Douglas County Unincorporated
City Zoning Code

Having a common border with, or separated from such a common border by a right-of-way, alley or easement.

An attached or detached unit situated on one lot with an established principal dwelling which shall not be held in ownership by other than the owner of the principal dwelling. The ADU shall be arranged, designed, or intended for occupancy by not more than one family in compliance with the County Building Code.

An enclosed structure, cabinet, shed or box that houses power boxes, electrical equipment, and other related equipment of a telecommunication or personal wireless communication facility.

A subordinate structure detached from but located on the same lot as the principal structure, the use of which is incidental and accessory to that of the principal structure.

A use naturally and normally incidental to, subordinate to and devoted exclusively to the principal use.

Having a common border with, or separated from such a common border by, a right-of-way, alley or easement.

Special activities oriented toward children and held for educational, instructional or recreational purposes, including but not limited to: 4-H, pony club, and Little Britches.

A person or entity that raises or produces agricultural products on land that the person or entity farms and owns, rents, or leases.

Products that originate from the land's productivity, such as fruits, vegetables, mushrooms, herbs, nuts, shell eggs, honey or other bee products, flowers, nursery stock, livestock products (including meat, milk, cheese and other dairy products), hay, grass, and grains. Excluded from this definition is any marijuana product, the cultivation or other processing of which is prohibited by Douglas County per Resolution No. R-010-108 and Ordinance No. O-012-003.

Special activities related to livestock held for educational, instructional, or recreational purposes, including but not limited to horse shows, gymkhanas, training clinics, team ropings, rodeos, polo matches, endurance rides, hunts, or other activities involving livestock.

An individual employed in the operation of a farm or ranch.

Land uses related to grazing or raising livestock or land uses which produce products that originate from the land's productivity, such as farming, ranching, forestry, tree farming, animal husbandry, and horticulture. Excluded from this definition is all marijuana prohibited by Douglas County per Resolution No. R-010-108 and Ordinance No. O-012-003.

Any area of land or water designed for the landing and take off of aircraft for business or commercial purposes, including all necessary facilities for passenger and cargo loading, maintenance and fueling facilities and housing of aircraft.

A public or private vehicular passageway dedicated or permanently reserved as a means of secondary access to abutting property and designated as an alley on a final plat. An alley shall not be considered to be a street.

All available light surrounding a subject sign at any point in time with the subject sign light source extinguished.

The average equivalent sound level (LEQ) occurring during a six-minute period as measured with a sound level measuring instrument. The ambient noise level shall be determined with the noise source at issue silent, and in the same location and approximate time as the measurement of the noise level of the source at issue.

An animal introduced from another country not normally kept as a household pet or farm animal. (See "animal, nondomestic.")

A small animal customarily permitted to be kept in a dwelling for company or pleasure, including, but not limited to, dogs, cats, pot-bellied pigs, gerbils, hamsters, tropical fish, or common house birds, provided that such animals are not kept to supplement food supplies or for any commercial purpose. A limit of one litter, brood, or offspring is permitted, per household, per year.

An animal not normally adapted to live and breed in a tame condition. (See "animal, exotic.")

A system of wires, rods, reflecting discs or similar devices used for the wireless transmission or reception of electromagnetic waves.

Groups of directional panel antennas designed to send and receive wireless transmissions.

An easement that allows the grantee the right to use the airspace. The easement may include restrictions regarding the height of structures, the use of reflective glass, or the interference of radio transmissions by the grantor and an acknowledgment by the grantor that airplanes flying overhead may present a physical danger, increase noise levels or cause pollution.

The flood having a 1% chance of being equaled or exceeded in any given year. (Refer to "flood, 100-year.")

A site, together with its accessory facilities, where sand, gravel, cement and various petroleum derivatives are compounded to manufacture concrete, mortar or asphalt.

A dwelling where a maximum of five guest units for overnight or otherwise short-term temporary lodging is provided and may include meals. The operator of the facility shall live on the property. (This does not include hotels/motels.)

Mound of earth used in landscaping for screening, definition of space, noise attenuation, or decoration.

The Board of County Commissioners of Douglas County; the governing body of Douglas County.

Touching at a boundary.

A site used for the extraction of earthen materials such as sand, gravel, rock, dirt, etc., where the material is removed from the legally described site and characterized by a short-term operation and a limited quantity of earthen material.

An area of land established to separate and protect one type of land use from another; to protect from objectionable noise, smoke, or visual impact; or to provide for future public improvements or additional open space.

Any permanent structure, or portion thereof, built for the shelter or enclosure of human beings, animals, or property of any kind and excluding signs or fences.

The portion of a lot within applicable setback requirements where building construction will be permitted, or other activities if so limited or described on the plat.

The horizontal linear dimension of any side of a building as determined by measuring the exterior wall of any side of said building in a straight line. A side of any building shall contain only one building face.

