Littleton City Zoning Code

CHAPTER 12

WORD USAGE

Section 10-12-1.1 Acronyms and Abbreviations

Table 10-12-1.1 Meaning of Acronyms and Abbreviations
Abbreviation or Acronym	Meaning
-	when used in tables, indicates "no limit," "no restriction," or "not applicable"
AASHTO	American Association of State and Highway Transportation Officials
AC.	Acres
ADA	Americans with Disabilities Act
BFE	Base Flood Elevation
BMP	Best Management Practice
BTZ	Build-To-Zone
BZA	Board of Zoning Appeals
CLOMR	Conditional Letter of Map Revision
Commission	City Commission
C.R.S.	Colorado Revised Statutes
DU	Dwelling Unit
FAA	Federal Aviation Administration
FAR	Floor Area Ratio
FCC	Federal Communications Commission
FT.	Feet
FEMA	Federal Emergency Management Agency
FHBM	Flood Hazard Boundary Map
FIRM	Flood Insurance Rate Map
FIS	Flood Insurance Study
GFA	Gross Floor Area
IN.	Inches
LDN	Day–Night Average Sound Level
LOMR	Letter of Map Revision
LOMR-F	Letter of Map Revision Based on Fill
MDP	Master Development Plan
MAX.	Maximum
MIN.	Minimum
n/a or NA	Not Applicable
NFIP	National Flood Insurance Program
OSR	Open Space Ratio
OTARD	Over-the-Air Receiving Device
PD	Planned Development
PDO	Planned Development Overlay
POA	Property Owner's Association
SF.	Square Feet
DU/AC	Dwelling Units Per Acre

Table 10-12-1.1 Meaning of Acronyms and Abbreviations
Abbreviation or Acronym	Meaning
-	when used in tables, indicates "no limit," "no restriction," or "not applicable"
AASHTO	American Association of State and Highway Transportation Officials
AC.	Acres
ADA	Americans with Disabilities Act
BFE	Base Flood Elevation
BMP	Best Management Practice
BTZ	Build-To-Zone
BZA	Board of Zoning Appeals
CLOMR	Conditional Letter of Map Revision
Commission	City Commission
C.R.S.	Colorado Revised Statutes
DU	Dwelling Unit
FAA	Federal Aviation Administration
FAR	Floor Area Ratio
FCC	Federal Communications Commission
FT.	Feet
FEMA	Federal Emergency Management Agency
FHBM	Flood Hazard Boundary Map
FIRM	Flood Insurance Rate Map
FIS	Flood Insurance Study
GFA	Gross Floor Area
IN.	Inches
LDN	Day–Night Average Sound Level
LOMR	Letter of Map Revision
LOMR-F	Letter of Map Revision Based on Fill
MDP	Master Development Plan
MAX.	Maximum
MIN.	Minimum
n/a or NA	Not Applicable
NFIP	National Flood Insurance Program
OSR	Open Space Ratio
OTARD	Over-the-Air Receiving Device
PD	Planned Development
PDO	Planned Development Overlay
POA	Property Owner's Association
SF.	Square Feet
DU/AC	Dwelling Units Per Acre

Table 10-12-1.1 Meaning of Acronyms and Abbreviations
Abbreviation or Acronym	Meaning
-	when used in tables, indicates "no limit," "no restriction," or "not applicable"
AASHTO	American Association of State and Highway Transportation Officials
AC.	Acres
ADA	Americans with Disabilities Act
BFE	Base Flood Elevation
BMP	Best Management Practice
BTZ	Build-To-Zone
BZA	Board of Zoning Appeals
CLOMR	Conditional Letter of Map Revision
Commission	City Commission
C.R.S.	Colorado Revised Statutes
DU	Dwelling Unit
FAA	Federal Aviation Administration
FAR	Floor Area Ratio
FCC	Federal Communications Commission
FT.	Feet
FEMA	Federal Emergency Management Agency
FHBM	Flood Hazard Boundary Map
FIRM	Flood Insurance Rate Map
FIS	Flood Insurance Study
GFA	Gross Floor Area
IN.	Inches
LDN	Day–Night Average Sound Level
LOMR	Letter of Map Revision
LOMR-F	Letter of Map Revision Based on Fill
MDP	Master Development Plan
MAX.	Maximum
MIN.	Minimum
n/a or NA	Not Applicable
NFIP	National Flood Insurance Program
OSR	Open Space Ratio
OTARD	Over-the-Air Receiving Device
PD	Planned Development
PDO	Planned Development Overlay
POA	Property Owner's Association
SF.	Square Feet
DU/AC	Dwelling Units Per Acre

Table 10-12-1.1 Meaning of Acronyms and Abbreviations
Abbreviation or Acronym	Meaning
-	when used in tables, indicates "no limit," "no restriction," or "not applicable"
AASHTO	American Association of State and Highway Transportation Officials
AC.	Acres
ADA	Americans with Disabilities Act
BFE	Base Flood Elevation
BMP	Best Management Practice
BTZ	Build-To-Zone
BZA	Board of Zoning Appeals
CLOMR	Conditional Letter of Map Revision
Commission	City Commission
C.R.S.	Colorado Revised Statutes
DU	Dwelling Unit
FAA	Federal Aviation Administration
FAR	Floor Area Ratio
FCC	Federal Communications Commission
FT.	Feet
FEMA	Federal Emergency Management Agency
FHBM	Flood Hazard Boundary Map
FIRM	Flood Insurance Rate Map
FIS	Flood Insurance Study
GFA	Gross Floor Area
IN.	Inches
LDN	Day–Night Average Sound Level
LOMR	Letter of Map Revision
LOMR-F	Letter of Map Revision Based on Fill
MDP	Master Development Plan
MAX.	Maximum
MIN.	Minimum
n/a or NA	Not Applicable
NFIP	National Flood Insurance Program
OSR	Open Space Ratio
OTARD	Over-the-Air Receiving Device
PD	Planned Development
PDO	Planned Development Overlay
POA	Property Owner's Association
SF.	Square Feet
DU/AC	Dwelling Units Per Acre

Effective on: 10/28/2021

J

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Z

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Abutting

Abutting means directly touching and having common boundaries. Properties divided by a common property line are abutting. Properties across a public right-of-way are adjacent but not abutting. This term is synonymous with “adjoining.”

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Accessory Building

Accessory Building means a building that is subordinate in area, extent or purpose to the principal use and building on the parcel and that is customarily used in conjunction with a permitted accessory use.

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU)

Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) means a second, subordinate dwelling unit located on the same lot as a principal dwelling unit. An ADU provides complete independent living facilities for one or more individuals, which include:

Private area separated by a door (private entrance from outside not required);
Private living area;
Private sleeping area;
Private bathroom; and
Permanently installed connection for a cooking appliance.

Forms of ADUs include an i) attached or ii) detached ADU. Please see "Accessory Dwelling Unit, Attached" and "Accessory Dwelling Unit, Detached" for definitions.

(Ord. 18, Series of 2022; Ord. 09, Series of 2025)

Effective on: 6/12/2025

Accessory Dwelling Unit, Attached

Accessory Dwelling Unit, Attached means an ADU that is located within or attached to a principal dwelling. "Within" the principal dwelling means space such as a finished basement or attic. "Attached" to the principal dwelling means space such as a converted attached garage or structural addition. At least one common wall that is no less than eight feet wide is shared with the principal dwelling.

(Ord. 09, Series of 2025)

Effective on: 6/12/2025

Accessory Dwelling Unit, Detached

Accessory Dwelling Unit, Detached means an ADU that is separated from the principal dwelling and may include conversion of a detached garage or other similar structure. No common wall is shared with the principal dwelling.

Animal Rescue Organization or Rescue Shelter

Animal Rescue Organization or Rescue Shelter means any not-for-profit organization licensed pursuant to the Colorado Pet Animal Care Facilities Act, C.R.S. § 35-80-101, et seq., and which has tax-exempt status under Section 501(c)(3) of the United States Internal Revenue Code, whose mission and practice is, in whole or in significant part, the rescue and placement of animals in permanent homes and holds all local and state licenses.

Base Station

Base Station means a structure or equipment at a fixed location that enables FCC-licensed or authorized wireless communications between user equipment and a communications network. The definition of base station does not include or encompass a tower or any equipment associated with a tower. Base station does include, without limitation:

Equipment associated with wireless communications services such as private broadcast, and public safety services, as well as unlicensed wireless services and fixed wireless services such as microwave backhaul that, at the time the relevant application is filed with the city, has been reviewed and approved under the applicable zoning or siting process, or under another State or local regulatory review process, even if the structure was not built for the sole or primary purpose of providing such support; and
Radio transceivers, antennas, coaxial or fiber-optic cable, regular and backup power supplied, and comparable equipment, regardless of technological configuration (including distributed antenna systems ("DAS") and small-cell networks) that, at the time the relevant application is filed with the city, has been reviewed and approved under the applicable zoning or siting process, or under another state or local regulatory review process, even if the structure was not built for the sole or primary purpose of providing such support.

Building Permit

Building Permit means a written document granting permission to construct, erect, repair or alter structures in accordance with the building and zoning codes of the city in effect at the time application for the permit is filed.

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Build-to

Build-to means a line, parallel to the respective lot line, and internal to the lot, which defines the required maximum and minimum setback for the entire building façade as specified in the district regulations. The build-to-zone is the area between the build-to line for the minimum and maximum setbacks, and the space in which the front building wall must be constructed.

Build-to-line

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Build-to-Zone (BTZ)

Build-to-Zone (BTZ) means a zone established within a certain distance from the property line to a delineated fronting zone along which the building must be built, as depicted below with the letter A.

Build-to-Zone

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Bulk Plane

Bulk Plane means a building envelope created by a three-dimensional shape based on setbacks and height standards to determine the maximum volume of a new building. Bulk plane is used for the purpose of preserving neighborhood compatibility, privacy, and the adequate supply of light and air. The bulk plane begins at a height above every property line of a lot or parcel, and slopes upward at a defined angle until it intersects the bulk plane from the opposite side of the lot or parcel. The bulk plane created defines the volume within which a building can be constructed.

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Bus or Taxi Depot

Bus or Taxi Depot means a central facility where passengers and goods are loaded and unloaded onto, or from buses or taxis, and from which buses or taxis are dispatched, routed, and maintained.

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Cafeteria, Providing Service to On-Site Employees

Cafeteria, Providing Service to On-Site Employees means an establishment that provides food services to employees on-site, where patrons order or select items and pay before eating, and where food and drink may be consumed on-premises or taken out. This definition includes establishments where specialty snacks such as ice cream, cookies, and nonalcoholic beverages are served.

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Caliper

Caliper means the measurement in diameter of a tree trunk measured six inches above the ground for trees up to four-inch size and 12 inches above the ground for larger sizes.

Effective on: 10/28/2021

C

Camouflage Design Techniques means measures that are used in the design and siting of Wireless Communication Facilities with the intent to eliminate or minimize to the extent feasible the visual impact of such facilities to surrounding uses. A WCF Site utilizes Camouflage Design Techniques when it:

is integrated as an architectural feature of an existing structure such as a cupola while still appearing to some extent as a WCF; or
is integrated into an outdoor fixture such as a flagpole, while still appearing to some extent as a WCF; or
uses a design that mimics and is consistent with the nearby natural, or architectural features (such as an artificial tree) or is incorporated into (including without limitation, being attached to the exterior of such facility and painted to match it) or replaces existing permitted facilities (including without limitation, stop signs or other traffic signs or freestanding light standards) so that the presence of the WCF is not readily apparent.

This definition does not include the use of Concealment Design Techniques so that a facility looks like something other than a wireless Tower or Base Station.

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Campground

Campground means any tract of land on which may be located accommodations for temporary occupancy exclusively for recreational purposes including tents, camping trailers, motor homes, or other recreational equipment which includes living accommodations, and which areas generally retain the natural, open character of the land.

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Canopy

Canopy (also known as overstory) means the upper vegetative cover of a tree or plant grouping.

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Carnival

Carnival means an establishment with amusement activities; merry-go-rounds, Ferris wheels, and similar types of amusement rides; booths for the conduct of games of skill; food dispensing facilities; and sideshows; that are temporarily conducted outdoors and not within a theater, auditorium, gymnasium or other permanent building.

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Carport

Carport means a roofed accessory attached or detached structure, primarily used for parking motor vehicles, that is open on at least two sides.

Child Care Center or Pre-School means a facility operated to provide full or part time care for any number of children in other than a residence or which is staffed by persons who are not full-time residents on site, and the operation of which has been approved in accordance with this Title. "Childcare center" does not include home childcare or childcare which is provided by an employer on the same premises as the business and solely for the benefit of the employees of that business. Childcare centers do not offer general medical services or overnight stays to the clients.

Collocation

For the purposes of Eligible Facilities Requests, means the mounting or installation of transmission equipment on an Eligible Support Structure for the purpose of transmitting and /or receiving radio frequency signals for communications purposes.
For the purposes of facilities subject to time periods governed by 47 U.S.C. Sec. 332, means attachment of facilities to existing structures, regardless of whether the structure or location has previously been zoned for wireless facilities.

(Ord. 18, Series of 2022)

Effective on: 8/25/2022

Cottage Food Operation

Cottage Food Operation means an enterprise that is operated by a cottage food operator within the permitted area of a private home where the cottage food operator resides and where cottage food products are prepared or packaged for direct sale to consumers.

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Cottage Food Operator

Cottage Food Operator means an individual who operates a cottage food operation in the individual's private home and is the owner of the cottage food operation.

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Cottage Food Products

Cottage Food Products means non-potentially hazardous foods that do not require refrigeration for safety and are prepared for sale in the kitchen of a cottage food operation. In accordance with the Colorado Cottage Foods Act, as amended from time to time, cottage food products include:

pickled fruits and vegetables with a finished equilibrium pH of 4.6 or below;
spices, teas, dehydrated produce, nuts, seeds, honey, jams, jellies, preserves, fruit butter, flour, and baked goods, including candies, fruit empanadas, tortillas, and other similar products;
up to 250 dozen whole eggs per month may also be sold;
canned fruits and applesauce;
pickled vegetables and fruits with a finished pH of 4.6 or below; and
dehydrated produce including freeze-dried produce.

(Ord. 18, Series of 2022)

Effective on: 8/25/2022

Demolition by Neglect

Demolition by Neglect means a situation in which a property owner intentionally allows a historic property to suffer severe deterioration, potentially beyond the point of repair often with the intent to circumvent historic preservation regulations.

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Density

Density means the relationship of structural development to the site on which the development is located, commonly expressed as the number of residential units per acre. Unless otherwise noted in a specific provision, the term "density" as used in this Code shall mean "gross density" as defined below.

