Site Plan Review

Site Plan Review (SPR), outlined in Article 4-800 of the Boulder County Land Use Code, is an administrative review procedure for certain proposed developments which are considered likely to significantly impact important ecosystems, agricultural lands, surrounding land uses and neighborhoods, and infrastructure needs and demands, and which may be unsafe due to natural hazards.

The SPR process for proposed new development will allow any significant adverse impacts on the environment, agricultural lands, surrounding land uses and neighborhoods, and infrastructure to be identified, evaluated, and avoided or acceptably mitigated through the imposition of reasonable conditions.

Pre-Application Conference

Applicant(s) must first contact the Community Planning & Permitting Department to make an appointment for a Land Use Review Pre-Application Conference with a Planner to discuss the proposal. To schedule a virtual pre-application conference, please schedule an appointment via the Boulder County CP&P Service Scheduler.

Site Plan Review Requirements

Site Plan Review is required to issue residential or nonresidential building permits for:

• Any development requiring a building permit on vacant parcels
• Cumulative increases in floor area of more than 1,000 square feet over that which existed on the parcel as of Sept. 8, 1998. In some instances, a cumulative increase of less than 2,000 square feet may be approved through Expedited Site Plan Review (provided the proposed square footage does not exceed the zoning district maximum Residential Floor Area).
• Cumulative increases in residential floor area over 2,000 square feet.
• A change of use of a parcel, except to a Vacation Rental or Single Unit Dwelling.
• Telecommunications Facilities which are located on an existing structure and meet the zoning districts height limit, otherwise a Special Use Review is required
• All development within a Natural Landmark or Natural Area, in a Rural Community District, or on parcels encumbered by a Conservation Easement where the easement holder hasn’t waived the requirement for SPR.
• Wildlife Rehabilitation of more than 20 non-domestic animals or with outdoor caging
• Except for grading as part of normal agricultural or mining practices, SPR is required for grading permits, Boulder County access permits, and floodplain development permits.

Site Plan Review Resources

• Site Plan Review Application Packet
• Site Plan Review Applications and Docket Information
• Site Plan Review Fact Sheet
• Site Plan Review Process Fees
• Site Plan Review Regulations in Article 4-800 of Land use Code
• Expedited Site Plan Review
• Revegetation
• Transferable Development Credit (TDC)
• Transferable Development rights (TDR)

Professional Assistance

Boulder County does not usually require that a professional architect, planner, attorney, engineer, or other agent represent you during the SPR process. We often receive plans drawn up by the property owner with supporting information gathered without professional assistance. However, the complexity of a small percentage of projects may require professionally created documents. Some applicants find that they can complete the majority of the application unassisted but need help with a few technical aspects, such as calculating the cubic yards of earth that will be moved.

Site Plan Review is Not Required if the Permit is Only Needed For:

• Earthwork that is part of normal agriculture of mining practices (outside of floodplains)
• Restoration of a building that has been damaged or destroyed by fire, explosion, flood, tornado, riot, act of the public enemy, or accident of any kind (if replacement is applied for within one year of the event)
• Construction work that does not change the use or increase the existing floor area by more than 1,000 square feet, cumulatively over that which existed as of Sept. 9, 1998.
• Construction of an accessory structure which is less than 1,000 square feet (unless the cumulative threshold above is exceeded, or if the property is in a Natural Landmark, Natural Area, Associated 250′ buffer, or if there is a Conservation Easement on the property and the easement holder does not waive the requirement for SPR)
• Development in Neighborhood Conservation Overlay Districts to the extent it covers the SPR criteria in its plan

Submittal Schedule for Planning Applications

The Community Planning & Permitting Department manages the number of planning applications accepted each week in order to align with available resources. Once you have had a Pre-application Conference and have a complete application packet ready for submission, please contact Community Planning & Permitting at 303-441-3930 to get on the schedule to submit your planning application.