The vertical distance above a reference datum measured to the highest point of the coping of a flat roof or to the deck line of a mansard roof or to the average height of the highest gable of a pitched or hipped roof. The reference datum shall be selected by either of the following, whichever yields a greater height of building:

An area or tract of land on which accommodations for temporary occupancy (not to exceed 30 days in any one calendar year) are located, including the parking or placement of camping and travel trailers, motor homes, truck campers or tents used for human occupancy.

A roof like cover, including an awning that projects from the wall of a building over a door, entrance, or window; or a free-standing or projecting cover over an outdoor service area, such as at a gasoline station.

The maximum demand that can be accommodated by a public facility or service without exceeding the level of service as determined by the service provider.

Large-scale physical assets constructed or purchased to provide, improve, or replace a costly public facility. Capital improvements shall include physical assets providing additional capacity needed to accommodate the demand for public facilities generated by a development.

A company that provides personal wireless communication services.

A type of personal wireless communication service consisting of low-power mobile radio communication that occurs through a network of radio wave transmitting devices.

An overlay district intended to allow for compatible land-use planning in the vicinity of Centennial Airport. The overlay district includes three components: safety zones, noise zones, and height zones as depicted in Figure 19-1.

A centralized wastewater collection and treatment facility approved by the Tri-County Health Department and the Colorado Department of Health including at a minimum, secondary wastewater treatment, subject to any waste discharge permits required by the state.

Water service provided by a special district formed pursuant to the Special District Act, § 32-1-101 et seq., C.R.S.

A natural or artificial watercourse of perceptible extent, with definite bed and banks to confine and conduct continuously or periodically flowing water. Channel flow is that water which is flowing within the limits of the defined channel.

A building, where people regularly assemble for worship, or other type of religious practice, together with its accessory buildings and uses, maintained and controlled by an organization to sustain public worship.

A facility licensed and used for the provision of medical, dental, surgical or mental health care of the sick or injured, but excluding therefrom inpatient and overnight accommodations.

Individuals gathered for social, educational or recreational purposes, including buildings or facilities owned/operated by such organization, excluding a golf course unless specifically permitted in that zone district.

The circumstance occurring when one or more carriers install antenna arrays on the same single structure.

An outdoor area for the storage of items including but not limited to raw materials, supplies, finished or semi-finished products, goods, wares, merchandise, vehicles, or equipment.

(As related to water supply) A letter stating the water district's "intent to serve" the project, or at the time of final/minor development plat application, a letter stating that the water district "will serve" the area of the final/minor development plat.

The Douglas County Comprehensive Master Plan as adopted by Planning Commission resolution. The Douglas County Comprehensive Master Plan is the long-range plan intended to guide the growth and development of the County, and is inclusive of supplemental plans which may be adopted and incorporated by Planning Commission resolution.

A legal form of ownership whereby an owner gains title to an interior air space dwelling unit, together with interest in the common areas and facilities appurtenant to such units.

An animal-feeding operation where livestock are kept and fed in close quarters until they are shipped to market.

Any and all activity incidental to the erection, demolition, assembling, altering, installing, or equipping of buildings, structures, roads, or appurtenances thereto, including land clearing, grading, excavating, and filling.

A small retail or service commercial use, which provides limited food products, household items or other goods or services commonly associated with the same, which do not typically offer comparison shopping opportunities.

Douglas County, Colorado.

A building or area designed and intended for intellectual or artistic activities, including a museum, art gallery, outdoor amphitheater, fairground, sports stadium/arena, performing arts center, or similar facility.

A commercial facility where care and training is provided for children or adults for periods of less than 24 consecutive hours.

A retail/service facility for the care of dogs or other household pets for periods of less than 24 consecutive hours. Overnight, indoor boarding may be permitted as an accessory use only. Outdoor holding facilities are prohibited in connection with the accessory use.

A sound level in decibels measured on the "A" scale of sound level having characteristics defined by the American National Standards Institute. [§ 25-12-102(2), C.R.S.]

A unit describing the relative amplitude of sound. A decibel is a unit of sound pressure level equal to 20 times the logarithm to the base 10 of the ratio of the sound pressure to the reference pressure of 2 x 10-5N/m2 (Newton's/meter squared.) [§ 25-12-102(3), C.R.S.]

The number of units per area of measure. For example, the number of dwelling units per acre.

The total number of units divided by the total land area within the boundary of the project including publicly dedicated streets, open space or other public facilities.

The number of units divided by the land area within the boundary of the project excluding publicly dedicated streets, open space or other public facilities.

The Douglas County Community Development Department.

The elevation above sea level determined at each airport in accordance with the approved airport guidelines.

Any change to improved or unimproved real estate, including but not limited to: buildings, structures, mining, dredging, filling, grading, paving, excavation or drilling operations or any alteration to land, buildings or structures which falls under the purview of this chapter.