Electric vehicle means any vehicle that operates, either partially or exclusively, on electrical energy from the grid, or an off-board source, that is stored on-board for motive purpose. "Electric vehicle" includes the following:

"Battery electric vehicle (BEV)" means any vehicle that operates exclusively on electrical energy from an off-board source that is stored in the vehicle's batteries; and produces zero tailpipe emissions or pollution when stationary or operating.
"Plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV)" means an electric vehicle that:
- contains an internal combustion engine and also allows power to be delivered to drive wheels by an electric motor;
- charges its battery primarily by connecting to the grid or other off-board electrical source;
- may additionally be able to sustain battery charge using an on-board internal-combustion-driven generator; and
- has the ability to travel powered by electricity.
"Neighborhood electric vehicle" means a self-propelled, electrically powered four-wheeled motor vehicle whose speed attainable in one mile is more than twenty miles per hour and not more than twenty-five miles per hour and conforms to federal regulations under Title 49 C.F.R. Part 571.500.
"Medium-speed electric vehicle" means a self-propelled, electrically powered four-wheeled motor vehicle equipped with a roll cage or crush proof body design, whose speed attainable in one mile is more than twenty-five miles per hour but not more than thirty-five miles per hour and otherwise meets or exceeds the federal regulations set forth in 49 C.F.R. Sec. 571.500.

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Electric Vehicle Charging Station

Electric Vehicle Charging Station means a public or private parking space that is served by battery charging station equipment that has as its primary purpose the transfer of electric energy (by conductive or inductive means) to a battery or other energy storage device in an electric vehicle. An electric vehicle charging station equipped with Level 1 or Level 2 charging equipment is permitted outright as an accessory use to any principal use.

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Elementary/Secondary School

Elementary/Secondary School means an educational establishment for children between Kindergarten and 12th grade.

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Elevated Building

Elevated Building means a non-basement building (i) built, in the case of a building in the floodplain, to have the top of the elevated floor above the ground level by means of pilings, columns (posts and piers) or shear walls parallel to the flow of the water and (ii) adequately anchored so as to not impair the structural integrity of the building during a flood of up to the magnitude of the base flood. In the case of floodplain areas, “elevated building” also includes a building elevated by means of fill or solid foundation perimeter walls with openings sufficient to facilitate the unimpeded movement of flood waters.

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Elevation

Elevation means the architectural view of the front, side, or back surface of a structure to include doors, windows, and rooftop screening that is an extension of the façade, but excluding any roof area and rooftop equipment or structures.

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Eligible Facilities Request

Eligible Facilities Request means any request for modification of an existing tower, alternative tower structure, or base station that does not substantially change the physical dimensions or conditions of prior approval of such tower, alternative tower structure, or base station involving:

Collocation of new transmission equipment,
Removal of transmission equipment, or
Replacement of transmission equipment.

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Flag Lot means a lot that is, generally, in the shape of a flag extended at the end of a pole wherein the pole portion of the lot serves to provide the required street frontage and the flag portion of the lot serves to provide the buildable area of the lot.

Flag Lot

Flood or Flooding means a general and temporary condition of partial or complete inundation of normally dry land areas from:

The overflow of from channels and reservoir spillways;
The unusual and rapid accumulation of runoff of surface waters from any source; or
Mudslides or mudflows that occur from excess surface water that is combined with mud or other debris that is sufficiently fluid so as to flow over the surface of normally dry land areas (such as earth carried by a current of water and deposited along the path of the current).

Freeboard means the vertical distance in feet above a predicted water surface elevation intended to provide a margin of safety to compensate for unknown factors that could contribute to flood heights greater than the height calculated for a selected size flood, such as debris blockage or bridge openings and the increased runoff due to urbanization of the watershed.

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Frontage Type, Build-To

Frontage Type, Build-To means a development orientation that may be an outparcel of a larger coordinated development or that may be stand-alone. The frontage type immediately abuts two public or private streets and does not have a drive-through. In this type, the building is located so that the building screens the parking from the street and architectural features lend significance to street intersections.

Build-To Frontage Type

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Frontage Type, Drive-Through

Frontage Type, Drive-Through means a development orientation that may be an outparcel of a larger coordinated development or that may be stand-alone and that allows customers to conduct business while remaining in their automobile and still maintains a moderate level of walkability. In this type, the building is located so that the building screens the parking from the street, and a pass-through window to serve customers is located to the side or rear of the building, accessible via side driveway.

Drive-Through Frontage Type

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Frontage Type, Green

Frontage Type, Green means a development orientation with a landscaped area, without parking, that separates a coordinated set of buildings in a development and the street.

Green Frontage Type

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Frontage Type, Parking Court

Frontage Type, Parking Court means a development orientation with vehicular parking provided between the street and the building while maintaining a moderate level of walkability. A maximum of two rows of off-street parking and one drive aisle is provided between the building and the street. Setbacks and low vegetated or structural screening separate the parking area from the sidewalk.

Parking Court Frontage Type

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Frontage Type, Shopfront

Frontage Type, Shopfront means a typically stand-alone development orientation that consists of a light retail or office use located in a structure that had previously been, or is designed to look like, a single-family detached building with all parking to the rear of the structure.

Shopfront Frontage Type

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Frontage Type, Stoop

Frontage Type, Stoop means a development orientation where the front façade of the building is adjacent to the front property line with an elevated porch composed of stairs and a landing (stoop) projecting forward.

Stoop Frontage Type

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Frontage Type, Yard

Frontage Type, Yard means a development orientation with a landscaped area, without parking, that separates a stand-alone building (that is not a shopfront frontage type) and the street.

Yard Frontage Type

Gross Floor Area (GFA) means the floor area within the inside perimeter of the exterior walls of the building under consideration, exclusive of vent shafts and courts, without deduction for corridors, stairways, closets, the thickness of interior walls, columns, or other features. The floor area of a building, or portion thereof, not provided with surrounding exterior walls shall be the usable area under the horizontal projection of the roof or floor above. The gross floor area shall not include shafts with no openings or interior courts.

(Ord. 18, Series of 2022)

Effective on: 8/25/2022

Gross Land Area

Gross Land Area means the total area of a tract of land, measured in square feet or acres, within the property lines.

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Gross Leasable Area

Gross Leasable Area means that area utilized for sales, service, office, and warehousing purposes, and excluding public restrooms, enclosed trash storage areas, equipment room areas, and parking areas.

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Ground Cover

Ground Cover means plants other than turf grass, normally reaching an average maximum height of not more than 24 inches at maturity.

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Group Home

Group Home means a residential use in which care or assistance with daily tasks is provided for at least four but no more than eight unrelated individuals, not including staff, and which is licensed by the state. No more than two persons may occupy one bedroom at a time. There are eight types of group homes:

Group Home for Persons with Disabilities. A dwelling unit that is shared by four or more persons with disabilities living together as a single housekeeping unit. Professional staff may provide 24-hour supervision or supportive services and may reside in the dwelling unit.
Group Home for the Elderly. A group home of persons 60 years of age or older who do not require medical attention associated with a residential health care facility. Group homes for elderly persons shall be licensed as an assisted living residence or alternative care facility by the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment.
Group Home for Mentally Ill Persons. A state-licensed group home exclusively for the care of persons with mental illness, as defined and regulated by the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment.
Group Home for Children Awaiting Disposition. A state-licensed group home for children up to 18 years age who are not related to the head of the household, and who are awaiting disposition to foster homes or other accommodations.
Group Home for Recovery Residence. A state-licensed, sober-living-environment group home exclusively for use by adults who are recovering from substance use disorders, as defined and regulated by the Colorado Board of Health and the National Association of Recovery Residences.
Group Home for Children. A residential facility for children, which is licensed by the state department of social services for the purpose of providing foster family care.
Group Home for Persons with Disabilities. A dwelling unit that is shared by four or more persons with disabilities living together as a single housekeeping unit. Professional staff may provide 24-hour supervision or supportive services and may reside in the dwelling unit. A state-licensed group home exclusively for the care of persons with developmental disabilities, as defined and regulated by the Colorado Department of Human Services, Division for Developmental Services, and the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment.

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Height

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

The elevation of the highest adjoining sidewalk or ground surface within a five-foot horizontal distance of the exterior wall of the building when the sidewalk or ground is not more than 10 feet above the lowest grade; or
An elevation 10 feet higher than the lowest grade when the sidewalk or ground surface is more than 10 feet above lowest grade.

Historic Significance

Historic Significance means the meaning or value ascribed to a building, structure, object, site, or district based on criteria for evaluation.

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Historic Structure

Historic Structure means any structure that:

Is listed individually on the national register of historic places by the department of the interior, or preliminarily by the secretary of the interior as meeting the requirements for individual listing on the National Register; or by the Colorado Historical Society; or
Is certified or preliminarily determined by the secretary of the interior as contributing to the historical significance of a registered historic district or a district preliminarily determined by the secretary to qualify as a registered historic district;
Is individually listed on a state or local inventory of historic places in states or communities with historic preservation programs approved by the secretary of the interior, or directly by the secretary of interior in states without approved programs.

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Historic Tree

Historic Tree means:

any existing, healthy tree with a depth at breast height (DBH) of 36 inches or greater;
an existing tree of any species with a DBH of 36 inches or greater that the City Council determines to be of unique and intrinsic value to the general public because of its size, age, historic association, or ecological value; or
any existing "champion tree" selected and duly designated at the State or national level by the American Forestry Association.

Generation of nuisances;
Incompatibility with adjacent properties;
Incompatibility with the Comprehensive Plan;
Generation of substantiated criminal complaints; or
Pose a risk to public health and safety.

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Mixed-Use Building

Mixed-Use Building means a building that incorporates residential and non-residential uses within a single building.

Net Floor Area means the actual occupied area not including unoccupied accessory areas such as corridors, stairways, toilet rooms, mechanical rooms, and closets.

Ornamental Tree means a small deciduous tree, 25 feet or less in height at maturity, planted primarily for its ornamental value such as flowers, leaf color, size, or shape.

Effective on: 10/28/2021

OTARD Antenna

OTARD Antenna means an antenna that is designed to receive direct broadcast satellite service, including direct-to-home satellite services, that is one meter or less in diameter; or

an antenna that is designed to receive video programming services via multipoint distribution services, including multichannel multipoint distribution services, instruction television fixed services, and local multipoint distribution services, and that is one meter or less in diameter or diagonal measurement; or
an antenna that is designed to receive television broadcast signals.

Possesses such unusual or uncommon significance that the structure's or district's potential demolition or major alteration would diminish the character and sense of place; or
Possesses superior or outstanding examples of architectural, social, or geographic historic significance.

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Pervious

Pervious means a surface which allows rainfall to infiltrate into the ground.

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Pets, Household

Pets, Household means any domesticated animal commonly kept at a place of residence, not including livestock, mink, chinchilla, or other commercial fur-bearing animals. Household pets include dogs, domestic cats, canaries, parrots, hamsters, guinea pigs, and similar rodents, fish, reptiles, and other species normally sold at a local pet shop. The term "household pet" does not include any species capable of inflicting substantial physical harm to a human.

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Pet Store

Pet Store means a retail store establishment where dogs or cats are kept, sold, offered for sale, auctioned, bartered, donated, or otherwise transferred to the general public on the premises. Such term shall include any owner or operator of the business. This term shall not include an animal care facility, animal rescue organization, kennel, impounding facility or fostering individuals.

Principal Use means the main purpose for which a parcel of land or a structure is used, as distinguished from an accessory use of land or structures. The term "primary use" is synonymous with the term "principal use." The principal use shall be determined by one or more of the following:

Any use which physically occupies a majority of a parcel of land and/or a structure; or
Any use which constitutes a majority of the activity conducted on a parcel in relative terms of, for example, sales or rental volume of materials or services offered; prominence of on-site display or advertisement of materials or services offered; type of materials or services offered; amount of stock or inventory; hours of operation devoted to a particular sales or service activity; occupation of inhabitants or employees; and/or the purpose or attraction of the occupation. Refer also to Use, Principal.

Qualified Individual with a Disability shall be defined as having, with respect to a person:

A physical or mental impairment which substantially limits one or more of the individual's major life activities;
A record of having such an impairment; or
Being regarding as having such an impairment.

The term "Qualified Individual with a Disability" shall not be deemed to include an individual who is currently illegally using or is addicted to a controlled substance as defined in Section 802 of Title 21, USC.

Effective on: 10/28/2021

R

Race Track (Vehicle) means a racing area that may be non-profit or for-profit, public or private, paved or unpaved, and that is used by vehicles, including but not limited to bicycles, automobiles, motorcycles, or any other motorized vehicles with competition against the clock or other vehicles.

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Rain/Xeriscaped Gardens

Rain/Xeriscaped Gardens means landscaping features adapted to treat stormwater runoff which is directed into shallow vegetative depressions that allow filtration before the water enters the storm drain system. The feature may be designed to require little to no supplemental irrigation planted with drought tolerant plants well adapted to the local climate. These may be located in parking lot islands or within small pockets in residential land uses and may be under-drained or self-contained.

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Reconstruction

Reconstruction means the act or process of depicting, by means of new construction, the form, features, and detailing of a non-surviving historic site, landscape, building, structure, or object for the purpose of replicating its appearance at a specific period of time and in its historic location.

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Recovery Residence

Recovery Residence means any premises, place, facility, or building that provides housing accommodation for individuals with a primary diagnosis of a substance use disorder that:

Is free from alcohol and nonprescribed or illicit drugs;
Promotes independent living and life skill development; and
Provides structured activities and recovery support services that are primarily intended to promote recovery from substance use disorders.
Houses no more than two residents per bedroom, including any staff, at one time.

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Recreation Center/Clubhouse

Recreation Center/Clubhouse means a building used to provide social, recreational, cultural, and educational services to a community. It may include kitchen facilities, assembly halls, meeting rooms, locker facilities, open space, and other accessory facilities to use and enjoy.

Service-Oriented Uses

Service-Oriented Uses means a subset of uses in the RETAIL REPAIR, SALES, and SERVICE use category that provides non-medical services that are generally needed on a recurring basis, not including Vehicle Sales and Service, and generally require one-to-one interaction between the proprietor or employee and the customer in order to provide the service. Service-oriented examples include animal grooming; barbershop or beauty, nail, skin care, or tanning salon; dry cleaning and pressing establishment; funeral home or mortuary; laundromat; massage establishment; yoga studio; music, art, or photographic studio or classroom; optician or optometrist; photocopy, blueprint, and quick-sign service; postal services (non-governmental); psychic or medium; spa, sauna, or similar; tailor; and taxidermist. This definition also includes other uses that the Director or their designee interprets to be functionally similar to a use in this use category.

