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Adams County Unincorporated
City Zoning Code

CHAPTER 17

28 RURAL DISTRICTS R-1, R-1.25, R-2.5, R-5, R-20

§ 17.28.010 Purpose.

A. 
The purpose of the rural districts is to provide lands for residential living in rural areas. Natural resource activities such as farming are allowed and encouraged in conjunction with the residential uses in the area. These areas are subject to normal and accepted farming practices.
B. 
The purpose of the R-1 district is to provide lands for residential living at the highest density based on compatibility with surrounding land uses and in accordance with typical residential patterns, where public water services are provided and while still allowing for individual on-site septic systems. The minimum lot size under this designation is one acre.
C. 
The purpose of the R-1.25 district is to provide lands for medium to high-density residential living based on compatibility with surrounding land uses and in accordance with typical residential patterns. The minimum lot size under this designation is one and one-quarter acres.
D. 
The purpose of the R-2.5 district is to provide lands for medium density residential living in accordance with residential patterns typical to the county. The minimum lot size under this designation is two and one-half acres.
E. 
The purpose of the R-5 district is to provide lands for low to medium-density residential living based on compatibility with surrounding land uses and in accordance with typical residential patterns in the county. The minimum lot size under this designation is five acres.
F. 
The purpose of the R-20 district is to provide lands for lowest-density rural residential living based on compatibility with surrounding land uses and in accordance with typical residential patterns in the county. The minimum lot size under this designation is twenty acres per dwelling unit.
(Ord. O-01-05 § 2 (part); Ord. O-02-25 § 1 (Exh. A))

§ 17.28.020 Development standards.

A. 
New lots and structures and additions to structures subject to this section shall comply with the applicable dimensional standards as set forth in Tables 17.28.020-1 and 17.28.020-2 and subject to the provisions of Chapter 17.76.
Table 17.28.020-1 Rural Dimensional Standards
Zone District
Use/Activity
Minimum Lot1 Area (acres)
Minimum Lot Width (feet)
Minimum Lot Depth (feet)
R1
All Uses
1
100
None
R-1.25
All Uses
1.25
140
None
R-2.5
All Uses
2.5
140
None
R-5
All Uses
5
200
None
R-20
All Uses
20
330
None
1.
Utilities, structures and uses including but not limited to utility substations, pump stations, wells, watershed intake facilities, gas and water transmission lines and telecommunication facilities may be permitted on newly approved lots of less than the minimum parcel size.
Table 17.28.020-2. Rural Setbacks, Lot Coverage and Building Height
Minimum Setbacks1,4
Side
Zoning District
Use
Front (feet)
Street (feet)
Interior feet)
Rear (feet)
Maximum Lot Density (lots per acre)
Maximum Lot Coverage (percentage)
Maximum Building Height (feet)
R-1
Residential
252
252
10
20
1 per 1
35
353
 
Accessory
252
252
10
10
N/A
35
353
R-1.25
Residential
252
252
10
20
1 per 1.25
35
353
 
Accessory
252
252
10
10
N/A
35
353
R-2.5
Residential
252
252
10
20
1 per 2.5
35
353
 
Accessory
252
252
10
10
N/A
35
353
R-5
Residential
502
252
20
20
1 per 5
35
353
 
Accessory
502
252
20
20
N/A
35
353
R-20
Residential
502
252
20
20
1 per 20
35
353
 
Accessory
502
252
20
20
N/A
35
353
1.
The minimum required setbacks for residential uses on a legal or legally nonconforming lot of record may be reduced by the administrator subject to the following:
a.
Adequate proof of a hardship is provided to the administrator; and
b.
A reduction shall be kept to the minimum amount needed and shall in no case be less than the minimum setbacks specified above for shop buildings, barns and/or home storage facilities and nonresidential structures.
2.
From public road right-of-way or private road easement.
3.
Residential buildings only.
4.
Special setbacks may apply to all lots neighboring an agricultural district (see Chapter 17.42).
(Ord. O-01-05 § 2 (part). Formerly 17.28.030; Ord. O-02-25 § 1 (Exh. A))

§ 17.28.030 Rural districts use chart.

The uses set out in Table 17.28.030-1 are examples of uses allowable in Rural District zones. The appropriate review authority is mandatory.
•
“P”—Uses allowed subject to approval of applicable permits.
•
“PRD”—Uses permitted upon review and approval as a Planned Residential Development as set forth in Chapter 17.58.
•
“R/A”—Uses permitted upon review and approval as set forth in Section 17.85.020.
•
“C”—Conditional uses which may be permitted subject to the approval of a conditional use permit as set forth in Section 17.85.030.
•
“X”—Or uses not listed are specifically prohibited.
Where there are special use standards or restrictions for a listed use, the applicable code section(s) in Chapter 17.69, Special Uses and Standards, or other applicable chapter is noted in the “Special Standards” column.
Table 17.28.030-1 Rural Districts Use Chart
 
R-1
R-1.25
R-2.5
R-5
R-20
Special Standards
1. Residential.
 
