Bolthole Index

Arapahoe County, Colorado

Aurora, Colorado building permits, zoning and septic rules

Aurora, Colorado handles building permits, building plan reviews and inspections through the city Building Division.1 Aurora also administers its own zoning.2 For land in the Arapahoe County portion of Aurora, septic permits come from Arapahoe County Public Health; parcels in the Adams County portion follow Adams County Health Department septic permitting.34

At a glance

Building permits
City Building Division handles building permits and plan reviews1
Zoning
Aurora Unified Development Ordinance and Official Zoning Map2
Septic permits
Arapahoe County Public Health or Adams County Health Department, depending on parcel location34
Rural residential lots
R-R single-family detached: 43,560 square feet minimum in Subareas A and B5
Low-density residential lots
R-1 single-family detached: 6,000 square feet minimum in Subareas A and B, with exceptions6
Occupancy approval
Applicable building, engineering and grade inspections precede a certificate of occupancy7

Who to call

Building permits

Aurora Building Division

City building permits, plan reviews and inspections

303.739.7420

Zoning

Aurora Planning

City zoning questions and project-use screening

Building permits

Aurora Development Permit Center

Structure building-permit review

Septic permits

Arapahoe County Public Health – Environmental Health

Septic permits for Aurora parcels in Arapahoe County

303-795-HLTH (4584)

6964 S. Lima St. Centennial, CO 80112

Septic permits

Adams County Health Department

Septic permits for Aurora parcels in Adams County

Contact details are copied from each office’s official page and were checked against it on October 11, 2026.

Off-grid gear

Going off-grid in Aurora means bringing your own water and power. The kit we’d start with:

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Does Aurora have zoning, and what lot sizes and setbacks apply?

Aurora has its own zoning districts under the Unified Development Ordinance, with boundaries maintained electronically by the Planning Department.28 Start with Aurora Planning’s Zoning Navigator: search the proposed use and then the address, and send remaining questions through Access Aurora under Planning and Zoning.9

For single-family detached development in Subareas A and B, Aurora’s R-R Rural Residential district requires a minimum lot area of 43,560 square feet, while R-1 Low-Density Single-Family Residential requires 6,000 square feet, subject to the R-1 abutting-lot provisions and separate Subarea C alternatives.56 In those subareas, R-R front, interior-side and general rear setbacks are 30, 10 and 25 feet; additional buffers can increase them.10 R-1 front, interior-side and general rear setbacks are 25, 5 and 20 feet, with street-facing side and special standards varying.11

Who issues building permits in Aurora, Colorado?

Aurora’s Building Division manages city building permits, building plan reviews and building inspections; reach the division at 303.739.7420.1 Aurora issues structure-related building permits after plans have been routed to all departments for final review and approval.12 Ask the Building Division which application and drawings your proposed home or accessory building requires.

After required building permits are issued, Aurora requires inspections at specified construction stages, with the inspection area accessible before work is covered.13 Approved plans, building permits and inspection record sheets must remain on site.13 A certificate of occupancy requires applicable building inspections plus engineering and grade inspections, and completion of applicable public improvements.7

How do septic permits work inside Aurora?

For Aurora parcels in Arapahoe County, Arapahoe County Public Health requires septic permits for new installations, expansions, repairs and use.3 A sale or change of ownership also requires a septic use permit through that health department.14 Contact Environmental Health at 303-795-HLTH (4584) about an existing system or proposed installation.14

For Aurora parcels in Adams County, Adams County Health Department handles septic review and permitting for new, changed or repaired systems.4 The Adams County application distinguishes installation, expansion, major repairs and minor repairs.15 Aurora’s city building-permit review therefore does not replace the applicable county septic application.134 Confirm the parcel’s county before choosing a septic office.

Can you live in an RV or tiny home on Aurora land?

We could not confirm Aurora’s rules for long-term RV occupancy or temporary camping on private residential land. Ask Aurora Planning through Access Aurora, selecting Planning and Zoning, about the proposed use at the exact address.9 We also could not confirm a universal minimum dwelling size or an Aurora owner-builder permit exemption; ask Planning about a tiny dwelling’s allowed use and the Building Division about construction approval.91

Aurora’s residential lot-area standards apply to the named zoning district and subarea; meeting a lot minimum alone does not answer the RV or tiny-home occupancy question.65 For a proposed structure, Aurora routes building-permit plans to all departments for final review and approval.12

Building a home in Aurora: what are the steps, in order?

  1. Screen the proposed use and address with Aurora Planning’s Zoning Navigator, then resolve district and subarea questions with Planning.98
  2. Establish the wastewater route: for septic-served parcels, contact Arapahoe County Public Health or Adams County Health Department according to the parcel’s county.34
  3. Take building plans to Aurora’s Building Division; structure-related building permits follow final departmental review and approval.112
  4. Keep approved plans, building permits and inspection records on site, and arrange required stage inspections before covering the work.13
  5. Complete applicable building, engineering and grade inspections and public improvements before the certificate of occupancy; Aurora water and sanitary sewer connection fees are due at connection or before that certificate.716

What should you check before buying land in Aurora?