A specific set of regulations establishing lot size, land use, density, lot coverage, open space or other standards and a map depicting land uses within a Planned Development district approved by the Board and recorded in the Office of the Clerk and Recorder. The current and future owners and their assigns are required to develop their property in accordance with this plan.

The Director shall be as designated by the County Manager.

A private vehicular access abutting a street, for the exclusive use of the owners and occupants of the lot, lots or project and their invitees, not considered to be a street.

A functioning ranch that offers guests the opportunity to participate in activities commonly associated with its operation. The recreational component shall be accessory to the principal ranching operation.

A building or portion thereof used exclusively for residential occupancy, including single-family, two-family and multifamily dwellings, but not including mobile homes, boarding houses, hotels, motels, recreational vehicles, or tents. Manufactured homes certified pursuant to the National Manufactured Housing Construction and Safety Standards Act of 1974, 42 U.S.C. § 5401 et seq., as amended, and § 30-28-115, C.R.S. , shall be deemed a dwelling unit.

A dwelling situated on one lot and arranged, designed or intended for occupancy by two or more families living independently of each other, including condominiums and duplexes, but excluding therefrom hotels and motels.

A dwelling situated on one lot and arranged, designed or intended for occupancy by not more than one family in compliance with the County Building Code. The dwelling must function as a continuous enclosure without any impassable separation such as a wall or floor. Dwelling spaces joined by a garage or breezeway are considered to be a separate dwelling.

A dwelling with primary ground floor access to the outside, which is attached to another unit by a party wall without openings, and is situated on one lot. The term is intended primarily for such dwelling types as townhouses, cluster units, patio homes.

An acquired right of use, interest or privilege in land owned by another.

A type of communication technology that is used primarily by fleet-dispatched service providers and closed system mobile radio users.

A public presentation for which admission is made available to the general public, held on a one-time or occasional basis that provides amusement for, or holds the attention of, those in attendance.

An entertainment event that exceeds the limitations placed on minor entertainment events.

An entertainment event that meets one of the following limitations:

Vehicles/equipment not exceeding the following gross vehicle weights: motorized – 18,000 lbs.; nonmotorized – 6,000 lbs.

A facility consisting of structures or premises used to accommodate the assembly of persons for private meetings, parties, weddings, wedding receptions, reunions, birthday celebrations, charitable fund-raisers, and other social engagement purposes, or similar such uses, in exchange for remuneration of any kind. Such use may include the provision of food, beverages, and entertainment. Event center shall not include any use component of a sexually oriented business, as defined herein.

A building or structure used to shelter or enclose livestock, poultry, feed, flowers, field equipment or similar uses.

An outdoor market open to the public and operated by a governmental agency, a nonprofit corporation, or one or more agricultural producers; where the products offered for sale are agricultural products, value-added agricultural products, and incidental sale of other items.

Any tract of land or structure, pen/corral wherein cattle, horses, sheep, goats, swine, or similar livestock are maintained in close quarters for the purpose of feeding such livestock in order to fatten them prior to final shipment to market.

Any structure used as a barrier or a boundary.

Fire stations and major pieces of firefighting apparatus, including, but not limited to, pumpers, quick response vehicles, hook-and-ladder trucks, and similar equipment, owned and operated by county fire districts.

Any handgun, revolver, pistol, rifle, shotgun, or other instrument or device capable of or intended to discharge bullets, shot, or other projectile by means of gasses released by burning a solid propellant.

A facility used to provide, in exchange for remuneration of any kind, training in conjunction with, or for practice in, discharging firearms.

A piece of fabric, cloth, or sturdy material, usually oblong, rectangular, square, or triangular, typically attachable on one edge to a staff, pole, or cord.

The flood having a 1% chance of being equaled or exceeded in any given year. It is also known as a "base flood."

The area adjoining any river, stream, watercourse, lake or other body of standing water which is subject to inundation by a 100-year flood. Refer to the Floodplain Overlay District section for more information.

Determined by dividing the gross floor area of all buildings on a lot by the total area of that lot.

The sum of the horizontal area, measured in square feet, of all floors of a building, measured from the exterior face of the wall including stairwells or elevator shafts and excluding unfinished basements or attics, garage space, or unenclosed porches.

The sum of the horizontal floor area, measured in square feet, of all floors of a building measured from the interior face of the exterior wall excluding therefrom, stairwells, elevator shafts, covered malls, covered walkways, roof patio areas, covered entries, covered parking, covered driveways, covered loading areas, utility rooms and storage areas.

The length of a parcel/lot abutting a right-of-way.

A recreational facility primarily used for the purpose of playing golf, including associated food service, retail sales areas, and staff offices, excluding residential and other non-golf recreational uses.

The elevation of the finished surface of the ground.

A structure used for the propagation, cultivation or growing of nursery stock such as flowers, bulbs, plants, trees, shrubs or vines.

