Zoning Report
Commerce City, CO Zoning
Commerce City is in the middle of a major zoning transition. The city adopted a new 2025 Land Development Code on November 3, 2025, and the city states that all new annexations and rezonings must follow that code, while a legislative rezoning project is underway to move properties into the new framework. The available sources show a modern code structure with district-specific use tables, design standards, subdivision rules, review procedures, and nonconformity rules, but the research set provided here only includes limited excerpts of the actual standards tables.
Last researched July 2026
Zoning Districts in Commerce City, CO
Residential Districts
Residential zoning districts regulate housing forms and residential land uses under Sec. 21-2200 of the 2025 Land Development Code.
Allowed uses: Residential uses as listed in the residential use table, Accessory dwelling units in residential zones under Ordinance No. 2737
Mixed Use and Commercial Districts
These districts are intended for mixed-use and nonresidential development and are regulated under Sec. 21-2210 of the 2025 Land Development Code.
Allowed uses: Uses listed in the mixed use and commercial use table, Office, commercial, civic, and other nonresidential uses as categorized in the code
Industrial Districts
Industrial districts are regulated under Sec. 21-2220 and appear to include different intensity levels for industrial activity.
Allowed uses: Industrial uses listed in the industrial use table
Agricultural District
The AG district appears in recent rezoning actions and in the 2026 ADU ordinance summary as a district where accessory dwelling units are allowed.
Allowed uses: Agricultural uses, Accessory dwelling units in agricultural zones under Ordinance No. 2737
Regional Commercial District (C-3)
A commercial district referenced in recent rezoning cases, likely intended for larger-scale commercial development.
Allowed uses: Commercial uses allowed by the code's commercial use table
Special Purpose and Overlay Districts
The code includes special purpose and overlay districts in Sec. 21-2230 that can modify otherwise applicable use permissions.
Allowed uses: Uses as modified by the overlay or special purpose district provisions
Recent Zoning Changes
Commerce City adopted a new Land Development Code on November 3, 2025 and is now carrying out a legislative rezoning project to transition properties into the new code system. In early 2026, the city also adopted amendments to allow accessory dwelling units in residential and agricultural zones and amended the definition of family. In 2024, the city also adopted a xeriscaping-related landscape ordinance amendment and considered multiple rezonings and a PUD amendment.
ADU, Rental & Special Use Rules in Commerce City, CO
Accessory dwelling unit
ADUs are allowed as a permitted use and accessory structure in residential and agricultural zones under Ordinance No. 2737.
- Permitted use status adopted by Ordinance No. 2737.
- Applies in residential zones.
- Applies in agricultural zones.
- Detailed development standards were not included in the supplied materials and should be verified in the live code.
Use-by-Permit uses
Certain uses with greater potential impacts may be allowed only through a Use-by-Permit approval tied to a specific applicant, use, and location.
- Approved or denied by the Board of Adjustment.
- Requires a public hearing.
- Approval is not transferable to later owners or operators.
- Approval cannot be carried over to a new property.
Conditional Use Permit uses
Certain uses with potentially unique or intense impacts require a Conditional Use Permit.
- Reviewed for location, design, configuration, and impacts.
- Planning Commission hearing occurs before City Council action.
- Final approval or denial is by City Council at a public hearing.
- Approval is tied to a specific applicant, use, and location and is not transferable.
Marijuana uses
The city notes that it adopted a licensing program for medical and retail marijuana businesses and amended related regulations, but the supplied excerpt cuts off before the actual standards.
- Verify current marijuana licensing and zoning standards directly with the city.
Overlay Districts in Commerce City, CO
Special Purpose and Overlay Districts
Sec. 21-2230 contains special purpose and overlay districts that may modify what uses are allowed on a property beyond the base zoning district.
Floodplain-related overlay or floodplain regulations
The code references a Floodplain Administrator and a Floodplain Variance process, indicating formal floodplain development controls apply where mapped floodplain conditions exist.
Commerce City, CO Zoning FAQ
Are ADUs allowed in Commerce City, CO?
ADUs are allowed as a permitted use and accessory structure in residential and agricultural zones under Ordinance No. 2737.
What zoning districts are in Commerce City, CO?
Commerce City, CO includes districts such as Residential Districts, Mixed Use and Commercial Districts, Industrial Districts, Agricultural District, Regional Commercial District (C-3), Special Purpose and Overlay Districts.
Are there flood zones or overlay districts in Commerce City, CO?
Floodplain regulation is the clearest environmental zoning constraint visible in the supplied materials. The code structure suggests mapped overlays and special purpose districts can modify development rights, but the research set does not provide clear evidence of wetlands, steep slope, aquifer, or similar zoning over…
Have there been recent zoning changes in Commerce City, CO?
Commerce City adopted a new Land Development Code on November 3, 2025 and is now carrying out a legislative rezoning project to transition properties into the new code system.
Common questions about Commerce City, CO zoning
Zoning Guides
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- Zoning Due Diligence Checklist→
- ADU Zoning Laws Explained→
- Variance vs. Special Use Permit→
- Zoning Red Flags Investors Miss→
- What Is a Nonconforming Use?→
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Deal-fit, approval path & risk flags for Commerce City, CO
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- Commerce City, CO Land Development Code — Provided the high-level structure of the 2025 Land Development Code, explanation of use-table symbols, and confirmation that the code covers zoning districts, parking, design standards, procedures, and nonconformities.
- Document Viewer | Land Development Code — Confirmed the existence and organization of the mixed use and commercial district standards and use table under Sec. 21-2210.
- Zoning Board of Adjustment Regular Meeting - March 10, 2026 - YouTube — Showed active variance proceedings and a specific setback reduction case before the Board of Adjustment.
- City Council Regular Meeting - October 7, 2024 — Provided recent rezoning and PUD amendment activity, including industrial-to-industrial and agricultural-to-commercial rezonings and a residential-use PUD amendment request.
- Document Viewer | Land Development Code — Confirmed the 2025 code includes Article IX on nonconformities and other major code articles, though the detailed text was not supplied.
- Document Viewer | Land Development Code — Confirmed code references to floodplain administration and variance procedures, supporting the presence of floodplain-related overlay or procedural controls.
- Land Use Standards | City of Commerce City, CO — Provided current city guidance on zoning districts, development plan requirements, Use-by-Permit, Conditional Use Permit, landscaping resources, fencing resources, marijuana note, and the 2024 xeriscaping amendment.
- Planning Commission | City of Commerce City, CO — Provided Planning Commission mission, meeting schedule, and its role in rezonings, subdivision control, and planning matters.
- Land Development Code | City of Commerce City, CO — Confirmed adoption of the new 2025 Land Development Code on November 3, 2025 and the ongoing legislative rezoning transition project.
- Zoning Board of Adjustment | City of Commerce City, CO — Provided Board of Adjustment mission, meeting schedule, and its role in variances, appeals, special permits, and conditional grants.
- Land Development Code | Commerce City, CO | Municode Library — Provided legacy code update note and identified adopted but not yet codified Ordinance No. 2737 on ADUs and Ordinance No. 2738 on the definition of family.
- The Zoning Board of Adjustment is meeting Tuesday, July 14 at 6 pm ... — Supplemental evidence of continuing recent Board of Adjustment activity and public meeting access channels.
This summary is AI-generated from public municipal sources and is not legal, engineering, or land-use advice. Always verify zoning with Commerce City, CO officials before making decisions.