Sign means any visually communicative image placed on public display and visible from the exterior of any portion of the public right-of-way or place open to passage by the public. For the purpose of defining the regulatory scope of this Code, the term "sign" does not include:

Decorative or architectural features of buildings (not including lettering, trademarks or moving parts) which do not perform a communicative function, such as stripes around a building;
News racks, newspaper vending devices, newsstands, automated teller machines (ATMs) and self-serve gasoline dispensing devices;
Cornerstones and foundation stones;
The legal use of fireworks, candles and artificial lighting not otherwise regulated by this chapter;
Grave markers, gravestones, headstones, mausoleums, shrines, and other markers of the deceased;
Interior graphics which are visual communicative devices that are located entirely within a building or other enclosed structure and are not visible from the exterior thereof;
Manufacturers' marks on tangible products, which identify the maker, seller, provider or product, and which customarily remain attached to the product even after sale;
Doormats, floor mats, welcoming mats and similar devices;
Personal appearance, such as makeup, masks, wigs, costumes, jewelry, apparel and the like, unless it constitutes a commercial mascot;
Searchlights used as part of a search and rescue or other emergency service operation (this exclusion does not apply to searchlights used as attention attracting devices for commercial or special events);
Shopping carts, golf carts, horse-drawn carriages, bicycles and similar devices, and properly licensed motorized vehicles that legally pass through the city.

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Sign, Awning

Sign, Awning means a sign that is mounted, painted, or attached to an awning.

Awning Sign

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Sign, Blade

Sign, Blade means a sign suspended from the underside of a canopy, awning, ceiling, marquee, roof overhang, a covered porch, or walkway.

Blade Sign

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Sign, Changeable Copy

Sign, Changeable Copy means a sign, or portion thereof, consisting of letters and/or numbers that are manually changed or rearranged without altering the face or the surface of the sign.

Changeable Copy Sign

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Sign, Marquee

Sign, Marquee means a sign that can include changeable copy sign components on the fascia of a projecting sign that is supported from a building wall, without pillars or posts, and extends beyond the building, building line, or property line.

Marquee Sign

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Sign, Externally Illuminated

Sign, Externally Illuminated means a sign illuminated by an independent light source aimed at the sign for the purpose of lighting the signage.

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Sign, Incidental

Sign, Incidental means a small sign, emblem, or decal informing the public of goods, facilities, or services available on the premises, such as on a coin-operated machine, vending machine, automated teller machine (ATM), fence, or gasoline pump that is used for its intended purpose.

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Sign, Internally Illuminated

Sign, Internally Illuminated means a sign illuminated by light sources enclosed entirely within the sign cabinet and not directly visible from outside the sign.

Effective on: 10/28/2021

S

Sign, Monument A freestanding sign supported primarily by an internal structural framework or integrated into landscaping or other solid structural features other than support poles.

Monument Sign

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Sign, Pole

Sign, Pole means a freestanding sign that is supported by a pole, is not attached to a building, and where the bottom edge of the sign face is located at least three feet above the average finished grade at the base of the sign. A “pole sign” does not include a flag mounted on a flagpole.

Pole Sign

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Sign, Portable

Sign, Portable means a sign not permanently attached to the ground or other permanent structure, designed to be moved from one location to another, including signs on wheels or with wheels removed, signs on legs or other framework designed to rest upon the ground or to be driven into the ground.

Portable Sign

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Sign, Post

Sign, Post means any advertising of any nature which is wholly supported by one or more posts set in or attached to the ground and appurtenant to the use of the property on which it is located.

Post Sign

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Sign, Projecting

Sign, Projecting means a sign which is attached to a building or wall and extends perpendicular at least 12 inches beyond the building or wall, or beyond the surface of that portion of the building or wall it is attached to.

Projecting Sign

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Sign, Pylon

Sign, Pylon A freestanding sign other than a pole sign permanently affixed to the ground by supports, but not having the appearance of a solid base.

Pylon sign

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Sign, Sidewalk

Sign, Sidewalk means a self-supported portable sign that is not secured or attached to the ground or surface where it is located and that is placed upon a sidewalk.

Sidewalk Sign

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Sign, Stake

Sign, Stake means any advertising of any nature which is wholly supported by one or more stakes set in or attached to the ground and appurtenant to the use of the property on which it is located.

Stake Sign

(Ord. 20, Series of 2023)

Effective on: 10/13/2023

Sign, Subdivision Entry

Sign, Subdivision Entry means a permanent Monument Sign located on private property within or within 20 feet of the right of way along the vehicular entrance to a residential, commercial, industrial, or mixed-use subdivision consisting of five or more lots.

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Sign, Wall

Sign, Wall means a sign fastened to or painted on a wall of a building or structure in such a manner that the sign is attached parallel to or flush against the wall such that the wall becomes merely the supporting structure or forms the background surface, and which does not project more than 12 inches from such wall. Wall Signs include signs incorporated into or onto a masonry wall.

Wall Sign

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Sign, Window

Sign, Window means a sign affixed to the surface of a window with its message intended to be read or viewed from the exterior of the building.

Window Sign

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Significant Fill Projects

Significant Fill Projects means an area over 0.25 acre that is to be elevated above one percent chance base flood.

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Site, Historic

Site, Historic means the location of a significant event; a prehistoric or historic occupation or activity; or a building, structure, or object, whether standing or vanished, where the location itself maintains historic or archaeological value regardless of the value of any existing building, structure, or object.

Story, Half means a story under a gable, hip, or gambrel roof, with at least two walls no higher than half the wall height of the story below. If part of a flat-roof structure, the half story shall not exceed one-half the floor area of the floor immediately below it.

Substantial Change

Substantial Change means a modification that substantially changes the physical dimensions of an eligible support structure if after the modification, the structure meets any of the following criteria:

for towers other than alternative tower structures, it increases the height of the tower by more than 10 percent or by the height of one additional antenna array with separation from the nearest existing antenna not to exceed 20 feet, whichever is greater;
for other eligible support structures, it increases the height of the structure by more than 10 percent or more than 10 feet, whichever is greater, as measured from the top of an existing antenna to the bottom of a proposed new antenna;
for towers, it involves adding an appurtenance to the body of the tower that would protrude from the edge of the tower more than 20 feet, or more than the width of the tower structure at the level of the appurtenance, whichever is greater;
for eligible support structures, it involves adding an appurtenance to the body of the structure that would protrude from the edge of the structure by more than six feet;
for any eligible support structure, it involves installation of more than the standard number of new equipment cabinets for the technology involved, but not to exceed four cabinets per application;
for base stations, it involves installation of any new equipment cabinets on the ground if there are no pre-existing ground cabinets associated with the structure, or else involves installation of ground cabinets that are more than 10 percent larger in height or overall volume than any other ground cabinets associated with the structure;
for any eligible support structure, it entails any excavation or deployment outside the current site;
for any eligible support structure, it would undermine the concealment elements of the eligible support structure; or
for any eligible support structure, it does not comply with conditions associated with the siting approval of the construction or modification of the eligible support structure or base station equipment, unless the non-compliance is due to an increase in height, increase in width, addition of cabinets, or new excavation that would not exceed the thresholds identified above.

Tree Grates means a metallic grating installed at the same level with the pavement around a tree that allow tree roots to absorb air, sunlight, and water while protecting the soil from pedestrian traffic impact. Grates can provide a decorative element along public streets with the intent to contribute to the street’s character.

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Tree, Historic

Tree, Historic means:

any existing, healthy tree with a depth at breast height (DBH) of 36 inches or greater;
an existing tree of any species with a DBH of 36 inches or greater that the City Council determines to be of unique and intrinsic value to the general public because of its size, age, historic association, or ecological value; or
any existing "champion tree" selected and duly designated at the State or national by the American Forestry Association.

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Tree-Lawn

Tree-Lawn means the area between the back of curb and the detached sidewalk typically characterized by ground cover, lawn and shade trees, also referred to as a parkway.

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Tree, Specimen

Tree, Specimen means any existing, healthy tree with a depth at breast height (DBH) of 12 inches or greater.

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Truck Stop

Truck Stop means an establishment engaged primarily in the fueling, servicing, repair, or parking of tractor trucks, trailers, or similar heavy commercial vehicles, including the sale of accessories and equipment for such vehicles and for truckers or travelers. A truck stop may also include overnight accommodations, showers, or restaurant facilities.

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Turf, Functional

Turf, Functional means turf that is located in a recreational use area or other space that is regularly used for civic, community, or recreational purposes, which may include playgrounds; sports fields; picnic grounds; amphitheaters; portions of parks; and the playing areas of golf courses, such as driving ranges, chipping and putting greens, tee boxes, greens, fairways, and roughs.

(Ord. 10, Series of 2025)

Effective on: 6/12/2025

Turf, Nonfunctional

Turf, Nonfunctional means turf that is installed for aesthetic reasons and includes artificial turf. Nonfunctional turf may not be planted in areas not used for recreation, such as medians, parking lots, right-of-way or tree lawns. This term only applies to nonresidential properties, per HB24-005.

Use, Permitted means a use which is specifically authorized by this Code in a particular zoning district. Refer also to Permitted Use.

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Use, Principal

Use, Principal means the main purpose for which a parcel of land or a structure is used, as distinguished from an accessory use of land or structures. The term "primary use" is synonymous with the term "principal use". The principal use shall be determined by one or more of the following:

Any use which physically occupies a majority of a parcel of land and/or a structure; or
Any use which constitutes a majority of the activity conducted on a parcel in relative terms of, for example, sales or rental volume of materials or services offered; prominence of on-site display or advertisement of materials or services offered; type of materials or services offered; amount of stock or inventory; hours of operation devoted to a particular sales or service activity; occupation of inhabitants or employees; and/or the purpose or attraction of the occupation. Refer also to Principal Use.

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Use, Temporary

Use, Temporary means a use that is designed, operated and occupies a lot for a limited period of time and does not involve the construction or altercation of any permanent structure. Refer also to Temporary Use.

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Utilities

Utilities means a category of uses containing major or minor infrastructure that serves a site, a development, or the city at-large. Major Utilities include public or private infrastructure serving the general community, that may or may not be maintained or regulated by a public or municipal entity and possibly having on-site personnel. Minor Utilities include public or private infrastructure serving a limited area with no on-site personnel. This definition also includes other uses that the Director or their designee interprets to be functionally similar to a land use in this use category.

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Utilities, Major (Above-Grade)

Utilities, Major (Above-Grade) means a utility that falls into one or more of the following descriptions:

Above-grade utilities exceeding 10,000 square feet of gross site area that have a substantially larger-than-local impact; or
The following above-ground utilities: Electric services, including high-voltage transmission lines (115 kilovolts or more) and electric generation plat; solar panel array with a gross site area of 10,000 square feet or greater; wind generating stations; natural gas transmission; natural gas distribution; mixed, manufactured, or liquefied petroleum gas production and/or distribution; combination electric and gas, and other utility services; water towers and supply; sanitary services; steam and air-conditioning supply; solid waste facilities; irrigation systems; sanitary service facility; establishments primarily engaged in waste systems or waste treatment facilities that collect, treat and dispose of waste; wireless communication facilities; and other similar facilities, as determined by the Zoning Administrator.

This definition also includes other uses that the Director or their designee interprets to be functionally similar to a land use in this use category.

(Ord. 18, Series of 2022)

Effective on: 8/25/2022

Utilities, Minor (Above-Grade)

Utilities, Minor (Above-Grade) means above-grade utilities of less than 10,000 square feet of gross site area that have a localized impact on surrounding properties and are necessary to provide essential services, including, but not limited to, the following: electric transformers, switch boxes, telephone pedestals, and telephone boxes, television pedestals and televisions boxes, traffic boxes, and similar devices. Minor utilities include but are not limited to: collocated telecommunication antenna; public or municipally-owned utilities; small cell facilities; solar panel array (small scale); stormwater retention or detention facility; and telecommunication exchange. This definition also includes other uses that the Director or their designee interprets to be functionally similar to a land use in this use category.

Waiver means authorization to not meet a specific requirement or provision of the code.

Winery means an establishment where vinous liquors are manufactured, served, and/or sold to the public. Typically, a winery will have a state issued liquor license.

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Wing

Wing means a portion of the building that is secondary to the main building form, and may appear as an offshoot. An example is provided below.

Wing

100 Year or 1% Chance Floodplain means the area of land that is inundated by the floodwater from a one percent annual chance flood or base flood.

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Littleton City Zoning Code

CHAPTER 12

WORD USAGE

Section 10-12-1.1 Acronyms and Abbreviations

Table 10-12-1.1 Meaning of Acronyms and Abbreviations
Abbreviation or Acronym	Meaning
-	when used in tables, indicates "no limit," "no restriction," or "not applicable"
AASHTO	American Association of State and Highway Transportation Officials
AC.	Acres
ADA	Americans with Disabilities Act
BFE	Base Flood Elevation
BMP	Best Management Practice
BTZ	Build-To-Zone
BZA	Board of Zoning Appeals
CLOMR	Conditional Letter of Map Revision
Commission	City Commission
C.R.S.	Colorado Revised Statutes
DU	Dwelling Unit
FAA	Federal Aviation Administration
FAR	Floor Area Ratio
FCC	Federal Communications Commission
FT.	Feet
FEMA	Federal Emergency Management Agency
FHBM	Flood Hazard Boundary Map
FIRM	Flood Insurance Rate Map
FIS	Flood Insurance Study
GFA	Gross Floor Area
IN.	Inches
LDN	Day–Night Average Sound Level
LOMR	Letter of Map Revision
LOMR-F	Letter of Map Revision Based on Fill
MDP	Master Development Plan
MAX.	Maximum
MIN.	Minimum
n/a or NA	Not Applicable
NFIP	National Flood Insurance Program
OSR	Open Space Ratio
OTARD	Over-the-Air Receiving Device
PD	Planned Development
PDO	Planned Development Overlay
POA	Property Owner's Association
SF.	Square Feet
DU/AC	Dwelling Units Per Acre

Table 10-12-1.1 Meaning of Acronyms and Abbreviations
Abbreviation or Acronym	Meaning
-	when used in tables, indicates "no limit," "no restriction," or "not applicable"
AASHTO	American Association of State and Highway Transportation Officials
AC.	Acres
ADA	Americans with Disabilities Act
BFE	Base Flood Elevation
BMP	Best Management Practice
BTZ	Build-To-Zone
BZA	Board of Zoning Appeals
CLOMR	Conditional Letter of Map Revision
Commission	City Commission
C.R.S.	Colorado Revised Statutes
DU	Dwelling Unit
FAA	Federal Aviation Administration
FAR	Floor Area Ratio
FCC	Federal Communications Commission
FT.	Feet
FEMA	Federal Emergency Management Agency
FHBM	Flood Hazard Boundary Map
FIRM	Flood Insurance Rate Map
FIS	Flood Insurance Study
GFA	Gross Floor Area
IN.	Inches
LDN	Day–Night Average Sound Level
LOMR	Letter of Map Revision
LOMR-F	Letter of Map Revision Based on Fill
MDP	Master Development Plan
MAX.	Maximum
MIN.	Minimum
n/a or NA	Not Applicable
NFIP	National Flood Insurance Program
OSR	Open Space Ratio
OTARD	Over-the-Air Receiving Device
PD	Planned Development
PDO	Planned Development Overlay
POA	Property Owner's Association
SF.	Square Feet
DU/AC	Dwelling Units Per Acre