A residence, not qualifying as a group home, that provides a community living environment for individuals requiring custodial care, medical treatment, or specialized social services. This term includes, but is not limited to: specialized group child care home, facility or center; residential child care facility; residential treatment facility; shelters for the homeless; shelters from domestic violence; residential facilities for those living together as a result of criminal offenses; and homes for individuals that are HIV positive or afflicted with the AIDS virus.

A dwelling attached or unattached to the principal dwelling, used to house guests of the occupants of the principal dwelling, and which shall not be rented or leased, or held in ownership by other than the owner of the principal dwelling. A guest house is an ADU.

Grass or other herbaceous plant that has been cut, dried, and stored for use as animal fodder, particularly for grazing livestock such as cattle, horses, goats, and sheep.

The sale of imported hay for animal fodder as a principal commercial use of the property. No other bagged or baled animal feed, imported agricultural products, or other sales are allowed, except as otherwise permitted herein.

A row of shrubs or small trees which, at maturity, forms a barrier that cannot be easily seen through.

Any area used by helicopters for commercial or business purposes, including landing and take off, passenger and cargo loading, maintenance and fueling facilities.

A business use conducted on the site, which is clearly incidental and secondary to the use of the land for residential or agricultural purposes; that does not change the character of the dwelling, lot, or neighborhood; and that allows the resident to work at home. Such uses as a motor vehicle repair or body shop, bed-and-breakfast establishment, medical clinic, hospital, kennel, animal clinic/hospital, retail business, warehousing and distribution, or any similar use generating more than occasional or minimal vehicular or pedestrian traffic shall not be allowed as a home occupation.

An association of homeowners within a residential area created to govern the area with powers including but not limited to: the setting and collection of expense assessments from the members of the association, the control and maintenance of common areas, and the enforcement of protective covenants.

A facility where horses, ponies, or mules are rented to the general public for recreational purposes.

A horse, not owned by the landowner or lessee, kept on the landowner or lessee's property for a period of 24 hours or more.

A horse not solely owned by the owner or lessee of the land. A horse leased for the exclusive use of the lessee shall be considered to be an owned horse.

A horse solely owned by the owner or lessee of the land. A horse leased for the exclusive use of the lessee shall be considered to be an owned horse.

An institution providing health services primarily for human in-patient medical or surgical care for the sick or injured and including related facilities such as laboratories, out-patient departments, training facilities, central services facilities and staff offices that are an integral part of the facilities.

Any building arranged, designed or intended as a temporary lodging place for human beings, with or without meals, in which there are six or more guest rooms or suites, and in which only minimal provision may be made for cooking in any individual room or suite.

Individuals gathered for the express purpose of participating in recreational activities directly related to hunting, fishing and similar outdoor sportsman activities that typically take place on club-owned land.

The area within which a proposed development is presumed to create a demand for public facilities and services and which area, therefore, will be evaluated to determine whether the capacity of public facilities and services is adequate to accommodate the demand. The impact areas for specific public facilities and services are as follows:

Providing 24-hour in-home care for six or fewer elderly persons (60+ years old), not related to the members of the household, who are ambulatory and are not mentally ill or developmentally disabled, who, because of impaired capacity for independent living, elect protective oversight, but do not require regular 24-hour medical or nursing care. The care provider shall reside at and maintain their primary place of residency in this home, be licensed by the state, and may have one to two nonresident helpers. The limitation contained in § 30-28-115(2)(b)(II), C.R.S., requiring that a group home for the aged not be located within 750 feet of another such group home, shall not apply to in-home elder care facilities.

A tract of land with two or more separate industrial buildings or related uses planned, designed, constructed, or managed on an integrated and coordinated basis with special attention to on-site traffic patterns, parking, utilities, building design and orientation, and open space.

A building, structure or parcel of land, or portion thereof, used for the collecting, storage or sale of waste paper, rags, scrap metal or discarded material; or, for the collecting, dismantling, storage, salvaging, or demolition of vehicles, machinery or other materials.

Any site used to keep more household pets than permitted in Part 24, Animals, or used for breeding, boarding, training with boarding or selling of household pets. This definition shall not include a veterinary clinic or hospital or pet shop.

A site used for the disposal of junk, garbage or other waste material including biodegradables imported from off-site. The burying of biodegradable material that originated on-site shall not be considered a landfill, provided all applicable requirements are met and necessary permits obtained.

An area of land or water designed for the landing or take off of aircraft for the benefit of the landowner/lessee and not to be used for commercial purposes.

Improvement to an area of land by the planting of a combination of trees, shrubs and ground covers.

A written metes and bounds description of the boundary of a parcel of real property by a professional land surveyor (PLS), for the purpose of perpetuating location and title. The description must recite all ties and monuments, recorded or physical, which will determine the correct position of the boundary, all references to adjoining lands by name and record, and a full dimensional recital of the boundary courses in succession which shall be mathematically correct. The description must be accompanied by an exhibit or map showing all pertinent information as described in the narrative.

An indicator of the extent or degree of service provided by, or proposed to be provided by, a public facility based upon and related to the operational characteristics of the public facility; or the capacity per unit of demand for each public facility.