Ask Aurora Planning to confirm the proposed use at the address before relying on a listing’s description of the land.9 Creating or dividing land for sale or development generally requires Aurora subdivision-plat review and approval, subject to specified exceptions and valid approved agreements.17 Aurora’s bona fide agricultural land-division exception concerns subdivision-plat approval and does not waive other applicable Unified Development Ordinance provisions.18

We could not confirm complete Aurora floodplain-development or residential driveway-access requirements; ask the city Development Permit Center which reviews apply to the proposed site. We also could not confirm approval rules for composting toilets or other off-grid sanitation; ask the applicable county health department and Aurora Building Division. For land outside city limits, use the Arapahoe County guide for the county’s unincorporated-area building-permit and zoning answers.1920

Watch-outs

  • Aurora’s R-R and R-1 lot and setback figures above apply to Subareas A and B; Subarea C and special standards can differ.6511
  • An Arapahoe County septic-served property sale requires a septic use permit, so contact Environmental Health before closing.14
  • We could not confirm permission to live in an RV while building in Aurora; ask Aurora Planning about the exact address and duration.9

Sources

  1. Aurora Building Division (auroragov.org)
  2. 2.1 Districts Established (Aurora), quoted and re-checked
  3. Septic Systems (Aurora), quoted and re-checked
  4. Septic Systems (Aurora), quoted and re-checked
  5. 4.2.2 General Dimensional Standards Summary Tables (Aurora), quoted and re-checked
  6. 4.2.2 General Dimensional Standards Summary Tables (Aurora), quoted and re-checked
  7. Inspections & Certificate of Occupancy (Aurora), quoted and re-checked
  8. 2.1 Districts Established (Aurora), quoted and re-checked
  9. Aurora Planning (auroragov.org)
  10. 4.2.2 General Dimensional Standards Summary Tables (Aurora), quoted and re-checked
  11. 4.2.2 General Dimensional Standards Summary Tables (Aurora), quoted and re-checked
  12. Aurora Development Permit Center (auroragov.org)
  13. Inspections & Certificate of Occupancy (Aurora), quoted and re-checked
  14. Arapahoe County Public Health – Environmental Health (files.arapahoeco.gov)
  15. Adams County Health Department (adamscountyhealthdepartment.org)
  16. Development Fees Checklist (Aurora), quoted and re-checked
  17. 4.3.1 Applicability and Exceptions (Aurora), quoted and re-checked
  18. 4.3.1 Applicability and Exceptions (Aurora), quoted and re-checked
  19. Building (2026 county census)
  20. Codes, Criteria And Ordinances (2026 county census)

Written October 11, 2026 from the rules quoted below, each taken from an official source and re-checked by an independent reviewer. This is research, not legal advice: rules change, so confirm with the office before you buy or build.

Answers from the rulebook for Aurora

Aurora’s own rules

  • InspectionsRequired

    Construction inside Aurora city limits after issuance of required permits.

    • Inspections occur at specified construction stages.
    • The inspection area must be accessible before it is covered.
    • Approved plans, permits, and inspection record sheets must be on site.
    • Before a certificate of occupancy, applicable structural, electrical, HVAC, plumbing, and life-safety inspections must be obtained.
    “Upon issuance of required permits, construction may begin. At specified stages during the building process, the project is required to be inspected to ensure that it is being constructed according to the adopted building code, ordinances and approved plans.”
  • Certificate of occupancyRequired

    New construction and other projects inside Aurora city limits requiring a certificate of occupancy.

    • Before issuance, the general contractor must obtain all applicable building inspections, including structural, electrical, HVAC, plumbing, and life-safety inspections.
    • Engineering and grade inspections are also required.
    • All public improvements must be completed before issuance, including applicable streets, fire lanes, sidewalks, sanitary sewer mains and laterals, storm drainage, water mains, hydrants, landscaping, and related improvements.
    “Prior to the issuance of a certificate of occupancy the general contractor must obtain the following inspections: All applicable building inspections (to include structural, electrical, HVAC, plumbing, life safety).”
  • Local zoningPresent

    Land inside Aurora city limits; Aurora administers its own zoning through the Unified Development Ordinance and Official Zoning Map.

    • The UDO is current through Ordinance 2026-03, passed February 23, 2026.
    “The zone districts listed in Table 2.1-1 are hereby created.”
  • Zoning districtsPublished

    Zoning districts inside Aurora city limits.

    • The Official Zoning Map is maintained electronically by the Planning Department.
    • Residential districts include R-R, R-1, R-2, R-3, R-4, and R-MH; mixed-use, special-purpose, overlay, and planned-development districts are also listed.
    “These districts shall have the boundaries shown on the Official Zoning Map maintained in electronic form by the Planning Department and available on the City of Aurora website.”
  • Minimum lot sizeSpecified

    Single-family detached development in the R-1 Low-Density Single-Family Residential district, Subareas A and B.