Table 10-12-1.1 Meaning of Acronyms and Abbreviations
Abbreviation or Acronym	Meaning
-	when used in tables, indicates "no limit," "no restriction," or "not applicable"
AASHTO	American Association of State and Highway Transportation Officials
AC.	Acres
ADA	Americans with Disabilities Act
BFE	Base Flood Elevation
BMP	Best Management Practice
BTZ	Build-To-Zone
BZA	Board of Zoning Appeals
CLOMR	Conditional Letter of Map Revision
Commission	City Commission
C.R.S.	Colorado Revised Statutes
DU	Dwelling Unit
FAA	Federal Aviation Administration
FAR	Floor Area Ratio
FCC	Federal Communications Commission
FT.	Feet
FEMA	Federal Emergency Management Agency
FHBM	Flood Hazard Boundary Map
FIRM	Flood Insurance Rate Map
FIS	Flood Insurance Study
GFA	Gross Floor Area
IN.	Inches
LDN	Day–Night Average Sound Level
LOMR	Letter of Map Revision
LOMR-F	Letter of Map Revision Based on Fill
MDP	Master Development Plan
MAX.	Maximum
MIN.	Minimum
n/a or NA	Not Applicable
NFIP	National Flood Insurance Program
OSR	Open Space Ratio
OTARD	Over-the-Air Receiving Device
PD	Planned Development
PDO	Planned Development Overlay
POA	Property Owner's Association
SF.	Square Feet
DU/AC	Dwelling Units Per Acre

Table 10-12-1.1 Meaning of Acronyms and Abbreviations
Abbreviation or Acronym	Meaning
-	when used in tables, indicates "no limit," "no restriction," or "not applicable"
AASHTO	American Association of State and Highway Transportation Officials
AC.	Acres
ADA	Americans with Disabilities Act
BFE	Base Flood Elevation
BMP	Best Management Practice
BTZ	Build-To-Zone
BZA	Board of Zoning Appeals
CLOMR	Conditional Letter of Map Revision
Commission	City Commission
C.R.S.	Colorado Revised Statutes
DU	Dwelling Unit
FAA	Federal Aviation Administration
FAR	Floor Area Ratio
FCC	Federal Communications Commission
FT.	Feet
FEMA	Federal Emergency Management Agency
FHBM	Flood Hazard Boundary Map
FIRM	Flood Insurance Rate Map
FIS	Flood Insurance Study
GFA	Gross Floor Area
IN.	Inches
LDN	Day–Night Average Sound Level
LOMR	Letter of Map Revision
LOMR-F	Letter of Map Revision Based on Fill
MDP	Master Development Plan
MAX.	Maximum
MIN.	Minimum
n/a or NA	Not Applicable
NFIP	National Flood Insurance Program
OSR	Open Space Ratio
OTARD	Over-the-Air Receiving Device
PD	Planned Development
PDO	Planned Development Overlay
POA	Property Owner's Association
SF.	Square Feet
DU/AC	Dwelling Units Per Acre

Effective on: 10/28/2021

J

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Z

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Abutting

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Accessory Building

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU)

Private area separated by a door (private entrance from outside not required);
Private living area;
Private sleeping area;
Private bathroom; and
Permanently installed connection for a cooking appliance.

Forms of ADUs include an i) attached or ii) detached ADU. Please see "Accessory Dwelling Unit, Attached" and "Accessory Dwelling Unit, Detached" for definitions.

(Ord. 18, Series of 2022; Ord. 09, Series of 2025)

Effective on: 6/12/2025

Accessory Dwelling Unit, Attached

(Ord. 09, Series of 2025)

Effective on: 6/12/2025

Accessory Dwelling Unit, Detached

(Ord. 09, Series of 2025)

Effective on: 6/12/2025

Accessory Structure

Accessory Structure means a detached uninhabited structure that is subordinate and incidental to the principal structure or use located on the same lot. Refer also to Structure, Accessory.

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Accessory Use

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Adapted Plant

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Adaptive Reuse

Adaptive Reuse means the rehabilitation or renovation of an existing building or structure for a permitted use(s) other than the present use(s).

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Addition

Addition means any activity that expands the enclosed footprint or increases the square footage of an existing structure.

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Adjacent

Adjacent means being in close proximity. Properties that are directly across a public right-of-way or access easement are adjacent.

(Ord. 18, Series of 2022)

Effective on: 8/25/2022

Adjoining

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Administrative Plat

Administrative Plat means a plat of one to four lots that is approved through an administrative action without the approval of the Planning Commission.

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Adult Day Care

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Alteration

Alteration means the act or process which changes one or more of the exterior architectural features of a structure.

Antenna

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Animal Boarding and Care Facility

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Animal Husbandry

Animal Husbandry means the care and raising of horses, donkeys, mules, alpaca, llama, wool-bearing animals, and associated enterprises for the personal use of residents of the property.

Effective on: 10/28/2021

A

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Animal Rescue Organization or Rescue Shelter

(Ord. 01, Series of 2024)

Effective on: 3/15/2024

Apiary

Apiary means a place where one or more beehives are kept.

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Appeal

Appeal means a review of a decision, determination, order, or act of an administrative body pursuant to the terms of this Code.

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Architectural Accent Lighting

Architectural Accent Lighting means lighting used to highlight or enhance a specific architectural element, feature, or symbol without providing a wash of light over an entire wall or façade.

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Area of Shallow Flooding

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Area of Special Flood Hazard

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Assembly

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Assembly Facility, Public

Assembly Facility, Public refer to the definition of "Public Assembly Facility."

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Assembly of Finished Goods

Assembly of Finished Goods means the process of assembling and packaging pre-manufactured items into a single final product.

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Assembly of Prefabricated Parts

Assembly of Prefabricated Parts means the process of assembling and packaging pre-manufactured items into a single final product.

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Assembly or Fabrication for Sale on Premises

Assembly or Fabrication for Sale on Premises means the process of assembling and packaging pre-manufactured items into a single final product to be sold in the same location.

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Ballfield or Stadium

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Bank or Credit Union

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Bar, Brew Pub, or Tavern

B

Bowling Alley means an establishment containing long narrow tracks used in bowling and similar games.

Effective on: 10/28/2021

B

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Effective on: 8/25/2022

Building Permit

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Build-to

Build-to-line

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Build-to-Zone (BTZ)

Build-to-Zone

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Bulk Plane

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Bus or Taxi Depot

Bus or Taxi Depot means a central facility where passengers and goods are loaded and unloaded onto, or from buses or taxis, and from which buses or taxis are dispatched, routed, and maintained.

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Cafeteria, Providing Service to On-Site Employees

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Caliper

Caliper means the measurement in diameter of a tree trunk measured six inches above the ground for trees up to four-inch size and 12 inches above the ground for larger sizes.

Effective on: 10/28/2021

C

is integrated as an architectural feature of an existing structure such as a cupola while still appearing to some extent as a WCF; or
is integrated into an outdoor fixture such as a flagpole, while still appearing to some extent as a WCF; or
uses a design that mimics and is consistent with the nearby natural, or architectural features (such as an artificial tree) or is incorporated into (including without limitation, being attached to the exterior of such facility and painted to match it) or replaces existing permitted facilities (including without limitation, stop signs or other traffic signs or freestanding light standards) so that the presence of the WCF is not readily apparent.

This definition does not include the use of Concealment Design Techniques so that a facility looks like something other than a wireless Tower or Base Station.

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Campground

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Canopy

Canopy (also known as overstory) means the upper vegetative cover of a tree or plant grouping.

Certified Irrigation Designer means a person who has completed the Certified Irrigation Designer Program of the Irrigation Association.

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Channelization

Channelization means the artificial creation, enlargement, or realignment of a stream channel.

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Character-Defining Feature

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Child Care Center or Pre-School

(Ord. 20, Series of 2023)

Collocation

Collocation

For the purposes of Eligible Facilities Requests, means the mounting or installation of transmission equipment on an Eligible Support Structure for the purpose of transmitting and /or receiving radio frequency signals for communications purposes.
For the purposes of facilities subject to time periods governed by 47 U.S.C. Sec. 332, means attachment of facilities to existing structures, regardless of whether the structure or location has previously been zoned for wireless facilities.

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Colony

Comprehensive Rezoning

Comprehensive Rezoning means a legislative action initiated by the City to rezone 50 or more parcels which are predominantly under different ownerships.

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Comprehensive Plan

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Concealment

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Conceptual Plan

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Concrete Batch Plant

Concrete Batch Plant means a permanent or temporary use where cement, concrete, mortar, or asphalt is manufactured.

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Condominium

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Contiguous

Contiguous means given the definitions of Abutting and Adjoining, to be contiguous is to abut or be adjacent to a boundary or separated only by street, railroad or public utility rights-of-way.

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Contributing Building

Contributing Building means a building that retains a significant amount of its physical integrity and character defining features or that is associated with a significant era, person or event.

Cottage Food Products

pickled fruits and vegetables with a finished equilibrium pH of 4.6 or below;
spices, teas, dehydrated produce, nuts, seeds, honey, jams, jellies, preserves, fruit butter, flour, and baked goods, including candies, fruit empanadas, tortillas, and other similar products;
up to 250 dozen whole eggs per month may also be sold;
canned fruits and applesauce;
pickled vegetables and fruits with a finished pH of 4.6 or below; and
dehydrated produce including freeze-dried produce.

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Courtyard

Courtyard means an open, unoccupied space, other than a yard, on the same lot with a building or group of buildings, which is bounded on two or more sides by such building or buildings.

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Critical Facility

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Critical Root Zone (CRZ)

Critical Root Zone (CRZ) means the ground area around a tree trunk determined by a radius of one foot for each one inch of trunk diameter.

Effective on: 10/28/2021

D

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Data Center

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Deciduous

Deciduous means a plant with foliage that is shed annually.

Design Guidelines

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Designated Historic Buildings or Structures and Districts

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Detached

Detached means fully separated from any other structure, building, or housing unit and does not share a common wall, roof, floor, or other structural components.

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Deterioration

Deterioration means a historic resource diminishes in quality, character, function or value, and may mean that it falls into decay or ruin.

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Determination of Historic Eligibility

Determination of Historic Eligibility means the process of evaluating a property over 40 years of age for potential historic significance prior to proposed demolition.

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Drip Line

Drip Line means the area defined by the outermost circumference of a tree canopy from where water drips onto the ground.

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Drive-Through

Drive-Through means a facility designed to enable a person to transact business while remaining in a motor vehicle.

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Driveway

Driveway means an area of pavement or other approved surfacing designed and intended for driveways, that provides vehicle access from a public right-of-way to a parking area, garage, or dwelling.

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Drug Store

Effective on: 10/28/2021

D

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Dry Cleaning Store or Laundromat

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Dry Cleaning, Commercial Operations

Dry Cleaning, Commercial Operations means a commercial facility where fabrics are cleaned with substantially non-aqueous solvents on a commercial or wholesale basis.

Electric Transmission

Electric Transmission means a system of electrical wires that carries electricity from the source of generation to distribution lines, which lead to a consumer.

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Electric vehicle

"Battery electric vehicle (BEV)" means any vehicle that operates exclusively on electrical energy from an off-board source that is stored in the vehicle's batteries; and produces zero tailpipe emissions or pollution when stationary or operating.
"Plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV)" means an electric vehicle that:
- contains an internal combustion engine and also allows power to be delivered to drive wheels by an electric motor;
- charges its battery primarily by connecting to the grid or other off-board electrical source;
- may additionally be able to sustain battery charge using an on-board internal-combustion-driven generator; and
- has the ability to travel powered by electricity.
"Neighborhood electric vehicle" means a self-propelled, electrically powered four-wheeled motor vehicle whose speed attainable in one mile is more than twenty miles per hour and not more than twenty-five miles per hour and conforms to federal regulations under Title 49 C.F.R. Part 571.500.
"Medium-speed electric vehicle" means a self-propelled, electrically powered four-wheeled motor vehicle equipped with a roll cage or crush proof body design, whose speed attainable in one mile is more than twenty-five miles per hour but not more than thirty-five miles per hour and otherwise meets or exceeds the federal regulations set forth in 49 C.F.R. Sec. 571.500.

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Equivalent Effective Conveyance means compensating fill with cut in cross sectional area, that does not raise the channel invert.

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Existing Manufactured Home Park or Subdivision

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Existing Tower, Alternative Tower Structure, or Base Station means a constructed tower or base station that was reviewed, approved, and lawfully constructed in accordance with all requirements of applicable law as of the time it was built, for example, a tower that exists as a legal, non-conforming use and was lawfully constructed is existing for purposes of this definition.

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Expansion of Existing Manufactured Home Park

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Evergreen

Evergreen means a tree or shrub with foliage that persists and remains green year around.

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Fabrication

Fabrication means the cutting, shaping, and forming of bulk processed materials into parts for assembly.

Federal Register means the official daily publication for rules, proposed rules, and notices of federal agencies and organizations, as well as executive orders and other presidential documents.

Effective on: 10/28/2021

FEMA

FEMA means the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the agency responsible for administering the national flood insurance program.

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Fence

Fence means a structure designed or intended to constitute an enclosure or barrier, either physical or visual, typically made of (but not limited to) wood, metal, vinyl, or iron.

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Flood Fringe

Flood Fringe means that portion of a floodplain that is located outside the limits of a FEMA regulatory floodway.

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM)

Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM) means the most recently adopted official map on which FEMA has delineated floodplains and the risk premium zones applicable to the city.

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Flood Insurance Study (FIS)

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Flood or Flooding

Flood or Flooding means a general and temporary condition of partial or complete inundation of normally dry land areas from:

The overflow of from channels and reservoir spillways;
The unusual and rapid accumulation of runoff of surface waters from any source; or
Mudslides or mudflows that occur from excess surface water that is combined with mud or other debris that is sufficiently fluid so as to flow over the surface of normally dry land areas (such as earth carried by a current of water and deposited along the path of the current).

Note: A different definition of “flood” is used for determining eligibility for flood loss claims under the NFIP.

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Flood Profile

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Floodplain Administrator (Administrator)

Floodplain Administrator (Administrator) means the director or a designee that administers and enforces the floodplain management regulations.

Floor Area Ratio, Maximum means the maximum permitted ratio of gross floor area of all structures on the lot to the total area of the lot, as established by this Code.

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Floor-to-Floor Height

Floor-to-Floor Height means the vertical distance between floor finish level and the beginning of the next building story.

Foot-Candle means a unit of illuminance on a surface that is everywhere one foot from a uniform point source of light of one candle and equal to one lumen per square foot.

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Foster Care Home

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Foster Family Care Home

Foster Family Care Home means a private residence where care, protection and supervision are provided to not more than four children unrelated to the adult provider at one time.

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Freeboard

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Frontage Type, Build-To

Build-To Frontage Type

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Frontage Type, Drive-Through

Drive-Through Frontage Type

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Frontage Type, Green

Frontage Type, Green means a development orientation with a landscaped area, without parking, that separates a coordinated set of buildings in a development and the street.