Level of Service C for nonurban areas and D for urban areas.

A performance measure of quality of service measured on an A-F scale, with a LOS A representing the best operating conditions from the traveler's perspective and a LOS F representing the worst.

A parcel of land designated as a lot on a recorded plat or a parcel of land that has been recorded by a deed in the Office of the Douglas County Clerk and Recorder, provided such lot was created in compliance with the state land-use laws and Douglas County subdivision and zoning regulations in effect at the time the lot/parcel was created. Also, "lot of record." (A tax parcel is not necessarily a lot of record).

Any boundary of a lot. The classifications of lot lines are:

The area of a lot exclusive of streets, County-dedicated land or open space.

A lot of record that complies with all the requirements of the zone district within which it is located, or a nonconforming lot, provided such lot was created in compliance with the state land-use laws and the Douglas County subdivision and zoning regulations in effect at the time the lot was created. (A tax parcel may or may not be a buildable lot.)

A lot that has less than the required minimum area or width as established by the zone in which it is located.

Any body of water within the state of Colorado having a surface area at high water line in excess of 100 acres excepting livestock water tanks as defined in Title 35, Article 49, C.R.S.

A factory-built, single-family structure that is manufactured and certified under the authority of 42 U.S.C. § 5401, the National Manufactured Home Construction and Safety Standards Act, in compliance with § 30-28-115, C.R.S. Manufactured housing is different than a mobile home.

A complete, static display message on an electronic message sign.

The time interval a static message shall remain on the display before transitioning to another message on an electronic message sign.

A method of describing or locating real property; metes are measures of length and bounds are boundaries. This description starts with a well-marked point of beginning and follows the boundaries of the land until it returns once more to the point of beginning.

A device for receiving or transmitting radio frequency/electromagnetic waves.

An inanimate constituent of the earth, in either solid, liquid or gaseous state, that, when extracted from the earth, is usable in its natural form or is capable of conversion into usable form as a metal, a metallic compound, a chemical, an energy source, a raw material for manufacturing or construction material.

An area in which minerals are located in sufficient concentration in veins, deposits, bodies, beds, seams, fields, pools or otherwise, as to be capable of economic recovery. The term includes but is not limited to any area in which there has been significant mining activity in the past, there is significant mining activity in the present, mining development is planned or in progress, or mineral rights are held by mineral patent or valid mining claim with the intention of mining.

The withdrawal or refinement of materials including but not limited to: minerals (either solid, liquid, or gas which are usable in their natural form or converted to a usable form when extracted from the earth), sand, gravel, quarry aggregate, oil, natural gas, coal, dimension or landscape stone, peat and metals. Mining does not include surface or groundwater found in Douglas County.

A portable structure used or designed to be used for living or sleeping purposes, transportable on its own wheels and requiring only minor work after arrival on its site to become suitable for occupancy. A mobile home is allowed as a dwelling only in the MH zone district or as specified in the A-1 and LRR zone districts. A mobile home shall also mean any factory-built home pre-dating the Housing and Urban Development Department's manufactured housing regulations adopted in 1976. (Refer to Manufactured Housing and Modular Home.)

A parcel of land under single or unified ownership or control within which spaces are rented for occupancy by mobile homes.

An area of land subdivided for occupancy by mobile homes exclusively, and containing lots in divided or separate ownership.

A mobile home that has been placed on a permanent foundation and taxed as real estate. Converted mobile homes shall be permitted only in MH zone district, or as specified within the A-1 and LRR zone districts. A "mobile home" shall also mean any factory-built home pre-dating the 1976 Housing and Urban Development Department's manufactured housing regulations adopted in 1976.

A prefabricated living unit, designed to become a permanent building, which meets the building standards of the Douglas County Building Code.

A building or group of detached or connected buildings designed or used primarily for providing sleeping accommodations for automobile travelers and having a parking area adjacent to each unit.

A self-propelled vehicle with at least four wheels in contact with the ground that is designed primarily for use on the public highways. [§ 25-12-102(5.4), C.R.S.]

A self-propelled vehicle with not more than three wheels in contact with the ground that is designed primarily for use on the public highways. [§ 25-12-102(5.2), C.R.S.]

The operation of motorsport vehicles for practice, education, recreation, or competition, excluding agricultural or property maintenance uses or the occasional, incidental operation of motorsports vehicles on private property that does not result in the establishment of a track.

A track for motorsports.

A motorsports facility for personal use that requires the movement of a cumulative total of 50 cubic yards or more of dirt or other material for such use, when a principal residence has been established on the property.

A self-propelled vehicle including motor vehicles, motorcycles, off-highway vehicles, and snowmobiles used primarily off road.

A building that does not meet the bulk requirements of the zone district in which it is located, but which complied with applicable regulations at the time the building was constructed.

A use of land that does not comply with the use regulations for its zone district but which complied with applicable regulations at the time the use was established.