 
 
 
 
 
a. Single-family dwellings and duplex
P1
P1
P1
P1
P1
17.76.070
b. Townhomes
PRD
PRD
PRD
X
X
 
c. Multifamily
PRD
PRD
X
X
X
 
d. Tiny homes
P
P
P
P
P
17.69.030
e. Accessory dwelling unit
P
P
P
P
P
17.69.020
f. Accessory Buildings
P
P
P
P
P
17.69.010
g. Family day care centers
P
P
P
P
P
17.69.220
h. Adult family homes (in homeowner occupied)
P
P
P
P
P
17.69.230
i. Home business, exempt
P
P
P
P
P
17.69.200
j. Home business, minor
P
P
P
P
P
17.69.200
k. Home business, major
X
R/A
R/A
R/A
R/A
17.69.200
l. Short-term rental (i.e., Airbnb)
R/A
R/A
R/A
R/A
R/A
17.69.080
m. Bed and breakfast establishments (up to two guest bedrooms)
R/A
R/A
R/A
R/A
R/A
17.69.070
n. Bed and breakfast establishments (three or more guest bedrooms)
R/A
R/A
R/A
R/A
R/A
17.69.070
o. Planned residential developments
PRD
PRD
PRD
PRD
X
17.58
p. Manufactured home parks
PRD
PRD
PRD
PRD
X
17.58;
17.69.210
q. Farm worker housing for seasonal workers
PRD
PRD
PRD
PRD
PRD
17.69.050
r. Residential care facility or home
C
C
X
X
X
17.69.230
s. Assisted living facility
CUP
CUP
X
X
X
 
t. Group care facility
CUP
CUP
CUP
CUP
CUP
 
2. Commercial uses.
 
 
 
 
 
 
a. Commercial nurseries predominantly marketing locally produced plants and associated landscaping materials
X
X
X
P
P
 
b. Roadside farm stand
X
X
X
P
P
17.69.110
c. Agricultural market
X
X
X
X
X
17.69.110
d. Commercial kennels on a parcel or parcels five acres or more
X
X
X
R/A
R/A
17.69.170
e. Hobby kennels
X
X
P
P
P
17.69.170
f. Animal boarding and day use facilities
X
X
X
P
P
17.69.120
3. Services, amusement.
 
 
 
 
 
 
a. Private recreation facilities, including retreats, but excluding such intensive uses as campgrounds
C
C
C
C
C
 
b. Publicly owned recreational facilities, services, parks and playgrounds
P
P
P
P
P
 
c. Equestrian facility
X
X
X
R/A
R/A
17.69.150
d. Gun range
X
X
X
X
C
 
e. Hunting club/lodge
X
X
X
C
C
17.69.090
f. Recreational vehicle park or tent campground
X
X
X
C
C
17.69.250
g. Rodeo grounds
X
X
X
X
C
 
4. Services, general.
 
 
 
 
 
 
a. Tasting room and event facilities in conjunction with a winery
X
X
X
X
R/A
 
b. Microbrewery/winery
X
X
X
X
C
 
c. Churches or places of worship
P
P
P
P
P
17.69.090
d. Accessory special event center, minor
P
P
P
P
P
17.69.330
e. Accessory special event center, major
C
C
C
C
C
17.69.330
5. Services, educational.
 
 
 
 
 
 
a. Public and private elementary and middle schools
C
C
C
X
X
 
6. Public service and facilities.
 
 
 
 
 
 
a. EMS dispatch facilities
C
C
C
C
C
 
b. Government facilities
C2
C2
C2
C2
C2
 
7. Resource activities.
 
 
 
 
 
 
a. Agricultural
P3
P3
P3
P3
P3
 
b. Mineral Exploration for rock, gravel, oil, gas, mineral and geothermal resources
X
X
X
X
P
17.69.280
c. Mineral extraction, crushing, screening, etc., in accordance with all applicable local, state and federal regulations
X
X
X
X
C
17.69.280
d. Commercial uses supporting agricultural resource uses
X
X
X
X
P4
 
e. Game fowl raising operations
X
X
X
C
C
17.69.140
f. Accessory buildings associated with resource operations
P
P
P
P
P
 
8. Other.
 
 
 
 
 
 
a. Utilities, structures and uses including but not limited to utility substations, pump stations, wells, watershed intake facilities, gas and water transmission lines
C
C
C
C
C
 
b. Wireless communications facilities
C
C
C
C
C
17.74
c. Solar energy facilities (small scale)
X
X
X
X
R/A
17.72
d. Solid waste handling and disposal sites
X
X
X
X
C
17.69.260
e. Private use landing strips and heliports for aircraft
X
X
X
X
C
17.69.240
f. New cemeteries and mausoleums, crematoria, columbaria, and mortuaries within cemeteries.
X
X
X
C
C
 
g. Expansion of existing cemeteries
P
P
P
P
P
 
1.
One single-family dwelling on legal lot or legal nonconforming lot of record.
2.
Government facilities necessary to serve the unincorporated areas of Adams County, including fire stations, ambulance dispatch facilities and storage yards, warehouses, or similar uses.
3.
Agriculture including: floriculture, horticulture, general farming, livestock, furbearing animals, honeybees, nursery stock and floral vegetation and other agricultural activities and structures accessory to farming or animal husbandry.
4.
Commercial uses supporting resource uses, such as packing, first stage processing and processing which provides value added to resource products, potato and onion storage buildings, mint stills, temporary grow structures, accessory uses including but not limited to scaling and weigh operations, temporary crew quarters, storage and maintenance facilities, disposal areas, and other uses involved in the harvesting of agricultural products.
(Ord. O-02-25 § 1 (Exh. A))