Green Frontage Type

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Frontage Type, Parking Court

Parking Court Frontage Type

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Frontage Type, Shopfront

Shopfront Frontage Type

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Frontage Type, Stoop

Stoop Frontage Type

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Frontage Type, Yard

Frontage Type, Yard means a development orientation with a landscaped area, without parking, that separates a stand-alone building (that is not a shopfront frontage type) and the street.

Yard Frontage Type

Garage/Yard/Estate Sale

Effective on: 10/28/2021

G

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Genus

Genus means a closely related and definable group of plants comprising one or more species.

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Glare

Glare means light directly visible to the human eye causing visual discomfort or reduced visibility.

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Golf Course

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Golf Driving Range

Gross Leasable Area

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Ground Cover

Ground Cover means plants other than turf grass, normally reaching an average maximum height of not more than 24 inches at maturity.

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Group Home

Group Home for Persons with Disabilities. A dwelling unit that is shared by four or more persons with disabilities living together as a single housekeeping unit. Professional staff may provide 24-hour supervision or supportive services and may reside in the dwelling unit.
Group Home for the Elderly. A group home of persons 60 years of age or older who do not require medical attention associated with a residential health care facility. Group homes for elderly persons shall be licensed as an assisted living residence or alternative care facility by the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment.
Group Home for Mentally Ill Persons. A state-licensed group home exclusively for the care of persons with mental illness, as defined and regulated by the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment.
Group Home for Children Awaiting Disposition. A state-licensed group home for children up to 18 years age who are not related to the head of the household, and who are awaiting disposition to foster homes or other accommodations.
Group Home for Recovery Residence. A state-licensed, sober-living-environment group home exclusively for use by adults who are recovering from substance use disorders, as defined and regulated by the Colorado Board of Health and the National Association of Recovery Residences.
Group Home for Children. A residential facility for children, which is licensed by the state department of social services for the purpose of providing foster family care.
Group Home for Persons with Disabilities. A dwelling unit that is shared by four or more persons with disabilities living together as a single housekeeping unit. Professional staff may provide 24-hour supervision or supportive services and may reside in the dwelling unit. A state-licensed group home exclusively for the care of persons with developmental disabilities, as defined and regulated by the Colorado Department of Human Services, Division for Developmental Services, and the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment.

Health and Fitness Club means a facility used for exercise, fitness, sports, and sports instruction including martial arts schools, yoga studios, and dance instruction studios as a business.

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Height

The elevation of the highest adjoining sidewalk or ground surface within a five-foot horizontal distance of the exterior wall of the building when the sidewalk or ground is not more than 10 feet above the lowest grade; or
An elevation 10 feet higher than the lowest grade when the sidewalk or ground surface is more than 10 feet above lowest grade.

The height of a stepped or terraced building is the maximum height of any segment of the building.

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Highest Adjacent Grade

Highest Adjacent Grade means the highest natural elevation of the ground surface prior to construction next to the proposed walls of a structure.

Effective on: 10/28/2021

High-Water-Use Turf

High-Water-Use Turf means turfgrass that has an exceptionally high-water requirement to prevent dormancy, typically one-and-one-half inches of water or more per week.

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Historic Designation

Historic Designation means the formal recognition of a historic structure, site, or district.

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Historic District

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Historic Landmark

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Historic Property

Historic Property means a district, site, building, structure, or object significant in American history, architecture, engineering, archeology, or culture at the national, state, or local level.

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Historical Preservation Commission

(Ord. 02, Series of 2024)

Effective on: 4/1/2024

Historic Significance

Historic Significance means the meaning or value ascribed to a building, structure, object, site, or district based on criteria for evaluation.

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Historic Structure

Historic Structure means any structure that:

Is listed individually on the national register of historic places by the department of the interior, or preliminarily by the secretary of the interior as meeting the requirements for individual listing on the National Register; or by the Colorado Historical Society; or
Is certified or preliminarily determined by the secretary of the interior as contributing to the historical significance of a registered historic district or a district preliminarily determined by the secretary to qualify as a registered historic district;
Is individually listed on a state or local inventory of historic places in states or communities with historic preservation programs approved by the secretary of the interior, or directly by the secretary of interior in states without approved programs.

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Historic Tree

Historic Tree means:

any existing, healthy tree with a depth at breast height (DBH) of 36 inches or greater;
an existing tree of any species with a DBH of 36 inches or greater that the City Council determines to be of unique and intrinsic value to the general public because of its size, age, historic association, or ecological value; or
any existing "champion tree" selected and duly designated at the State or national level by the American Forestry Association.

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Hive

Hive means a structure intended for the housing of one bee colony. A hive, including the attached honey supers, shall not exceed 12 cubic feet in size.

IES

IES means the Illuminating Engineering Society.

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Illuminance

Illuminance means the amount of light falling onto a unit area of surface measured in lumens per square meter (lux) or lumens per square foot (foot-candles).

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Inventory

Inventory means a catalog of buildings, structures, objects, and sites within the city that are listed, eligible for listing, or non-eligible for listing in the Littleton Historic Register.

Landscape Grading Plan means a plan drawn to scale that shows the designed landscape gradient and elevation using contour lines or numeric notation of elevations.

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Landscape Maintenance

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Landscape Plan

Landscape Plan means a scaled plan which illustrates the location and types of landscaping to be installed.

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Land Use

Land Use means the purpose for which land or structures are, or are intended, to be occupied, maintained, rented, or leased.

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Library or Museum

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Licensed Architect

Licensed Architect means a person who is currently licensed by the State of Colorado to practice the profession of architecture.

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Licensed Landscape Architect

Licensed Landscape Architect means a person who is currently licensed by the State of Colorado to practice the profession of landscape architecture.

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Licensed Professional Engineer

Licensed Professional Engineer means a person who is currently licensed by the State of Colorado to practice the profession of engineering.

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Light Industrial Uses

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Light Pollution

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Light Trespass

Light Trespass means the amount of light directly illuminating adjacent property or uses.

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Liquor Store (package liquor)

Liquor Store (package liquor) means an establishment licensed for the retail sale of packaged alcoholic liquor or cereal malt beverages for off-site consumption.

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Littleton Historic Register

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Livestock

Livestock means animals such as, but not limited to, horses, cows, sheep, goats, pigs, chickens, ducks, geese, turkeys and other poultry.

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Live-Work

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Living Facility, Assisted

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Living Facility, Independent

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Living Landscape Materials

Living Landscape Materials means living trees, shrubs, vines, flowers, grasses, lawn and ground covers.

Lot Consolidation

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Lot Improvement

Lot Improvement means any parking, landscaping, building design elements, bufferyard, screening, pedestrian circulation facilities, or other lot feature required by this Code.

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Lot Line, Corner

Lot Line, Corner means a boundary line of a lot that parallels a street perpendicular to, or approximately perpendicular to, the street for which the principal structure faces or is addressed.

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Lot Line, Front

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Lot Line, Rear

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Lot Line, Side

Lot Line, Side means any boundary line of a lot which is neither a front nor a rear lot line.

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Lot of Record

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Lot Width

Lot Width means the distance between the side lot lines, measured at the required front setback line.

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Low Impact Development

Low Impact Development means an approach to stormwater management that mimics a site's natural hydrology as the landscape is developed. See also, Green Infrastructure.

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Lowest Floor

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Low-Water-Use Plants

Low-Water-Use Plants means plants that require less than 30 percent of reference evapotranspiration to maintain optimum appearance.

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Lumber Yard

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Lumen

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Luminaire

Luminaire See definition of fixture.

Manufacturing

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Massing

Massing means the overall shape or arrangement of the bulk or volume of buildings and structures.

Mile High Flood District

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Minor Nonconforming Use

Minor Nonconforming Use means uses or structures are those not classified as major nonconformities.

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Minor Plat

Minor Plat a subdivision of not more than 10 lots, which fronts on an existing street and does not require the creation of any new street or the extension of municipal facilities.

Monument

Monument means a statue, column, war memorial, or other commemorative structure located on public property.

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Movie or Other Theater

Movie or Other Theater means a building or part of a building devoted to showing motion pictures, or for dramatic, musical, or live performances.

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Nonconforming Structure

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Nonconforming Use

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Non-Contributing Property

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Nonliving Landscape Materials

Nonliving Landscape Materials means materials, other than plants, used in the landscape, including crushed rock, sand, wood chips, outdoor furniture, ornamental pieces, and structural features.

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Non-Primary Short-Term Rental

Non-Primary Short-Term Rental - Refer to Title 3 Business Regulations, Chapter 23 Short-Term Rentals, of the City Code.

Effective on: 10/28/2021

No-Rise Certification

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Nursery or Garden Center

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Nursing Home/Congregate Housing

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Object

Object means a material item of functional, aesthetic, cultural, historical, or scientific value that may be, by nature or design, movable yet related to a specific setting or environment.

O

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Overwhelming Significance

Overwhelming Significance means a property or district:

Possesses such unusual or uncommon significance that the structure's or district's potential demolition or major alteration would diminish the character and sense of place; or
Possesses superior or outstanding examples of architectural, social, or geographic historic significance.

Effective on: 10/28/2021

P

Paintball Facility means an indoor or outdoor establishment designed for the playing of paintball or similar games.

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Parcel Services

Parcel Services means a business services establishment to facilitate the transmittal and receipt of parcels.

Parking Lot, On-Site means the principal use of a parcel of land for the parking of automobiles specifically not including ancillary off-street parking required in Section 10-4-9 of this Title.

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Permitted Use means a use which is specifically authorized by this Code in a particular zoning district. Refer also to Use, Permitted.

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Personal Services

Personal Services means an establishment providing often-recurrent individual services, such as barber shops, beauty salons, spas, coin-operated laundromats, shoe repair, and tailoring.

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Pervious

Pervious means a surface which allows rainfall to infiltrate into the ground.

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Pets, Household

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Pet Store

(Ord. 01, Series of 2024)

Effective on: 3/15/2024

Pharmacy

Pharmacy means a store where medicinal drugs are dispensed and sold.

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Preservation

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Primary Material

Primary Material means the applied building construction material that comprises 75 percent or more of a building's façade.

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Primary/Secondary Street

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Primary Short-Term Rental

Primary Short-Term Rental - Refer to Title 3 Business Regulations, Chapter 23 Short-Term Rentals, of the City Code.

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Principal Structure

Principal Structure means a structure that contains or is intended to contain a principal use. Refer also to Structure, Principal.

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Principal Use

Any use which physically occupies a majority of a parcel of land and/or a structure; or
Any use which constitutes a majority of the activity conducted on a parcel in relative terms of, for example, sales or rental volume of materials or services offered; prominence of on-site display or advertisement of materials or services offered; type of materials or services offered; amount of stock or inventory; hours of operation devoted to a particular sales or service activity; occupation of inhabitants or employees; and/or the purpose or attraction of the occupation. Refer also to Use, Principal.

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Printing and Publishing

Effective on: 10/28/2021

(Ord. 18, Series of 2022)

Relocation means the act or process of moving a historic property to a new site. This may be discussed instead of or in conjunction with the proposal to demolish a historic property.

Restaurant

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Restaurant, Dine-in

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Restaurant, Drive-in or Drive-Through

Restaurant, Drive-in or Drive-Through means a facility used to provide service to customers in vehicles who either drive up to a window or station or drive through to the building for purchases.

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Restoration

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Retail Marijuana Cultivation Facility

Retail Marijuana Cultivation Facility - refer to Chapter 21, Retail Marijuana Establishments, of the City Code.

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Retail Marijuana Product Manufacturing Facility

Retail Marijuana Product Manufacturing Facility - Refer to Chapter 21, Retail Marijuana Establishments, of the City Code.

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Sales-Oriented Uses

(Ord. 01, Series of 2024)

Effective on: 3/15/2024

Scenic View

Scenic View means an outstanding or unique view of a mountain, a river valley or shoreline as seen from a delineated viewing or generalized viewing place.

Effective on: 10/28/2021

S

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Screen

Screen means a structure or planting that conceals from public view the area behind such structure or planting.

Effective on: 10/28/2021

SDDTC (Storm Drainage Design and Technical Criteria)

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Service-Oriented Uses

(Ord. 20, Series of 2023)

Effective on: 10/13/2023

Setback

Setback means the distance in linear feet, measured on a horizontal plane, between the outer perimeter of a structure and each of its lot lines.

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Shade Tree

Shade Tree means a deciduous tree exceeding 25 feet in height at maturity.

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Shooting Range (indoor)

Shooting Range (indoor) means the use of land for the discharging of firearms for the purposes of target practice, skeet and trap shooting, or temporary competitions.

Sign, Awning means a sign that is mounted, painted, or attached to an awning.

Awning Sign

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Sign, Blade

Sign, Blade means a sign suspended from the underside of a canopy, awning, ceiling, marquee, roof overhang, a covered porch, or walkway.

Blade Sign

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Sign, Changeable Copy

Sign, Changeable Copy means a sign, or portion thereof, consisting of letters and/or numbers that are manually changed or rearranged without altering the face or the surface of the sign.

Changeable Copy Sign

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Sign, Marquee

Marquee Sign

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Sign, Externally Illuminated

Sign, Externally Illuminated means a sign illuminated by an independent light source aimed at the sign for the purpose of lighting the signage.

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Sign, Incidental

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Sign, Internally Illuminated

Sign, Internally Illuminated means a sign illuminated by light sources enclosed entirely within the sign cabinet and not directly visible from outside the sign.

Effective on: 10/28/2021

S

Sign, Monument A freestanding sign supported primarily by an internal structural framework or integrated into landscaping or other solid structural features other than support poles.

Monument Sign

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Sign, Pole

Pole Sign

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Sign, Portable

Portable Sign

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Sign, Post

Sign, Post means any advertising of any nature which is wholly supported by one or more posts set in or attached to the ground and appurtenant to the use of the property on which it is located.

Post Sign

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Sign, Projecting

Projecting Sign

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Sign, Pylon

Sign, Pylon A freestanding sign other than a pole sign permanently affixed to the ground by supports, but not having the appearance of a solid base.

Pylon sign

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Sign, Sidewalk

Sign, Sidewalk means a self-supported portable sign that is not secured or attached to the ground or surface where it is located and that is placed upon a sidewalk.

Sidewalk Sign

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Sign, Stake

Sign, Stake means any advertising of any nature which is wholly supported by one or more stakes set in or attached to the ground and appurtenant to the use of the property on which it is located.

Stake Sign

(Ord. 20, Series of 2023)

Effective on: 10/13/2023

Sign, Subdivision Entry

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Sign, Wall

Wall Sign

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Sign, Window

Sign, Window means a sign affixed to the surface of a window with its message intended to be read or viewed from the exterior of the building.

Window Sign

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Significant Fill Projects

Significant Fill Projects means an area over 0.25 acre that is to be elevated above one percent chance base flood.

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Site, Historic

Effective on: 10/28/2021

S

Effective on: 10/28/2021

S

Some means more than one.

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA)

Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA) means the land in the floodplain within the city, subject to a one percent chance of flooding in any given year. Also known as the 100-year floodplain.