Nonurban areas as designated on the Douglas County Master Plan Land Use Map and as defined in the Douglas County Master Plan.

A 24-hour residential care facility, licensed by the state, providing some level of skilled nursing or medical service.

A self-propelled vehicle with wheels or tracks in contact with the ground that is designed primarily for use off the public highways, excluding military vehicles, golf carts, snowmobiles, vehicles designed and used to carry persons with disabilities, and vehicles designed and used specifically for agricultural, logging, firefighting, or mining purposes. [§ 25-12-102(5.6), C.R.S.]

A place of business for predominantly administrative, professional, or clerical operations (i.e., accountant; architect; attorney; bookkeeper; broker; doctor; dentist, chiropractor; psychologist; drafter; bank; savings and loan; insurance company; credit union; credit-reporting agency; developer; contractor; engineer; surveyor; planner; insurance agency; interior design; landscape architect; pharmacy; notary; stenographer; clerical services).

Public or private land and aquatic areas that are regulated or managed to protect the natural environment and significant cultural resources; provide recreation and agricultural opportunities; shape the pattern of urban development, or any combination thereof, including yards and common areas and including a limited number of buildings and accessory uses compatible with intended use. Open space shall be deemed not to include driveways, parking lots, or other surfaces designed or intended for vehicular travel.

All contiguous land held under one deed irrespective of the method of legal description used.

A tract of land identified for public use by zoning or subdivision action, or designated by an authorized public entity, for recreational, educational, or cultural purposes.

An area other than a street or alley that is permanently reserved and maintained for the parking of motor vehicles on a temporary basis, daily or overnight.

See "parking lot."

An applicant, an abutting property owner, or a person with an interest in real estate located within 1,000 feet of the subject property where such person can show his/her property interest has been damaged by a final administrative decision and such damage is different in kind, not merely in degree, from that experienced by the public generally.

A type of wireless communication technology capable of transmitting voice, data and paging that utilizes small geographic areas on a tight grid of interconnected sites.

Exclusively for use in relation to motorsports, a use for which no remuneration, either direct or indirect, of any kind is provided.

Any unstaffed facility for the transmission and/or reception of voice, data and paging signals consisting of one or more of the following elements: antennas, support towers, or accessory equipment buildings or structures.

The term used to collectively describe low-powered, unmanned facilities providing wireless telecommunication services including, but not limited to, paging, enhanced specialized mobile radio (ESMR), personal communication service (PCS), commercial mobile radio service (CMRS), cellular telephone and similar technologies, to a small geographic area within a network of interconnected sites. The power density at the property line or lease area shall not exceed the radio frequency emission standards set by the FCC.

A zone district for an area of land controlled by one or more landowners, which is developed under a single development guide for mixed use.

An area of land within a Planned Development defined by acreage, use, density, etc., and whose boundaries are defined by the alignment of arterials or collectors or as otherwise depicted on the Development Guide.

The Douglas County Planning Commission.

The Douglas County Planning Office.

An area of land used to raise trees, shrubs, vines or other plants, for transplanting or sale.

A map and supporting materials of certain described land prepared in accordance with Chapter 2, the Douglas County Subdivision Resolution, as an instrument for recording of real estate interests with the County Clerk and Recorder.

The primary urban area as designated on the Douglas County Comprehensive Master Plan Land Use Map and as defined in the Douglas County Comprehensive Master Plan.

A building in which the primary use of the lot/parcel on which the building is located is conducted.

The main use of land or structures, as distinguished from an accessory use.

Infrastructure and associated improvements, including water facilities, wastewater facilities, fire protection facilities, public schools, regional parks and streets.

Elementary schools, middle schools, or high schools and charter schools, capital equipment provided therein and the land needed for public schools, which are owned and operated by the Douglas County School District.

An indoor/outdoor area or other facility used for social or recreational purposes, generally open to the public, including active play fields, swimming pools, tennis or basketball courts, play apparatus, or picnic areas and generally serves residents within a five- to seven-mile radius.

An establishment providing recreational activities, completely enclosed by a structure, such as bowling alley, gymnasium, roller skating or ice skating, billiards, pool, theater, swimming pool or related amusements. This does not include adult entertainment establishments.

An indoor/outdoor area or other facility used for social or recreational purposes, generally open to the public, including active play fields, swimming pools, tennis or basketball courts, play apparatus, or picnic areas, and generally serves residents within a two-mile radius.

An area used primarily for outdoor recreational activity (i.e., swimming pool, tennis court, basketball court, soccer field, baseball diamond, park, playground or other similar uses not specifically addressed), and may include structures for restrooms, locker rooms, maintenance equipment storage.

An indoor/outdoor area or other facility used for social or recreational purposes, owned and operated by a homeowners' association or similar entity, for the exclusive use of the residents and their invitees within a residential development. These facilities may include but are not limited to: meeting rooms, game rooms, kitchen/bar, lounge areas, restrooms, and indoor/outdoor recreation facilities. These facilities may also include ancillary offices for the homeowners' association or similar entity. Structures and site amenities should be of similar design, scale, and materials as the residential development it serves.