    • The table states 6,000 square feet minimum for single-family detached lots.
    • In Subarea A, abutting-lot conditions can alter the created lot size under Note 1.
    • Alternative Small Residential Lot standards may apply in Subarea C.

    minimum lot area: >= 6000 square feet (R-1 single-family detached, Subareas A and B; see Table 4.2-5 for Subarea C alternatives)

    “Single-family detached | 43,560 sf. | 6,000 sf. [1] | 5,000 sf. | [2]”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
  • SetbacksSpecified

    Single-family residential development in the R-1 district, Subareas A and B.

    • Front setback is 25 feet.
    • Interior side setback is 5 feet.
    • Rear general setback is 20 feet.
    • Street-facing side setbacks and special standards vary by street classification and subarea.

    front setback: >= 25 feet (R-1, Subareas A and B) · interior side setback: >= 5 feet (R-1, Subareas A and B) · rear setback: >= 20 feet (R-1, Subareas A and B)

    “Front | 30 ft. | 25 ft. [4] | 20 ft. [4] | 15 ft. | 12 ft. | 15 ft.”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
  • Building heightSpecified

    Residential development in the R-1 district, Subareas A and B.

    • The table states a maximum building height of 45 feet for R-1.
    • Affordable-housing portions more than 75 feet from R-R, R-1, or R-2 may have a 55-foot maximum under Note 7.
    • Other standards and overlays may apply.

    maximum building height: <= 45 feet (Affordable-housing portions located more than 75 feet from an R-R, R-1, or R-2 district may have a 55-foot maximum)

    “Building height, maximum | 38 ft. | 45 ft.[7] | 65 ft.[8] | 20 ft.[9]”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
  • Mandatory utility hookupConditional

    New development inside Aurora city limits using Aurora water and sanitary sewer service.

    • Water and sanitary sewer connection fees are due at connection or before certificate of occupancy.
    • The cited materials establish connection-fee and public-improvement requirements but do not establish one universal distance-to-main rule for every parcel.
    “Water and Sanitary Sewer Connection (TAP) Fees (2026) Fees due at time of connection or before Certificate of Occupancy”
  • Agricultural exemptionConditional

    A bona fide division or portion of agricultural land inside Aurora city limits used for agricultural or related purposes.

    • The UDO exempts the agricultural division from subdivision-plat approval.
    • The exception does not authorize development without compliance with all other applicable UDO provisions.
    “A bona fide division or portion of agricultural land for agricultural use or related purposes.”
  • Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

    Creation or division of lots, tracts, parcels, or other land divisions inside Aurora city limits for sale or development.

    • Approved development agreements or annexation agreements may provide alternatives.
    • Exceptions include public-right-of-way or public-use conveyances, legal-description corrections, leases, pre-August 1, 1980 divisions, court-ordered divisions, approved cemeteries, and bona fide agricultural divisions for agricultural or related purposes.
    • An exception from subdivision-plat approval does not authorize development without compliance with other applicable UDO provisions.

    pre-existing division exception date: 1980-08-01 (division of land that occurred before this date)

    “Unless otherwise expressly stated in this Section 146-4.3, or in a valid, approved development agreement or annexation agreement, review and approval of a subdivision plat shall be required whenever any lot, tract or land parcel is created or divided into two or more lots, tracts, parcels or other land divisions for the purpose of sale or development.”

Rules another office applies inside Aurora

Aurora does not set these itself; the county, a health district or the state does, and they apply to every address inside its limits.

  • Septic permitRequired

    New, changed, or repaired septic systems serving parcels inside the Adams County portion of Aurora.

    • Adams County Health Department materials state that new systems and changes require review and permits; the specific permit type depends on installation, expansion, major repair, minor repair, or use-permit circumstances.
    “Please note that for permits related to installation, expansion, major repairs, and minor repairs, you will fill out the Application for a Septic System Permit.”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Required — New installations, expansions, repairs, and use-permit situations on parcels inside the Arapahoe County portion of Aurora.
      “A septic permit is required for new installations, expansions, repairs and use.”

Still unanswered

We looked and could not find an official answer yet. Silence is not permission; ask Aurora or Arapahoe County directly.

  • Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder permit exemptions inside Aurora city limits.
  • Minimum dwelling size — Minimum dwelling size inside Aurora city limits.
  • Lot coverage — Lot coverage inside Aurora city limits.
  • Living in an RV — Long-term or residential occupancy of recreational vehicles on private land inside Aurora city limits.
  • Camping on your land — Temporary camping on private land inside Aurora city limits.
3 more unanswered
  • Off-grid sanitation
  • Driveway access
  • Building in a floodplain

Each answer was extracted from an official source and independently re-checked against that source by a second reviewer. That is an evidence check, not legal advice. Rules change; confirm with the authority before you buy or build.

Unanswered questions are usually a sign that Aurora publishes no rule on the point, not that none exists. Arapahoe County’s page lists the county offices to call.

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