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Special Trade Contractor

Structure, Accessory

Structure, Accessory means a detached structure that is subordinate and incidental to the principal structure or use located on the same lot. Refer also to Accessory Structure.

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Structure, Nonconforming

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Structure, Principal

Structure, Principal means a structure which contains or is intended to contain a principal use. Refer also to Principal Structure.

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Structure, Temporary

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Studio, Commercial

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Subdivision

Subdivision means the division of land into two or more lots, tracts, or parcels for the purpose of transfer of ownership or building development.

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Substantial Change

for towers other than alternative tower structures, it increases the height of the tower by more than 10 percent or by the height of one additional antenna array with separation from the nearest existing antenna not to exceed 20 feet, whichever is greater;
for other eligible support structures, it increases the height of the structure by more than 10 percent or more than 10 feet, whichever is greater, as measured from the top of an existing antenna to the bottom of a proposed new antenna;
for towers, it involves adding an appurtenance to the body of the tower that would protrude from the edge of the tower more than 20 feet, or more than the width of the tower structure at the level of the appurtenance, whichever is greater;
for eligible support structures, it involves adding an appurtenance to the body of the structure that would protrude from the edge of the structure by more than six feet;
for any eligible support structure, it involves installation of more than the standard number of new equipment cabinets for the technology involved, but not to exceed four cabinets per application;
for base stations, it involves installation of any new equipment cabinets on the ground if there are no pre-existing ground cabinets associated with the structure, or else involves installation of ground cabinets that are more than 10 percent larger in height or overall volume than any other ground cabinets associated with the structure;
for any eligible support structure, it entails any excavation or deployment outside the current site;
for any eligible support structure, it would undermine the concealment elements of the eligible support structure; or
for any eligible support structure, it does not comply with conditions associated with the siting approval of the construction or modification of the eligible support structure or base station equipment, unless the non-compliance is due to an increase in height, increase in width, addition of cabinets, or new excavation that would not exceed the thresholds identified above.

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Substantial Damage

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Substantial Improvement

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Substantial Improvement (Floodplain)

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Substantial Part

Substantial Part means the cost of repairing a sign is more than 50% of the cost of erecting a new sign of the same type at the same location.

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Sunset Provision

Sunset Provision means a zoning requirement, ordinance or other statutory authority that expires under specific terms.

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Swimming Pool (Public)

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Tattoo Parlor and Body Art Studio

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Tract means an area of land created by a plat, which is designated for some purpose other than a building site or lot.

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Trade and Vocational School

Trade and Vocational School means a specialized instructional school operating for or not for profit that provides on-site training of business, commercial, and/or trade skills.

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Transit System Facility

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Transit-Oriented Development (TOD)

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Transmission Equipment

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Transparency

Transparency is the area of a façade composed of doors, windows, and other decorative and functional openings, typically measured as a percentage of a wall face.

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Transportation Demand Management (TDM) Strategies

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Tree

Tree means a large, woody plant having one or several self-supporting stems or trunks and numerous branches. It may be classified as deciduous or evergreen.

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Tree Canopy

Tree Canopy means the area of the tree above ground including the trunk and branches measured in mass or volume.

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Tree Grates

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Tree, Historic

Tree, Historic means:

any existing, healthy tree with a depth at breast height (DBH) of 36 inches or greater;
an existing tree of any species with a DBH of 36 inches or greater that the City Council determines to be of unique and intrinsic value to the general public because of its size, age, historic association, or ecological value; or
any existing "champion tree" selected and duly designated at the State or national by the American Forestry Association.

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Tree-Lawn

Tree-Lawn means the area between the back of curb and the detached sidewalk typically characterized by ground cover, lawn and shade trees, also referred to as a parkway.

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Tree, Specimen

Tree, Specimen means any existing, healthy tree with a depth at breast height (DBH) of 12 inches or greater.

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Truck Stop

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Turf, Functional

(Ord. 10, Series of 2025)

Effective on: 6/12/2025

Turf, Nonfunctional

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Use, Permitted

Use, Permitted means a use which is specifically authorized by this Code in a particular zoning district. Refer also to Permitted Use.

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Use, Principal

Any use which physically occupies a majority of a parcel of land and/or a structure; or
Any use which constitutes a majority of the activity conducted on a parcel in relative terms of, for example, sales or rental volume of materials or services offered; prominence of on-site display or advertisement of materials or services offered; type of materials or services offered; amount of stock or inventory; hours of operation devoted to a particular sales or service activity; occupation of inhabitants or employees; and/or the purpose or attraction of the occupation. Refer also to Principal Use.

(Ord. 18, Series of 2022)

Effective on: 8/25/2022

Utility Easement

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Utility Provider

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Vacant

Effective on: 10/28/2021

V

Vehicles Sales (Used) means a dealership or any other premises on which three or more used cars, trailers, trucks, or other vehicles are offered for sale during any calendar year.

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Vehicle Service, Major

Vehicle Service, Major means automotive repairs that extend beyond the realm of Minor Vehicle Service Repairs.

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Vehicle Service, Minor

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Vehicle, Commercial

Vehicle, Commercial means any vehicle designed, maintained or used for commercial purposes, primarily for the transportation of persons, products or material.

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Vested Property Right

Vested Property Right means the right to undertake and complete the development and use of property under the terms and conditions of a site-specific development plan.

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Wing

Wing means a portion of the building that is secondary to the main building form, and may appear as an offshoot. An example is provided below.

Wing

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Wireless Communications Facility (WCF)

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Wrap

Wrap (for parking garages) means the architectural practice of “wrapping” residential units and/or retail, commercial or office uses around an above-grade parking structure.

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Xeriscape

Xeriscape means a landscaping method that utilizes water-conserving techniques (as the use of drought-tolerant plants, mulch, and other decorative non-living materials).

Effective on: 10/28/2021

100 Year or 1% Chance Floodplain means the area of land that is inundated by the floodwater from a one percent annual chance flood or base flood.

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Littleton City Zoning Code

CHAPTER 12

WORD USAGE

Section 10-12-1.1 Acronyms and Abbreviations

Table 10-12-1.1 Meaning of Acronyms and Abbreviations
Abbreviation or Acronym	Meaning
-	when used in tables, indicates "no limit," "no restriction," or "not applicable"
AASHTO	American Association of State and Highway Transportation Officials
AC.	Acres
ADA	Americans with Disabilities Act
BFE	Base Flood Elevation
BMP	Best Management Practice
BTZ	Build-To-Zone
BZA	Board of Zoning Appeals
CLOMR	Conditional Letter of Map Revision
Commission	City Commission
C.R.S.	Colorado Revised Statutes
DU	Dwelling Unit
FAA	Federal Aviation Administration
FAR	Floor Area Ratio
FCC	Federal Communications Commission
FT.	Feet
FEMA	Federal Emergency Management Agency
FHBM	Flood Hazard Boundary Map
FIRM	Flood Insurance Rate Map
FIS	Flood Insurance Study
GFA	Gross Floor Area
IN.	Inches
LDN	Day–Night Average Sound Level
LOMR	Letter of Map Revision
LOMR-F	Letter of Map Revision Based on Fill
MDP	Master Development Plan
MAX.	Maximum
MIN.	Minimum
n/a or NA	Not Applicable
NFIP	National Flood Insurance Program
OSR	Open Space Ratio
OTARD	Over-the-Air Receiving Device
PD	Planned Development
PDO	Planned Development Overlay
POA	Property Owner's Association
SF.	Square Feet
DU/AC	Dwelling Units Per Acre

Table 10-12-1.1 Meaning of Acronyms and Abbreviations
Abbreviation or Acronym	Meaning
-	when used in tables, indicates "no limit," "no restriction," or "not applicable"
AASHTO	American Association of State and Highway Transportation Officials
AC.	Acres
ADA	Americans with Disabilities Act
BFE	Base Flood Elevation
BMP	Best Management Practice
BTZ	Build-To-Zone
BZA	Board of Zoning Appeals
CLOMR	Conditional Letter of Map Revision
Commission	City Commission
C.R.S.	Colorado Revised Statutes
DU	Dwelling Unit
FAA	Federal Aviation Administration
FAR	Floor Area Ratio
FCC	Federal Communications Commission
FT.	Feet
FEMA	Federal Emergency Management Agency
FHBM	Flood Hazard Boundary Map
FIRM	Flood Insurance Rate Map
FIS	Flood Insurance Study
GFA	Gross Floor Area
IN.	Inches
LDN	Day–Night Average Sound Level
LOMR	Letter of Map Revision
LOMR-F	Letter of Map Revision Based on Fill
MDP	Master Development Plan
MAX.	Maximum
MIN.	Minimum
n/a or NA	Not Applicable
NFIP	National Flood Insurance Program
OSR	Open Space Ratio
OTARD	Over-the-Air Receiving Device
PD	Planned Development
PDO	Planned Development Overlay
POA	Property Owner's Association
SF.	Square Feet
DU/AC	Dwelling Units Per Acre

Table 10-12-1.1 Meaning of Acronyms and Abbreviations
Abbreviation or Acronym	Meaning
-	when used in tables, indicates "no limit," "no restriction," or "not applicable"
AASHTO	American Association of State and Highway Transportation Officials
AC.	Acres
ADA	Americans with Disabilities Act
BFE	Base Flood Elevation
BMP	Best Management Practice
BTZ	Build-To-Zone
BZA	Board of Zoning Appeals
CLOMR	Conditional Letter of Map Revision
Commission	City Commission
C.R.S.	Colorado Revised Statutes
DU	Dwelling Unit
FAA	Federal Aviation Administration
FAR	Floor Area Ratio
FCC	Federal Communications Commission
FT.	Feet
FEMA	Federal Emergency Management Agency
FHBM	Flood Hazard Boundary Map
FIRM	Flood Insurance Rate Map
FIS	Flood Insurance Study
GFA	Gross Floor Area
IN.	Inches
LDN	Day–Night Average Sound Level
LOMR	Letter of Map Revision
LOMR-F	Letter of Map Revision Based on Fill
MDP	Master Development Plan
MAX.	Maximum
MIN.	Minimum
n/a or NA	Not Applicable
NFIP	National Flood Insurance Program
OSR	Open Space Ratio
OTARD	Over-the-Air Receiving Device
PD	Planned Development
PDO	Planned Development Overlay
POA	Property Owner's Association
SF.	Square Feet
DU/AC	Dwelling Units Per Acre

Table 10-12-1.1 Meaning of Acronyms and Abbreviations
Abbreviation or Acronym	Meaning
-	when used in tables, indicates "no limit," "no restriction," or "not applicable"
AASHTO	American Association of State and Highway Transportation Officials
AC.	Acres
ADA	Americans with Disabilities Act
BFE	Base Flood Elevation
BMP	Best Management Practice
BTZ	Build-To-Zone
BZA	Board of Zoning Appeals
CLOMR	Conditional Letter of Map Revision
Commission	City Commission
C.R.S.	Colorado Revised Statutes
DU	Dwelling Unit
FAA	Federal Aviation Administration
FAR	Floor Area Ratio
FCC	Federal Communications Commission
FT.	Feet
FEMA	Federal Emergency Management Agency
FHBM	Flood Hazard Boundary Map
FIRM	Flood Insurance Rate Map
FIS	Flood Insurance Study
GFA	Gross Floor Area
IN.	Inches
LDN	Day–Night Average Sound Level
LOMR	Letter of Map Revision
LOMR-F	Letter of Map Revision Based on Fill
MDP	Master Development Plan
MAX.	Maximum
MIN.	Minimum
n/a or NA	Not Applicable
NFIP	National Flood Insurance Program
OSR	Open Space Ratio
OTARD	Over-the-Air Receiving Device
PD	Planned Development
PDO	Planned Development Overlay
POA	Property Owner's Association
SF.	Square Feet
DU/AC	Dwelling Units Per Acre

Effective on: 10/28/2021

J

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Z

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Abutting

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Accessory Building

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU)

Private area separated by a door (private entrance from outside not required);
Private living area;
Private sleeping area;
Private bathroom; and
Permanently installed connection for a cooking appliance.

Forms of ADUs include an i) attached or ii) detached ADU. Please see "Accessory Dwelling Unit, Attached" and "Accessory Dwelling Unit, Detached" for definitions.

(Ord. 18, Series of 2022; Ord. 09, Series of 2025)

Effective on: 6/12/2025

Accessory Dwelling Unit, Attached

(Ord. 09, Series of 2025)

Effective on: 6/12/2025

Accessory Dwelling Unit, Detached

(Ord. 09, Series of 2025)

Effective on: 6/12/2025

Accessory Structure

Accessory Structure means a detached uninhabited structure that is subordinate and incidental to the principal structure or use located on the same lot. Refer also to Structure, Accessory.

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Accessory Use

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Adapted Plant

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Adaptive Reuse

Adaptive Reuse means the rehabilitation or renovation of an existing building or structure for a permitted use(s) other than the present use(s).

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Addition

Addition means any activity that expands the enclosed footprint or increases the square footage of an existing structure.

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Adjacent

Adjacent means being in close proximity. Properties that are directly across a public right-of-way or access easement are adjacent.

(Ord. 18, Series of 2022)

Effective on: 8/25/2022

Adjoining

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Administrative Plat

Administrative Plat means a plat of one to four lots that is approved through an administrative action without the approval of the Planning Commission.

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Adult Day Care

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Alteration

Alteration means the act or process which changes one or more of the exterior architectural features of a structure.

Antenna

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Animal Boarding and Care Facility

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Animal Husbandry

Animal Husbandry means the care and raising of horses, donkeys, mules, alpaca, llama, wool-bearing animals, and associated enterprises for the personal use of residents of the property.

Effective on: 10/28/2021

A

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Animal Rescue Organization or Rescue Shelter

(Ord. 01, Series of 2024)

Effective on: 3/15/2024

Apiary

Apiary means a place where one or more beehives are kept.

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Appeal

Appeal means a review of a decision, determination, order, or act of an administrative body pursuant to the terms of this Code.

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Architectural Accent Lighting

Architectural Accent Lighting means lighting used to highlight or enhance a specific architectural element, feature, or symbol without providing a wash of light over an entire wall or façade.

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Area of Shallow Flooding

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Area of Special Flood Hazard

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Assembly

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Assembly Facility, Public

Assembly Facility, Public refer to the definition of "Public Assembly Facility."

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Assembly of Finished Goods

Assembly of Finished Goods means the process of assembling and packaging pre-manufactured items into a single final product.

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Assembly of Prefabricated Parts

Assembly of Prefabricated Parts means the process of assembling and packaging pre-manufactured items into a single final product.

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Assembly or Fabrication for Sale on Premises

Assembly or Fabrication for Sale on Premises means the process of assembling and packaging pre-manufactured items into a single final product to be sold in the same location.

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Ballfield or Stadium

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Bank or Credit Union

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Bar, Brew Pub, or Tavern

B

Bowling Alley means an establishment containing long narrow tracks used in bowling and similar games.