A motor home, travel or camping trailer, van or truck camper, with or without self-motive power, boat, jet ski, motorcycle or all-terrain vehicle.

An area of land and associated structures arranged, designed or intended to accommodate the temporary parking or storage of unoccupied recreational vehicles.

A public or private organization which is interested in providing advisory comments to Douglas County on a land use proposal or proposed legislative action.

An entity which is responsible for providing referral comments to Douglas County on a land use proposal or proposed legislative action, and which:

Park land and related facilities thereon which support both passive and active recreational activities for all Douglas County residents, which is owned by Douglas County, or which may be owned by another local governmental entity within unincorporated Douglas County which is at least 50 acres in size.

Any person who is required to register their place of residence with the Sheriff's Department or other local law enforcement agency in accordance with § 18-3-412.5, C.R.S., as amended.

A building or site designed and designated for religious teaching, reflection, or contemplative activities, maintained and controlled by a religious organization to sustain worship or other religious practice, and may include overnight guest accommodations. This use is distinct from that of a church, which is separately defined herein.

A dwelling or mobile home designed or intended for occupancy by a person(s) owning, employed in or dealing with, and responsible for the security and maintenance of the land on which it is situated. A caretaker's residence shall meet the principal use setbacks.

A rezoning from a zone district that does not permit residential uses to a zone district that permits residential uses, unless within a Planned Development maintaining the dwelling unit cap, or a rezoning from a zone district that permits residential uses to a zone district that permits an increased number of dwelling units.

A commercial use characterized by the selling of tangible goods/merchandise or services/intangibles directly to the consumer.

One or more buildings containing dwellings where the occupancy is restricted to persons at least 55 years of age, or couples where either spouse is at least 55 years old. This may contain special support services (i.e., convalescent or nursing facilities, and central dining facilities).

A revision to the County Zone District Map.

Land acquired by reservation, dedication, prescription or condemnation and intended to be occupied by a road, trail, water line, sanitary sewer or other public use.

An area of land used for aircraft landing or takeoff.

See "antenna)."

A telecommunication facility consisting of multiple satellite dishes for transmitting and receiving signals from orbiting satellites.

A barrier that cannot be easily seen through. To obscure the view of something so that it cannot be easily seen.

Separated urban areas as designated on the Douglas County Master Plan Land Use Map and as defined in the Douglas County Master Plan.

The required minimum horizontal distance between the location of structures or uses and the related front, side, or rear lot line measured perpendicular to such lot line.

A business or commercial establishment, that as one of its primary business purposes offers, for any form of consideration, a place where two or more persons may congregate, associate or consort for the purpose of "specified sexual activities" or the exposure of "specified anatomical areas" or activities when one or more of the persons is in a state of nudity. An adult motel will not be classified as a sexual encounter establishment by virtue of the fact that it offers private rooms to rent.

A grouping of retail business or service uses on a single site with common parking facilities and open space.

Any display or object regardless of form or material used to identify or display information about or direct or attract attention to a person, institution, organization, business, product, event, location, idea, or otherwise by any means.

The vertical distance from the lowest adjacent grade to the highest point of the sign or sign structure.

Any sign, whether standalone or attached to another thing or structure, of more than one square foot, which is displayed in a manner to attract, at least in part, the attention of pedestrian, bicycle, and/or motor vehicle traffic to something which does not pertain to the premises upon which the sign is located.

Any sign painted, permanently attached to, or constructed underneath a canopy.

Any sign identifying the locations of businesses on the property.

Any sign with a fixed or changing message composed of a series of lights that may be changed through electronic means.

Any sign which is permanently affixed in or upon the ground, supported by one or more structural members and not attached to or dependent for support from any building.

Any sign generally intended and designed for installation in a simple and non-permanent manner and constructed of cloth, canvas, fabric, metal, plywood, or other material and displayed for a purpose of a non-recurring nature.

Any sign permanently or temporarily attached to or placed on an operable vehicle actively used for conducting a business operation or service.

Any sign attached to or painted on the wall or surface of a building or structure in such a manner that the wall is the supporting structure for or forms the background surface of the sign.

Any sign that directs vehicular or pedestrian traffic onto the property or towards parking or other identified locations on the site in a manner that improves site safety.

Any sign posted, painted, placed, or affixed in or on a window exposed to public view. An interior sign that faces a window exposed to public view and located within three feet of the window is considered a window sign, but excludes merchandise in a window display.

The plans and supplemental materials, including a grading and drainage plan, a landscape plan and other detailed information, drawn and submitted in accordance with this chapter.

A self-propelled vehicle primarily designed or altered for travel on snow or ice when supported in part by skis, belts, or cleats and designed primarily for use off the public highways, excluding machinery used strictly for the grooming of snowmobile trails or ski slopes. [§ 25-12-102(9), C.R.S.]

