
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