Planning and Zoning Planning Frequently Asked Questions
The Department of Planning and Development is located at 201 West 8th Street, Suite 110, Pueblo, Colorado 81003 and the main phone number is 719-583-6100. Office Hours are 8:00 a.m.- 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday with no closure for lunch. Closed on holidays.
Zoning Authorizations for the Purpose of a Building Permit must be submitted online. You start the permitting process through this link: https://pueblomeansbusiness.com/ . Pueblo Means Business is happy to help you with this process.
After hours you can send an email with your questions to [email protected]. Your question will be answered the following business day.
The Pueblo County website can be found at county.pueblo.org.
If you are looking for another department within Pueblo County, please contact the Pueblo County Information Operator located in the rotunda at the Pueblo County Courthouse at 719-583-6000
Assessor parcel numbers, also referred to as Schedule Numbers, are 10-digit numbers assigned by the Pueblo County Assessor for property tax purposes. Assessor parcel numbers are used by many County departments to track records and projects. A parcel number may be obtained from a property tax bill, the Assessor’s Office by calling 719-583-6597, or by conducting a property search located under online services.
The Pueblo County Assessor's Interactive May has not been updated with the new zone districts adopted under the Unified Development Code (UDC). Please call the Department of Planning and Development at 719-583-6100 and provide the Assessor's Parcel Number or Property Address and the Planner on Duty will be happy to assist you.
For permitted uses allowed in each zone district, refer to the Unified Development Code (UDC). The Table of Allowable uses can be found under Chapter 17.03.020.
The Pueblo County Department of Planning and Development can’t provide information regarding zoning or land use within the City of Pueblo. You will need to contact the City of Pueblo’s Department of Planning & Community Development at 719-553-2259.
The process starts with the Pueblo Regional Building Department to obtain a routing sheet. This routing sheet will have a list of agencies you will need to visit and obtain sign-off. The Department of Planning and Development will need a site plan drawn to an Engineer's Scale (1" = 10', 20', 30', etc.) as per the Building Permit Checklist. No aerial or Google maps will be accepted. If assistance is required, we invite you to come in to the office between 8:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday - Friday (closed holidays). Application submittals are now done online through the OpenGov Portal.
A setback is the distance between a structure and the property line and are generally described as front, rear, and side yard setbacks. The setback requirement varies depending on your zone district and road adjacency (corner lot or through parcel). The setbacks specific to your zoning can be found in the Unifed Development Code (UDC), 17.02.010 - Zone Districts Overview. Find your zone district and click on the section number.
Subdivisions must be consistent with the minimum parcel size of the zone district. A licensed surveyor must survey the property and prepare a subdivision plat. The type of subdivision procedure determines if it will be reviewed administratively or by the Planning Commission or Board of County Commersions. Subdivision application requirements include submittal of detailed information regarding access, drainage, soils and geology, topography, and physical features. Proof of an adequate water supply for each lot is also a key requirement. Notification of the proposed subdivision is given to adjacent property owners within 300', and the application is referred to various State and local agencies for comment. The Subdivision Procedures can be viewed in the Unified Development Code (UDC) - 17.06.80
Prior to the submittal of a subdivision application, you will be required to apply for a no-charge Sketch Plan Review Meeting which is held via Zoom. This puts your proposal infront of other reviewing agencies who will provide thier requirements prior to your submittal. You can apply for that review meeting by clicking on this LINK.
A Home Occupation Permit is required to allow certain business uses in association with residences where it is known such business uses will not alter the character or appearance of the residential or agricultural environment. You can view the requirements in the Unified Development Code (UDC) - 17.060.050(c). If your business qualifies, you will need to fill out and submit a Home Occupation Application with the appropriate fee.
You will need to fill out and submit a complaint form. The Land Use Inspector will review the complaint and conduct an inspection of the site to determine if there is a violation of the Unified Development Code (UDC) - 17.10 Nonconformities.
Outside of recreational vehicle parks, RVs may not be stored or used as a residence on a vacant parcel of land. Upon a principal residence being established on the property, an RV can be stored on the property but not used as a residence.
Section 17.03.050(c) - Temporary Uses and Structures in the new Unified Development Code (UDC), a recreational vehicle (RV) may be used as a form of temporary housing while a dwelling unit is under construction, or an existing dwelling unit is being remodeled, subject to specific standards.
This is a civil matter between both property owners. The Department of Planning and Development does not verify boundary lines or fence locations. You would need to hire a land surveyor licensed in the State of Colorado.
You can look up the zoning of the property using the Pueblo County Assessor’s online property search, additionally you may find more information under the Interactive Map link also under online services. Upon obtaining the zoning of the property, you can review the allowable uses for that zone district in the 17.03.020 - Table of Allowed Uses in the Unified Development Code (UDC). With an Assessor Parcel Number or property address, you can then contact the Department of Planning and Development. 719-583-6100, to review the history of the parcel and discuss any issues there might be with the property.
There are many important considerations for buying a property. The legal status of the parcel, unpermitted structures, and existence of easements are a few examples of issues that can make property transactions complex. Rigorous due diligence is advised before purchasing any property.