Effective on: 10/28/2021

B

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Effective on: 8/25/2022

Building Permit

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Build-to

Build-to-line

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Build-to-Zone (BTZ)

Build-to-Zone

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Bulk Plane

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Bus or Taxi Depot

Bus or Taxi Depot means a central facility where passengers and goods are loaded and unloaded onto, or from buses or taxis, and from which buses or taxis are dispatched, routed, and maintained.

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Cafeteria, Providing Service to On-Site Employees

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Caliper

Caliper means the measurement in diameter of a tree trunk measured six inches above the ground for trees up to four-inch size and 12 inches above the ground for larger sizes.

Effective on: 10/28/2021

C

is integrated as an architectural feature of an existing structure such as a cupola while still appearing to some extent as a WCF; or
is integrated into an outdoor fixture such as a flagpole, while still appearing to some extent as a WCF; or
uses a design that mimics and is consistent with the nearby natural, or architectural features (such as an artificial tree) or is incorporated into (including without limitation, being attached to the exterior of such facility and painted to match it) or replaces existing permitted facilities (including without limitation, stop signs or other traffic signs or freestanding light standards) so that the presence of the WCF is not readily apparent.

This definition does not include the use of Concealment Design Techniques so that a facility looks like something other than a wireless Tower or Base Station.

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Campground

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Canopy

Canopy (also known as overstory) means the upper vegetative cover of a tree or plant grouping.

Certified Irrigation Designer means a person who has completed the Certified Irrigation Designer Program of the Irrigation Association.

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Channelization

Channelization means the artificial creation, enlargement, or realignment of a stream channel.

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Character-Defining Feature

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Child Care Center or Pre-School

(Ord. 20, Series of 2023)

Collocation

Collocation

For the purposes of Eligible Facilities Requests, means the mounting or installation of transmission equipment on an Eligible Support Structure for the purpose of transmitting and /or receiving radio frequency signals for communications purposes.
For the purposes of facilities subject to time periods governed by 47 U.S.C. Sec. 332, means attachment of facilities to existing structures, regardless of whether the structure or location has previously been zoned for wireless facilities.

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Colony

Comprehensive Rezoning

Comprehensive Rezoning means a legislative action initiated by the City to rezone 50 or more parcels which are predominantly under different ownerships.

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Comprehensive Plan

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Concealment

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Conceptual Plan

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Concrete Batch Plant

Concrete Batch Plant means a permanent or temporary use where cement, concrete, mortar, or asphalt is manufactured.

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Condominium

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Contiguous

Contiguous means given the definitions of Abutting and Adjoining, to be contiguous is to abut or be adjacent to a boundary or separated only by street, railroad or public utility rights-of-way.

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Contributing Building

Contributing Building means a building that retains a significant amount of its physical integrity and character defining features or that is associated with a significant era, person or event.

Cottage Food Products

pickled fruits and vegetables with a finished equilibrium pH of 4.6 or below;
spices, teas, dehydrated produce, nuts, seeds, honey, jams, jellies, preserves, fruit butter, flour, and baked goods, including candies, fruit empanadas, tortillas, and other similar products;
up to 250 dozen whole eggs per month may also be sold;
canned fruits and applesauce;
pickled vegetables and fruits with a finished pH of 4.6 or below; and
dehydrated produce including freeze-dried produce.

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Courtyard

Courtyard means an open, unoccupied space, other than a yard, on the same lot with a building or group of buildings, which is bounded on two or more sides by such building or buildings.

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Critical Facility

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Critical Root Zone (CRZ)

Critical Root Zone (CRZ) means the ground area around a tree trunk determined by a radius of one foot for each one inch of trunk diameter.

Effective on: 10/28/2021

D

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Data Center

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Deciduous

Deciduous means a plant with foliage that is shed annually.

Design Guidelines

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Designated Historic Buildings or Structures and Districts

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Detached

Detached means fully separated from any other structure, building, or housing unit and does not share a common wall, roof, floor, or other structural components.

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Deterioration

Deterioration means a historic resource diminishes in quality, character, function or value, and may mean that it falls into decay or ruin.

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Determination of Historic Eligibility

Determination of Historic Eligibility means the process of evaluating a property over 40 years of age for potential historic significance prior to proposed demolition.

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Drip Line

Drip Line means the area defined by the outermost circumference of a tree canopy from where water drips onto the ground.

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Drive-Through

Drive-Through means a facility designed to enable a person to transact business while remaining in a motor vehicle.

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Driveway

Driveway means an area of pavement or other approved surfacing designed and intended for driveways, that provides vehicle access from a public right-of-way to a parking area, garage, or dwelling.

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Drug Store

Effective on: 10/28/2021

D

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Dry Cleaning Store or Laundromat

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Dry Cleaning, Commercial Operations

Dry Cleaning, Commercial Operations means a commercial facility where fabrics are cleaned with substantially non-aqueous solvents on a commercial or wholesale basis.

Electric Transmission

Electric Transmission means a system of electrical wires that carries electricity from the source of generation to distribution lines, which lead to a consumer.

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Electric vehicle

"Battery electric vehicle (BEV)" means any vehicle that operates exclusively on electrical energy from an off-board source that is stored in the vehicle's batteries; and produces zero tailpipe emissions or pollution when stationary or operating.
"Plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV)" means an electric vehicle that:
- contains an internal combustion engine and also allows power to be delivered to drive wheels by an electric motor;
- charges its battery primarily by connecting to the grid or other off-board electrical source;
- may additionally be able to sustain battery charge using an on-board internal-combustion-driven generator; and
- has the ability to travel powered by electricity.
"Neighborhood electric vehicle" means a self-propelled, electrically powered four-wheeled motor vehicle whose speed attainable in one mile is more than twenty miles per hour and not more than twenty-five miles per hour and conforms to federal regulations under Title 49 C.F.R. Part 571.500.
"Medium-speed electric vehicle" means a self-propelled, electrically powered four-wheeled motor vehicle equipped with a roll cage or crush proof body design, whose speed attainable in one mile is more than twenty-five miles per hour but not more than thirty-five miles per hour and otherwise meets or exceeds the federal regulations set forth in 49 C.F.R. Sec. 571.500.

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Equivalent Effective Conveyance means compensating fill with cut in cross sectional area, that does not raise the channel invert.

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Existing Manufactured Home Park or Subdivision

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Existing Tower, Alternative Tower Structure, or Base Station means a constructed tower or base station that was reviewed, approved, and lawfully constructed in accordance with all requirements of applicable law as of the time it was built, for example, a tower that exists as a legal, non-conforming use and was lawfully constructed is existing for purposes of this definition.

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Expansion of Existing Manufactured Home Park

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Evergreen

Evergreen means a tree or shrub with foliage that persists and remains green year around.

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Fabrication

Fabrication means the cutting, shaping, and forming of bulk processed materials into parts for assembly.

Federal Register means the official daily publication for rules, proposed rules, and notices of federal agencies and organizations, as well as executive orders and other presidential documents.

Effective on: 10/28/2021

FEMA

FEMA means the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the agency responsible for administering the national flood insurance program.

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Fence

Fence means a structure designed or intended to constitute an enclosure or barrier, either physical or visual, typically made of (but not limited to) wood, metal, vinyl, or iron.

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Flood Fringe

Flood Fringe means that portion of a floodplain that is located outside the limits of a FEMA regulatory floodway.

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM)

Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM) means the most recently adopted official map on which FEMA has delineated floodplains and the risk premium zones applicable to the city.

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Flood Insurance Study (FIS)

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Flood or Flooding

Flood or Flooding means a general and temporary condition of partial or complete inundation of normally dry land areas from:

The overflow of from channels and reservoir spillways;
The unusual and rapid accumulation of runoff of surface waters from any source; or
Mudslides or mudflows that occur from excess surface water that is combined with mud or other debris that is sufficiently fluid so as to flow over the surface of normally dry land areas (such as earth carried by a current of water and deposited along the path of the current).

Note: A different definition of “flood” is used for determining eligibility for flood loss claims under the NFIP.

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Flood Profile

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Floodplain Administrator (Administrator)

Floodplain Administrator (Administrator) means the director or a designee that administers and enforces the floodplain management regulations.

Floor Area Ratio, Maximum means the maximum permitted ratio of gross floor area of all structures on the lot to the total area of the lot, as established by this Code.

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Floor-to-Floor Height

Floor-to-Floor Height means the vertical distance between floor finish level and the beginning of the next building story.

Foot-Candle means a unit of illuminance on a surface that is everywhere one foot from a uniform point source of light of one candle and equal to one lumen per square foot.

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Foster Care Home

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Foster Family Care Home

Foster Family Care Home means a private residence where care, protection and supervision are provided to not more than four children unrelated to the adult provider at one time.

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Freeboard

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Frontage Type, Build-To

Build-To Frontage Type

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Frontage Type, Drive-Through

Drive-Through Frontage Type

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Frontage Type, Green

Frontage Type, Green means a development orientation with a landscaped area, without parking, that separates a coordinated set of buildings in a development and the street.

Green Frontage Type

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Frontage Type, Parking Court

Parking Court Frontage Type

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Frontage Type, Shopfront

Shopfront Frontage Type

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Frontage Type, Stoop

Stoop Frontage Type

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Frontage Type, Yard

Frontage Type, Yard means a development orientation with a landscaped area, without parking, that separates a stand-alone building (that is not a shopfront frontage type) and the street.

Yard Frontage Type

Garage/Yard/Estate Sale

Effective on: 10/28/2021

G

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Genus

Genus means a closely related and definable group of plants comprising one or more species.

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Glare

Glare means light directly visible to the human eye causing visual discomfort or reduced visibility.

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Golf Course

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Golf Driving Range

Gross Leasable Area

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Ground Cover

Ground Cover means plants other than turf grass, normally reaching an average maximum height of not more than 24 inches at maturity.

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Group Home

Group Home for Persons with Disabilities. A dwelling unit that is shared by four or more persons with disabilities living together as a single housekeeping unit. Professional staff may provide 24-hour supervision or supportive services and may reside in the dwelling unit.
Group Home for the Elderly. A group home of persons 60 years of age or older who do not require medical attention associated with a residential health care facility. Group homes for elderly persons shall be licensed as an assisted living residence or alternative care facility by the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment.
Group Home for Mentally Ill Persons. A state-licensed group home exclusively for the care of persons with mental illness, as defined and regulated by the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment.
Group Home for Children Awaiting Disposition. A state-licensed group home for children up to 18 years age who are not related to the head of the household, and who are awaiting disposition to foster homes or other accommodations.
Group Home for Recovery Residence. A state-licensed, sober-living-environment group home exclusively for use by adults who are recovering from substance use disorders, as defined and regulated by the Colorado Board of Health and the National Association of Recovery Residences.
Group Home for Children. A residential facility for children, which is licensed by the state department of social services for the purpose of providing foster family care.
Group Home for Persons with Disabilities. A dwelling unit that is shared by four or more persons with disabilities living together as a single housekeeping unit. Professional staff may provide 24-hour supervision or supportive services and may reside in the dwelling unit. A state-licensed group home exclusively for the care of persons with developmental disabilities, as defined and regulated by the Colorado Department of Human Services, Division for Developmental Services, and the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment.

Health and Fitness Club means a facility used for exercise, fitness, sports, and sports instruction including martial arts schools, yoga studios, and dance instruction studios as a business.

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Height

The elevation of the highest adjoining sidewalk or ground surface within a five-foot horizontal distance of the exterior wall of the building when the sidewalk or ground is not more than 10 feet above the lowest grade; or
An elevation 10 feet higher than the lowest grade when the sidewalk or ground surface is more than 10 feet above lowest grade.

The height of a stepped or terraced building is the maximum height of any segment of the building.

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Highest Adjacent Grade

Highest Adjacent Grade means the highest natural elevation of the ground surface prior to construction next to the proposed walls of a structure.

Effective on: 10/28/2021

High-Water-Use Turf

High-Water-Use Turf means turfgrass that has an exceptionally high-water requirement to prevent dormancy, typically one-and-one-half inches of water or more per week.

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Historic Designation

Historic Designation means the formal recognition of a historic structure, site, or district.

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Historic District

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Historic Landmark

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Historic Property

Historic Property means a district, site, building, structure, or object significant in American history, architecture, engineering, archeology, or culture at the national, state, or local level.

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Historical Preservation Commission

(Ord. 02, Series of 2024)

Effective on: 4/1/2024

Historic Significance

Historic Significance means the meaning or value ascribed to a building, structure, object, site, or district based on criteria for evaluation.

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Historic Structure

Historic Structure means any structure that:

Is listed individually on the national register of historic places by the department of the interior, or preliminarily by the secretary of the interior as meeting the requirements for individual listing on the National Register; or by the Colorado Historical Society; or
Is certified or preliminarily determined by the secretary of the interior as contributing to the historical significance of a registered historic district or a district preliminarily determined by the secretary to qualify as a registered historic district;
Is individually listed on a state or local inventory of historic places in states or communities with historic preservation programs approved by the secretary of the interior, or directly by the secretary of interior in states without approved programs.

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Historic Tree

Historic Tree means:

any existing, healthy tree with a depth at breast height (DBH) of 36 inches or greater;
an existing tree of any species with a DBH of 36 inches or greater that the City Council determines to be of unique and intrinsic value to the general public because of its size, age, historic association, or ecological value; or
any existing "champion tree" selected and duly designated at the State or national level by the American Forestry Association.

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Hive

Hive means a structure intended for the housing of one bee colony. A hive, including the attached honey supers, shall not exceed 12 cubic feet in size.

IES

IES means the Illuminating Engineering Society.

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Illuminance

Illuminance means the amount of light falling onto a unit area of surface measured in lumens per square meter (lux) or lumens per square foot (foot-candles).

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Inventory

Inventory means a catalog of buildings, structures, objects, and sites within the city that are listed, eligible for listing, or non-eligible for listing in the Littleton Historic Register.

Landscape Grading Plan means a plan drawn to scale that shows the designed landscape gradient and elevation using contour lines or numeric notation of elevations.

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Landscape Maintenance

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Landscape Plan

Landscape Plan means a scaled plan which illustrates the location and types of landscaping to be installed.

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Land Use

Land Use means the purpose for which land or structures are, or are intended, to be occupied, maintained, rented, or leased.

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Library or Museum

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Licensed Architect

Licensed Architect means a person who is currently licensed by the State of Colorado to practice the profession of architecture.

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Licensed Landscape Architect

Licensed Landscape Architect means a person who is currently licensed by the State of Colorado to practice the profession of landscape architecture.

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Licensed Professional Engineer

Licensed Professional Engineer means a person who is currently licensed by the State of Colorado to practice the profession of engineering.

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Light Industrial Uses

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Light Pollution

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Light Trespass

Light Trespass means the amount of light directly illuminating adjacent property or uses.

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Liquor Store (package liquor)

Liquor Store (package liquor) means an establishment licensed for the retail sale of packaged alcoholic liquor or cereal malt beverages for off-site consumption.