Douglas County employees with a role in reviewing or administering the provisions contained herein.

A personal wireless communication facility or element thereof, that is disguised, camouflaged, hidden or incorporated into an existing or proposed structure or placed within an existing or proposed structure so as to minimize or eliminate its visibility from off site.

A setback extending across the full width of the lot measured perpendicular to the front lot line.

Land intended primarily for vehicular traffic and providing the principal means of access to property, including a roadway, road, lane, drive, avenue, highway, boulevard, or any other thoroughfare other than a driveway.

A privately owned access way generally constructed to County specifications and not maintained by the County.

All public property reserved or dedicated for vehicular traffic constructed in compliance with the Douglas County Roadway Design and Construction Standards and the Douglas County Storm Drainage Design and Technical Criteria manual.

Anything constructed or erected in, under, over or upon the land, or attached to something in, under, over, or upon the land, but excluding therefrom walks, patios, off-street parking areas, fences and walls, and electrical distribution, natural gas or water and sewer lines.

Real property which is the subject of the regulations set forth in this chapter.

A vertical, ground-mounted structure designed and engineered for the purpose of supporting antennas for the transmission and/or reception of radio signals.

Any structure intended for swimming or recreational bathing capable of containing water greater than 24 inches in depth. This includes in-ground, aboveground, and on-ground swimming pools, hot tubs, and spas. Any fencing required in association with such structure shall be permanently affixed to the ground.

A facility and all elements thereof, including but not limited to support towers, antennas, and accessory equipment buildings, that together facilitate communication by the electronic transmission of telephone, radio, television, internet, wireless, or microwave impulses of an FCC licensed carrier, but excluding those used exclusively for private radio and television reception, private citizen's band, amateur radio communications.

A facility used on a temporary basis for the purpose of housing individuals or families affected by disasters or emergency situations.

An individual dwelling unit situated on one lot but attached to one or more similar dwelling units by a common wall or party wall. Where such a unit is attached to another, the property line shall be the center of the common wall or party wall. The owner of a townhome unit may have an undivided interest in common areas and elements appurtenant to such units.

To coach or instruct an individual in a specific general area of equine expertise, or to physically condition a horse to be ridden, handled, or to perform upon command.

Urban areas as defined in the Douglas County Comprehensive Master Plan.

Any neighborhood substation, personal wireless communication facility, water storage/treatment facility:

The processing and/or packaging of agricultural products, for which the primary ingredient is raised or grown on the site. Value-added processing may include the sales of value-added agricultural products produced on the site. "Value-added agricultural processing" does not include processing agricultural products into fuels, lubricants, paints, varnishes, or the like.

A product processed by an agricultural producer from an agricultural product, such as baked goods, jams, jellies, and leather or woolen goods.

A grant of relief from certain provisions of this chapter, as provided in and limited by the Variance section of this chapter.

A structure where animals are brought for medical or surgical treatment and may be held during the time of treatment and recuperation. Overnight, indoor boarding may be permitted as an accessory use only. Outdoor holding facilities are prohibited in connection with the accessory use.

A facility which provides preventative and medical or surgical treatment to horses and livestock. Animals may be held during the time of treatment and recuperation including overnight stays. Outdoor holding facilities are allowed in connection with the clinic or hospital. An equine and livestock veterinary clinic or hospital shall not have more than 12 stalls or bays.

A building, or portion thereof, for storing goods, wares and merchandise for the owner or for others.

Structures or systems designed for the collection, transmission, treatment or disposal of sewage and includes trunk mains, interceptors, and treatment plants, including package treatment plant and disposal system and on-site septic systems.

Facilities of a municipality, public utility, nonprofit corporation, sanitation or water or other special district, that are constructed, operated or maintained to provide water or sewer service.

Systems or structures designed to collect, treat, or distribute potable water, and includes water wells, treatment plants, and storage facilities.

A channel, natural depression, slough, artificial channel, gulch, arroyo, stream, creek, pond, reservoir or lake in which storm runoff and floodwater flows either regularly or intermittently, including major drainageways for carrying urban storm runoff.

A business use characterized by the selling of tangible goods/merchandise or intangibles/services directly to the retailer or contractor or the assembly or manufacturing of products.

Any mechanism including blades, rotors or other moving surfaces designed for the purpose of converting wind energy into mechanical or electrical power. Towers, tower bases, guy wires and any other structures necessary for the installation of small wind energy conversion systems are also included. A large-scale system designed for the generation of commercial power shall be considered a major utility facility for purposes of this chapter.

In this chapter the term "yard" is not used, as such term represents a distance that is established in a like manner as that of a setback.

The location of a structure on a lot in such a manner that one or more of the structure's sides rests directly on a lot line with no easement or setback requirement, including two adjoining structures on separate lots sharing a common wall.