Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Town of Windsor, Colorado

Town of Windsor’s own rules

• Building code adoptedAdopted

  Residential construction inside Windsor town

  • 2024 IRC, Chapters 1 through 43 and Appendix BE, adopted with local amendments
  • Other building code articles (IBC, etc.) not reviewed

  code edition: IRC 2024 (with local amendments)

  “is hereby adopted by reference as the Town of Windsor Residential Building Code as if fully set out in this ordinance”

• InspectionsRequired

  Residential construction inside Windsor town

  • Insulation inspection added to IRC other inspections

  “Inspection of the structure shall be made following installation of the wall, ceiling and floor insulation and exterior windows and before wall coverings are installed.”

• Certificate of occupancyRequired

  Accessory dwelling units inside Windsor town (principal dwelling CO rule not separately quoted)

  • ADU certificate only after principal dwelling certificate

  “A certificate of occupancy for an accessory dwelling unit will only be granted after a certificate of occupancy has been granted to the principal dwelling unit on the lot or parcel.”

• Local zoningPresent

  Land inside Windsor town limits

  • Zoning is in Chapter 16 of the Windsor Municipal Code.

  “Development in the Estate Residential zones shall adhere to the standards contained in Table 16-1-30(b) and this Section.”

• Zoning districtsPartial

  Zone districts inside Windsor town

  • Only ER and AH districts reviewed; Chapter 16 Article I holds others

  “The purpose of the AH zone district is to provide a zoning designation for properties which have been annexed to the Town”

• Minimum lot sizeSpecified

  Estate Residential (ER) district inside Windsor town

  • 1 acre for lots less than 2.5 acres; 2.5 acres for lots 2.5 acres or greater
  • Reduced lot sizes allowed under conservation design (Sec. 16-1-30(c)), down to 6,000 sq ft with 50% open space

  minimum lot area: >= 1 acre (conservation subdivision may reduce) · minimum lot area, lots 2.5 acres or greater: >= 2.5 acres

  “Minimum Lot Area (acres) 1 2.5 Minimum Lot Width 45' 45'”

• SetbacksSpecified

  Estate Residential (ER) district inside Windsor town

  • Columns: lots under 2.5 acres / lots 2.5 acres or more
  • Buildings housing large domestic animals: 35 ft all sides

  front/side/rear, lots under 2.5 acres: >= 20/5/10 ft · front/side/rear, lots 2.5 acres or more: >= 25/25/25 ft

  “Minimum Setbacks - General Lots less than 2.5 acres in size Lots 2.5 acres in size or greater Front 20' 25' Side 5' 25' Rear 10' 25'”

  One more reviewed finding on this topic

  • Specified — Agriculture holding (AH) district inside Windsor town

    “Minimum Setbacks - General Front 20' Side 20' Rear 20'”

• Lot coverageSpecified

  Estate Residential (ER) district inside Windsor town

  • AH district table lists n/a for lot coverage (not an explicit negative)

  maximum lot coverage: <= 65 percent

  “Maximum Lot Coverage 65% 65% Minimum Setbacks - General”

• Building heightSpecified

  Agriculture holding (AH) district inside Windsor town

  maximum building height: <= 35 ft

  “Rear 35' Maximum Building Height Height 35'”

  One more reviewed finding on this topic

  • Specified — Estate Residential (ER) district inside Windsor town

    “Minimum Setbacks - Accessory Buildings Housing Large Domestic Animals Front 35' Side 35' Rear 35' Maximum Building Height Height 40'”

• Living in an RVLimited

  RVs used as accessory dwelling units inside Windsor town

  • Only the ADU prohibition was found; general RV occupancy rules for private lots were not located

  “Mobile homes, travel trailers and recreational vehicles shall be prohibited for use as an accessory dwelling unit.”

• Accessory dwellingsLimited

  ADUs with single-family detached dwellings in zoning districts permitting single-family dwellings, inside Windsor town

  • One ADU per lot
  • Owner must reside on property at application
  • Size 500 to 950 sq ft and not larger than principal dwelling, except 50% exception inside existing home footprint
  • Same development standards and codes as principal dwelling
  • No mobile homes, travel trailers or RVs as ADU
  • Served by principal dwelling utilities

  maximum ADU size: <= 950 sq ft (not applicable within existing home footprint up to 50% of principal dwelling) · minimum ADU size: >= 500 sq ft

  “Only one (1) accessory dwelling unit shall be allowed for each lot or parcel.”

• Shed and accessory-building permit exemptionConditional

  Detached accessory structures inside Windsor town

  • One-story, floor area not over 120 sq ft, roof height not over 10 ft above grade
  • Fences not over 6 feet high are also exempt
  • Exemption is from building permit only; zoning setbacks still apply

  maximum floor area: <= 120 sq ft · maximum roof height: <= 10 ft

  “One-Story detached accessory structures used as tool and storage sheds, playhouses and similar uses, provided the floor area does not exceed 120 square feet”

• Building in a floodplainRequired

  Development in special flood hazard areas inside Windsor town

  • Lowest floor of residential construction elevated one foot or more above Base Flood Elevation (Sec. 15-14-170)
  • RVs in zones A1-30, AH, AE must be on site fewer than 180 consecutive days, be fully licensed and ready for highway use, or meet permit and anchoring requirements

  “A floodplain development permit shall be obtained before construction or development begins within any area of special flood hazard established in Section 15-14-70 of this Article to ensure conformance with provisions of this Article.”

Still unanswered

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

• Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builders inside Windsor town
• Minimum dwelling size — Principal dwellings in ER and AH districts
• Camping on your land — Camping on private land inside Windsor town
• Tiny homes — Tiny homes inside Windsor town
• Manufactured homes — Manufactured homes inside Windsor 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.