Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Town of Bow Mar, Colorado

Town of Bow Mar’s own rules

• Building code adoptedAdopted

  Construction inside Bow Mar town (residential: 2021 IRC with amendments; non-residential: 2021 IBC)

  • IRC adopted with local amendments in Sec. 18-9(b)
  • IBC applies to non-residential structures
  • 2021 IECC and 2023 Colorado Model Electric Ready and Solar Ready Code adopted in Sec. 18-15 with amendments

  residential code: 2021 International Residential Code (as amended)

  “The 2021 Edition of the International Residential Code, including all Appendices thereto”

• Local zoningPresent

  Land inside Bow Mar town

  “The ordinance codified herein shall be known as and may be cited and referred to as the "Zoning Ordinance."”

• Minimum dwelling sizeSpecified

  Residential District I, inside Bow Mar town

  • Living area excludes garage, terraces, porches, breezeways, patios or carports
  • Residential District II incorporates these standards (Sec. 16-6(a)); Agricultural District dwellings must meet Residential District 2 dwelling size rules

  minimum living area on one level: >= 2500 sq ft

  “each building must contain a minimum of two thousand five hundred (2,500) square feet of living area on at least one (1) level. said living area shall not include garage, terraces, porches, breezeways, patios or carports.”

  One more reviewed finding on this topic

  • Specified — Residential District II, inside Bow Mar town (Residential I standards incorporated)

    “the standards and restrictions imposed by this chapter on residential i district shall be fully applicable to the residential ii district and are incorporated herein except to the extent specifically modified hereinafter.”

• Minimum lot sizeSpecified

  Agricultural District, inside Bow Mar town

  • Contiguous lots under common ownership may be aggregated
  • Aggregated lots must remain under common ownership to keep the zoning

  minimum lot size: >= 30 acres

  “the minimum lot size for any property to be zoned agricultural is thirty (30) acres. contiguous lots under common ownership may be aggregated for purposes of determining minimum lot size.”

  2 more reviewed findings on this topic

  • Specified — Residential District I, inside Bow Mar town

    “lots in residential district i shall in no event be less than one (1) acre in size except for lots that have heretofore been platted less than one acre in size.”

  • Specified — Residential District II, inside Bow Mar town

    “lots in residential ii shall in no event be less than one (1) acre in size except for lots that have heretofore been platted less than one (1) acre in size.”

• SetbacksSpecified

  Residential District I, inside Bow Mar town

  • No structures of any kind may be built in the setback area; driveways, mailboxes, light columns and boundary fences are not prohibited

  front and rear yard: >= 40 feet · side yard each side: >= 40 feet

  “a front yard and a rear yard each of not less than forty (40) feet in depth and a side yard on each side of the building of not less than forty (40) feet in width.”

  One more reviewed finding on this topic

  • Specified — Residential District II, inside Bow Mar town

    “a front yard and a rear yard, each of not less than thirty (30) feet in depth, and a side yard on each side of the building of not less than twenty (20) feet in width.”

• Lot coverageSpecified

  Residential District I (and Residential II by incorporation), inside Bow Mar town

  • Main level including garage, excluding terraces, porches, breezeways, patios or carports
  • A dwelling may be built to the coverage allowed for the largest home in the immediately preceding lot size category
  • Percentage by lot size: under 0.75 acre 15%; 0.75-0.99 14%; 1.0-1.24 13%; 1.25 or more 12%

  max coverage, lot 1.25 acres or more: <= 12 percent · max coverage, lot under 0.75 acre: <= 15 percent

  “a dwelling shall not cover more than the following percentage of any lot on the main level, including the garage but not including terraces, porches, breezeways, patios or carports:”

• Building heightSpecified

  Residential District I, inside Bow Mar town (dwellings)

  • No more than 25% of the ridge line may be up to 18 feet
  • Flat roofs not above 16 feet
  • Dwelling may not exceed one story as viewed from center of front setback line
  • Chimneys excluded
  • Existing taller dwellings may be rebuilt to historic height if at least 50% remains

  max dwelling height: <= 16 feet (up to 18 ft on 25% of ridge line)

  “all dwellings are restricted in height to a maximum of sixteen (16) feet, measured from the highest existing natural grade point on the front setback line within the building envelope, to the highest point of the roof, except that no more than twenty-five percent (25%) of the total ridge line (the horizontal line formed where two (2) upward-sloping roof surfaces meet) may be up to eighteen (18) feet in height”

  One more reviewed finding on this topic

  • Specified — Residential District II, inside Bow Mar town (residences)

    “all residences are restricted in height to a maximum of twenty (20) feet measured from the natural grade or highest approved finished grade at the front setback line to the highest point of the roof.”

• Living in an RVLimited

  Parking and storage of recreational vehicles on public or private property inside Bow Mar town

  • Must be screened behind a conforming garage, fence or evergreen shrubs, or in a fully enclosed permanent structure
  • Temporary visiting, emergency repair or loading limited to 48 hours
  • Police permit up to 7 days per calendar year
  • Code regulates parking/storage; occupancy as living quarters is not expressly addressed

  temporary parking limit: <= 48 hours (police permit up to 7 days per calendar year)

  “it is unlawful to park or store, or allow to be parked or stored, a recreational vehicle on a public street, highway, road, alley, or other right-of-way, public or private driveway, or on public or private property, unless the recreational vehicle is parked or stored: (1) behind a conforming garage, fence, or evergreen shrubs so as to be completely screened and out of sight of passing traffic and contiguous property owners;”

• Accessory dwellingsLimited

  Agricultural District, inside Bow Mar town (guest quarters in accessory structures)

  • Guests may not occupy the quarters more than 30 continuous days
  • No rental or lease income may be collected from guests
  • Guest quarters may be no more than 49% of the accessory structure square footage
  • Residential District I bars use of a detached cellar or basement as a dwelling

  guest occupancy: <= 30 continuous days

  “guest quarters for use by temporary guests or invitees of the property owner are permitted within the accessory structure provided that: (1) such guests or invitees shall not occupy the quarters for more than 30 continuous days; (2) the property owner is not permitted to collect any rental or lease income from the guests or invitees; and (3) not more than forty-nine percent (49%) of the square footage of the accessory structure may be devoted for use as guest quarters.”

• Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

  Subdivisions inside Bow Mar town (Chapter 17)

  • Subdivider must convey at least 20% of gross area as land, or Town may accept land elsewhere or cash in lieu
  • Development fee of $5,500 per lot, adjustable by Board of Trustees resolution
  • Fees due before plat recording or per contract

  development fee per lot: 5500 USD (adjustable by resolution) · land dedication: >= 20 percent of gross area (cash or other land in lieu at Town discretion)

  “every subdivider shall pay to the Town a development fee of five thousand five hundred dollars ($5,500.00) for each lot included in the proposed subdivision”

• Driveway accessLimited

  Residential driveway curb cuts and connections to public rights-of-way inside Bow Mar town

  • Permit not required only if no work or major excavation work is required
  • Homeowner must submit a driveway application on forms furnished by the Commissioner before commencing

  “A permit is not required for a homeowner seeking to make a curb cut or connect any driveway or other means of residential access to any public rights-of-way within the Town, provided that no work or major excavation work, as defined in this Article, is required for such project.”

Still unanswered

We looked and could not find an official answer yet. Silence is not permission; ask Town of Bow Mar or Jefferson County directly.

• Owner-builder exemption — Inside Bow Mar town
• Inspections — Inside Bow Mar town
• Certificate of occupancy — Inside Bow Mar town
• Camping on your land — Private land inside Bow Mar town
• Tiny homes — Inside Bow Mar town

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.