Pueblo County does not enforce or interpret covenants. Sometimes covenants are more restrictive than the County’s land use regulations. Even though the land use regulations may allow a certain use, private covenants that are in place may not allow that use. Property owners who have questions about what their covenants allow are advised to contact their homeowner’s association or Committee of Architecture in their covenant community.
Interior lot lines within a recorded plat may be vacated subject to approval of the County Zoning Administrator under the following guidelines:
a. Involves five (5) lots or less;
b. Interior lot lines only, no exterior boundary lines of a subdivision;
c. Lots within a recorded subdivision; the year of recordation is not a factor;
d. No easements or right-of-way will be vacated, nor publicly owned land will be adversely affected.
You can apply for the application through this link for a Lot Line Vacation.
A lot line vacation plat must be prepared by a Professional Land Surveyor registered in the State of Colorado. The property does not need to be surveyed, the plat is prepared using information shown on the recorded plat. Department staff reserves ten (10) working days to review a complete application. Revisions to be made, if any, are returned to the surveyor who prepared the plat. After revisions are made, the surveyor returns a signed, sealed, notarized mylar plat to staff for recordation. There is an application fee; the current Land Use Application Fee Schedule can be found online under the web page for the Department of Planning and Development.
To reverse the process, you would have to apply for a Lot Consolidation Vacation.
Note: Those parcels located within Pueblo West must contact the Pueblo West Metropolitan District for specific restrictions, 719-547-2000.
Minor rearrangement of lot lines or alterations may be made to a recorded plat subject to approval of the County Zoning Administrator provided such minor rearrangement or alteration will not:
a. Involve more than five (5) lots;
b. Result in any lot parcel or portion of the subdivision becoming insufficient in size, area, or location to meet the minimum requirements of the zone district within which the property is located;
c. Alter any dedicated easement or area reserved for public use;
d. Alter any street or right-of-way alignment or reduce their dimensions;
e. Necessitate new, or the modification of, public improvements; or
f. Adversely affect the character of the recorded plat.
You can apply for the application through this link for a Lot Line Rearrangement.
A lot line rearrangement must be prepared by a Professional Land Surveyor registered in the State of Colorado. The properties will need to be surveyed and tied to Global Positioning System (GPS). Department staff reserves fifteen (15) working days to review a complete application. Revisions to be made, if any, are returned to the surveyor who prepared the plat. After revisions are made, the surveyor returns a signed, sealed, notarized mylar plat to staff for recordation. There is an application fee; the current Land Use Application Fee Schedule can be found online under the web page for the Department of Planning and Development.
17.12.030 - Definitions of the Unified Development Code (UDC) has several definitions for "Dwelling".
Dwelling, Accessory (a second home; "mother-in-law" suite)
A residential unit that is located on the same lot as a principal dwelling unit and is either internal to or attached to the unit or located in a detached structure. Accessory Dwelling does not include mobile homes or recreational vehicles.
Specific standards apply, 17.03.040(c) - Accessory Uses and Structures, permittted use in the the following zone districts:
(i) In the A1 and A2 zone districts, one accessory dwelling and one accessory farmstead dwelling may be permitted per lot.
(ii) In the A3, RR, SR1, SR2, LR, and HR zone districts, only one accessory dwelling unit may be permitted per lot.
Prior to approval of a detached accessory dwelling, the owner shall record a covenant with the County Clerk and Recorder stating that the accessory dwelling cannot be sold separately from the principal dwelling without recorded subdivision of the two dwellings onto their own individual lots. The covenant shall run with the property.
You can obtain a copy of your recorded deed or subdivision plat from the Pueblo County Clerk and Recorder’s Office located in the Pueblo County Courthouse at 215 West 10th Street, Pueblo, Colorado 81003. There will be a fee associated with obtaining copies of recorded documents.
If you have the case number from your notice, Assessor Parcel Number, or address, you can view all documents (notices, application, staff reviews, etc.) by searching "Records" or "Locations" at this LINK. A list of assiciated records will be listed. Click on the record number you want to view. Look for the tab that says "files" to view the associated documents. If the information you are looking for is not found, call the Department of Planning and Development for assistance, 719-583-6100.
17.12.030 - Definitions
Dwelling, Single-Family
A detached structure containing one dwelling unit. See also "Manufactured Home" and "Tiny Home."
Dwelling, Tiny Home
A structure that:
1. Is permanently constructed on a vehicle chassis;
2. Is designed for long-term residency;
3. Includes electrical, mechanical, or plumbing services that are fabricated, formed, or assembled at a location other than the site of the completed home;
4. Is not self-propelled; and
5. Has a square footage of not more than 400 square feet.
To meet this definition, a tiny home shall be built to the International Residential Code as adopted by the Building Codes & Standards program within the Division of Housing. Colorado tiny homes will receive a metal plate insignia that certifies the tiny home is built to the codes and standards of the program. This use does not include manufactured homes, recreational park trailers, or recreational vehicles.
The Unified Development Code (UDC) does not have restrictions on the size of a single-family residence. Check with the area Covenants or Home Owners' Association.