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Littleton Historic Register

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Livestock

Livestock means animals such as, but not limited to, horses, cows, sheep, goats, pigs, chickens, ducks, geese, turkeys and other poultry.

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Live-Work

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Living Facility, Assisted

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Living Facility, Independent

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Living Landscape Materials

Living Landscape Materials means living trees, shrubs, vines, flowers, grasses, lawn and ground covers.

Lot Consolidation

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Lot Improvement

Lot Improvement means any parking, landscaping, building design elements, bufferyard, screening, pedestrian circulation facilities, or other lot feature required by this Code.

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Lot Line, Corner

Lot Line, Corner means a boundary line of a lot that parallels a street perpendicular to, or approximately perpendicular to, the street for which the principal structure faces or is addressed.

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Lot Line, Front

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Lot Line, Rear

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Lot Line, Side

Lot Line, Side means any boundary line of a lot which is neither a front nor a rear lot line.

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Lot of Record

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Lot Width

Lot Width means the distance between the side lot lines, measured at the required front setback line.

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Low Impact Development

Low Impact Development means an approach to stormwater management that mimics a site's natural hydrology as the landscape is developed. See also, Green Infrastructure.

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Lowest Floor

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Low-Water-Use Plants

Low-Water-Use Plants means plants that require less than 30 percent of reference evapotranspiration to maintain optimum appearance.

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Lumber Yard

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Lumen

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Luminaire

Luminaire See definition of fixture.

Manufacturing

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Massing

Massing means the overall shape or arrangement of the bulk or volume of buildings and structures.

Mile High Flood District

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Minor Nonconforming Use

Minor Nonconforming Use means uses or structures are those not classified as major nonconformities.

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Minor Plat

Minor Plat a subdivision of not more than 10 lots, which fronts on an existing street and does not require the creation of any new street or the extension of municipal facilities.

Monument

Monument means a statue, column, war memorial, or other commemorative structure located on public property.

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Movie or Other Theater

Movie or Other Theater means a building or part of a building devoted to showing motion pictures, or for dramatic, musical, or live performances.

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Nonconforming Structure

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Nonconforming Use

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Non-Contributing Property

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Nonliving Landscape Materials

Nonliving Landscape Materials means materials, other than plants, used in the landscape, including crushed rock, sand, wood chips, outdoor furniture, ornamental pieces, and structural features.

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Non-Primary Short-Term Rental

Non-Primary Short-Term Rental - Refer to Title 3 Business Regulations, Chapter 23 Short-Term Rentals, of the City Code.

Effective on: 10/28/2021

No-Rise Certification

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Nursery or Garden Center

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Nursing Home/Congregate Housing

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Object

Object means a material item of functional, aesthetic, cultural, historical, or scientific value that may be, by nature or design, movable yet related to a specific setting or environment.

O

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Overwhelming Significance

Overwhelming Significance means a property or district:

Possesses such unusual or uncommon significance that the structure's or district's potential demolition or major alteration would diminish the character and sense of place; or
Possesses superior or outstanding examples of architectural, social, or geographic historic significance.

Effective on: 10/28/2021

P

Paintball Facility means an indoor or outdoor establishment designed for the playing of paintball or similar games.

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Parcel Services

Parcel Services means a business services establishment to facilitate the transmittal and receipt of parcels.

Parking Lot, On-Site means the principal use of a parcel of land for the parking of automobiles specifically not including ancillary off-street parking required in Section 10-4-9 of this Title.

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Permitted Use means a use which is specifically authorized by this Code in a particular zoning district. Refer also to Use, Permitted.

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Personal Services

Personal Services means an establishment providing often-recurrent individual services, such as barber shops, beauty salons, spas, coin-operated laundromats, shoe repair, and tailoring.

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Pervious

Pervious means a surface which allows rainfall to infiltrate into the ground.

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Pets, Household

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Pet Store

(Ord. 01, Series of 2024)

Effective on: 3/15/2024

Pharmacy

Pharmacy means a store where medicinal drugs are dispensed and sold.

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Preservation

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Primary Material

Primary Material means the applied building construction material that comprises 75 percent or more of a building's façade.

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Primary/Secondary Street

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Primary Short-Term Rental

Primary Short-Term Rental - Refer to Title 3 Business Regulations, Chapter 23 Short-Term Rentals, of the City Code.

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Principal Structure

Principal Structure means a structure that contains or is intended to contain a principal use. Refer also to Structure, Principal.

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Principal Use

Any use which physically occupies a majority of a parcel of land and/or a structure; or
Any use which constitutes a majority of the activity conducted on a parcel in relative terms of, for example, sales or rental volume of materials or services offered; prominence of on-site display or advertisement of materials or services offered; type of materials or services offered; amount of stock or inventory; hours of operation devoted to a particular sales or service activity; occupation of inhabitants or employees; and/or the purpose or attraction of the occupation. Refer also to Use, Principal.

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Printing and Publishing

Effective on: 10/28/2021

(Ord. 18, Series of 2022)

Relocation means the act or process of moving a historic property to a new site. This may be discussed instead of or in conjunction with the proposal to demolish a historic property.

Restaurant

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Restaurant, Dine-in

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Restaurant, Drive-in or Drive-Through

Restaurant, Drive-in or Drive-Through means a facility used to provide service to customers in vehicles who either drive up to a window or station or drive through to the building for purchases.

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Restoration

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Retail Marijuana Cultivation Facility

Retail Marijuana Cultivation Facility - refer to Chapter 21, Retail Marijuana Establishments, of the City Code.

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Retail Marijuana Product Manufacturing Facility

Retail Marijuana Product Manufacturing Facility - Refer to Chapter 21, Retail Marijuana Establishments, of the City Code.

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Sales-Oriented Uses

(Ord. 01, Series of 2024)

Effective on: 3/15/2024

Scenic View

Scenic View means an outstanding or unique view of a mountain, a river valley or shoreline as seen from a delineated viewing or generalized viewing place.

Effective on: 10/28/2021

S

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Screen

Screen means a structure or planting that conceals from public view the area behind such structure or planting.

Effective on: 10/28/2021

SDDTC (Storm Drainage Design and Technical Criteria)

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Service-Oriented Uses

(Ord. 20, Series of 2023)

Effective on: 10/13/2023

Setback

Setback means the distance in linear feet, measured on a horizontal plane, between the outer perimeter of a structure and each of its lot lines.

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Shade Tree

Shade Tree means a deciduous tree exceeding 25 feet in height at maturity.

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Shooting Range (indoor)

Shooting Range (indoor) means the use of land for the discharging of firearms for the purposes of target practice, skeet and trap shooting, or temporary competitions.

Sign, Awning means a sign that is mounted, painted, or attached to an awning.

Awning Sign

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Sign, Blade

Sign, Blade means a sign suspended from the underside of a canopy, awning, ceiling, marquee, roof overhang, a covered porch, or walkway.

Blade Sign

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Sign, Changeable Copy

Sign, Changeable Copy means a sign, or portion thereof, consisting of letters and/or numbers that are manually changed or rearranged without altering the face or the surface of the sign.

Changeable Copy Sign

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Sign, Marquee

Marquee Sign

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Sign, Externally Illuminated

Sign, Externally Illuminated means a sign illuminated by an independent light source aimed at the sign for the purpose of lighting the signage.

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Sign, Incidental

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Sign, Internally Illuminated

Sign, Internally Illuminated means a sign illuminated by light sources enclosed entirely within the sign cabinet and not directly visible from outside the sign.

Effective on: 10/28/2021

S

Sign, Monument A freestanding sign supported primarily by an internal structural framework or integrated into landscaping or other solid structural features other than support poles.

Monument Sign

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Sign, Pole

Pole Sign

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Sign, Portable

Portable Sign

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Sign, Post

Sign, Post means any advertising of any nature which is wholly supported by one or more posts set in or attached to the ground and appurtenant to the use of the property on which it is located.

Post Sign

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Sign, Projecting

Projecting Sign

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Sign, Pylon

Sign, Pylon A freestanding sign other than a pole sign permanently affixed to the ground by supports, but not having the appearance of a solid base.

Pylon sign

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Sign, Sidewalk

Sign, Sidewalk means a self-supported portable sign that is not secured or attached to the ground or surface where it is located and that is placed upon a sidewalk.

Sidewalk Sign

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Sign, Stake

Sign, Stake means any advertising of any nature which is wholly supported by one or more stakes set in or attached to the ground and appurtenant to the use of the property on which it is located.

Stake Sign

(Ord. 20, Series of 2023)

Effective on: 10/13/2023

Sign, Subdivision Entry

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Sign, Wall

Wall Sign

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Sign, Window

Sign, Window means a sign affixed to the surface of a window with its message intended to be read or viewed from the exterior of the building.

Window Sign

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Significant Fill Projects

Significant Fill Projects means an area over 0.25 acre that is to be elevated above one percent chance base flood.

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Site, Historic

Effective on: 10/28/2021

S

Effective on: 10/28/2021

S

Some means more than one.

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA)

Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA) means the land in the floodplain within the city, subject to a one percent chance of flooding in any given year. Also known as the 100-year floodplain.

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Special Trade Contractor

Structure, Accessory

Structure, Accessory means a detached structure that is subordinate and incidental to the principal structure or use located on the same lot. Refer also to Accessory Structure.

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Structure, Nonconforming

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Structure, Principal

Structure, Principal means a structure which contains or is intended to contain a principal use. Refer also to Principal Structure.

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Structure, Temporary

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Studio, Commercial

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Subdivision

Subdivision means the division of land into two or more lots, tracts, or parcels for the purpose of transfer of ownership or building development.

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Substantial Change

for towers other than alternative tower structures, it increases the height of the tower by more than 10 percent or by the height of one additional antenna array with separation from the nearest existing antenna not to exceed 20 feet, whichever is greater;
for other eligible support structures, it increases the height of the structure by more than 10 percent or more than 10 feet, whichever is greater, as measured from the top of an existing antenna to the bottom of a proposed new antenna;
for towers, it involves adding an appurtenance to the body of the tower that would protrude from the edge of the tower more than 20 feet, or more than the width of the tower structure at the level of the appurtenance, whichever is greater;
for eligible support structures, it involves adding an appurtenance to the body of the structure that would protrude from the edge of the structure by more than six feet;
for any eligible support structure, it involves installation of more than the standard number of new equipment cabinets for the technology involved, but not to exceed four cabinets per application;
for base stations, it involves installation of any new equipment cabinets on the ground if there are no pre-existing ground cabinets associated with the structure, or else involves installation of ground cabinets that are more than 10 percent larger in height or overall volume than any other ground cabinets associated with the structure;
for any eligible support structure, it entails any excavation or deployment outside the current site;
for any eligible support structure, it would undermine the concealment elements of the eligible support structure; or
for any eligible support structure, it does not comply with conditions associated with the siting approval of the construction or modification of the eligible support structure or base station equipment, unless the non-compliance is due to an increase in height, increase in width, addition of cabinets, or new excavation that would not exceed the thresholds identified above.

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Substantial Damage

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Substantial Improvement

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Substantial Improvement (Floodplain)

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Substantial Part

Substantial Part means the cost of repairing a sign is more than 50% of the cost of erecting a new sign of the same type at the same location.

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Sunset Provision

Sunset Provision means a zoning requirement, ordinance or other statutory authority that expires under specific terms.

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Swimming Pool (Public)

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Tattoo Parlor and Body Art Studio

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Tract means an area of land created by a plat, which is designated for some purpose other than a building site or lot.

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Trade and Vocational School

Trade and Vocational School means a specialized instructional school operating for or not for profit that provides on-site training of business, commercial, and/or trade skills.

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Transit System Facility

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Transit-Oriented Development (TOD)

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Transmission Equipment

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Transparency

Transparency is the area of a façade composed of doors, windows, and other decorative and functional openings, typically measured as a percentage of a wall face.

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Transportation Demand Management (TDM) Strategies

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Tree

Tree means a large, woody plant having one or several self-supporting stems or trunks and numerous branches. It may be classified as deciduous or evergreen.

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Tree Canopy

Tree Canopy means the area of the tree above ground including the trunk and branches measured in mass or volume.

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Tree Grates

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Tree, Historic

Tree, Historic means:

any existing, healthy tree with a depth at breast height (DBH) of 36 inches or greater;
an existing tree of any species with a DBH of 36 inches or greater that the City Council determines to be of unique and intrinsic value to the general public because of its size, age, historic association, or ecological value; or
any existing "champion tree" selected and duly designated at the State or national by the American Forestry Association.

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Tree-Lawn

Tree-Lawn means the area between the back of curb and the detached sidewalk typically characterized by ground cover, lawn and shade trees, also referred to as a parkway.

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Tree, Specimen

Tree, Specimen means any existing, healthy tree with a depth at breast height (DBH) of 12 inches or greater.

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Truck Stop

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Turf, Functional

(Ord. 10, Series of 2025)

Effective on: 6/12/2025

Turf, Nonfunctional

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Use, Permitted

Use, Permitted means a use which is specifically authorized by this Code in a particular zoning district. Refer also to Permitted Use.

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Use, Principal

Any use which physically occupies a majority of a parcel of land and/or a structure; or
Any use which constitutes a majority of the activity conducted on a parcel in relative terms of, for example, sales or rental volume of materials or services offered; prominence of on-site display or advertisement of materials or services offered; type of materials or services offered; amount of stock or inventory; hours of operation devoted to a particular sales or service activity; occupation of inhabitants or employees; and/or the purpose or attraction of the occupation. Refer also to Principal Use.

(Ord. 18, Series of 2022)

Effective on: 8/25/2022

Utility Easement

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Utility Provider

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Vacant

Effective on: 10/28/2021

V

Vehicles Sales (Used) means a dealership or any other premises on which three or more used cars, trailers, trucks, or other vehicles are offered for sale during any calendar year.

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Vehicle Service, Major

Vehicle Service, Major means automotive repairs that extend beyond the realm of Minor Vehicle Service Repairs.

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Vehicle Service, Minor

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Vehicle, Commercial

Vehicle, Commercial means any vehicle designed, maintained or used for commercial purposes, primarily for the transportation of persons, products or material.

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Vested Property Right

Vested Property Right means the right to undertake and complete the development and use of property under the terms and conditions of a site-specific development plan.

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Wing

Wing means a portion of the building that is secondary to the main building form, and may appear as an offshoot. An example is provided below.

Wing

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Wireless Communications Facility (WCF)

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Wrap

Wrap (for parking garages) means the architectural practice of “wrapping” residential units and/or retail, commercial or office uses around an above-grade parking structure.

Effective on: 10/28/2021

Xeriscape

Xeriscape means a landscaping method that utilizes water-conserving techniques (as the use of drought-tolerant plants, mulch, and other decorative non-living materials).

Effective on: 10/28/2021

100 Year or 1% Chance Floodplain means the area of land that is inundated by the floodwater from a one percent annual chance flood or base flood.

Effective on: 10/28/2021