The Following are City of Aurora Zoning Code Regulations which are enforced by the Neighborhood Support Division of the Neighborhood Services Department. These restrictions are separate from the protective covenants and each resident in Aurora must comply with these restrictions as well as any covenants enforced in their neighborhood.

For more information on these regulations and restrictions please contact the City of Aurora Neighborhood Support Division or visit their web site by clicking here. 

Here are some of the regulations applicable to residential homes:

Address on Building/House

All buildings shall have addresses visible from the street, but in no case shall the numbers be less than 4 inches in height. Address numbers on the buildings must be in sharp contrast to the building.


Alleys

Occupants and/or owners are responsible for cleaning and maintaining the area from the rear property line to the center line of the alley. (Tree trimming, cutting weeds, disposing of trash, etc.)


Animals

Only customary household pets are allowed. A maximum of three adult dogs and five cats may be kept at any one location. All cats and dogs must have yearly rabies vaccinations and be licensed within the City. It is the responsibility of the occupants and/or owner to remove all animal droppings from their property on a daily basis. Animal owners/custodians are responsible for the immediate removal of all excrement deposited by the animal upon any Public Property. Dogs found running at large may be impounded by the Animal Care Division, 303-326-8280.


Bushes, Plants, Trees and Special Hazards

Bushes over sidewalks must be cut back six inches from the sidewalk to clear the walkway. The maximum height of hedges in the front yard is 42 inches. (Exception- See Visibility Triangle). Plants which have thorns, spines or prickles shall not be planted or maintained in the city right-of-way. City right-of-way ranges from 7 feet to 11 feet from flow-line (street gutter). It is the responsibility of the occupant and/or owner to cut and remove all tree branches lower than 8 feet over sidewalks and 13 feet 6 inches over street, alley or highway. If it is a City of Aurora tree, call Forestry at 303-739-7177.

Erosion Control/ New Lawn Permits

Some type of landscape material must be installed and maintained to prevent erosion and conditions which may cause erosion. Aurora’s lawn ordinance requires the purchase and posting of a lawn permit for the installation of new lawns. For further information, call Lawn Permits at 303-739-7532.


Exterior Maintenance

All structures and accessory structures must be maintained in a state of good repair, weather tight and painted.

Fences

All fences must be maintained in good structural condition including pickets, rails and posts. A fence permit is required for any fence construction. Permits and information are available from the Planning Department (Zoning Division) at the Aurora Municipal Center, 15151 E. Alameda Parkway, 2nd Floor, 303-739-7347.

Garage Sales

It is prohibited to place ANY “Garage Sale” signs on light poles, stop signs, median strips, in parks or in any State “right of way” (Havana Street, Parker Road, Colfax Avenue, 6th Avenue). Up to four signs with addresses may be displayed to advertise a Garage Sale. Residents may only have four garage sales per calendar year per address, for 72 consecutive hours. Items placed outside must be removed and stored in an enclosed structure by sunset each day.

Graffiti

Graffiti on private and public property should be reported to the Police Department Gang Investigation Unit (303-739-6063) and be removed as soon as possible.

Home Business

Only certain types of occupations are permitted in a residential area, and shall meet the following conditions:

The residents of the dwelling unit shall be the only people engaged in the activity. 

The activity is carried on only in the principal building and is, therefore, incidental and secondary to the primary purpose served by the dwelling.

The storage of materials is to be used in the activity shall be inside either the principal building or an accessory building.

There shall be no external evidence, which in any way, shall advertise or evidence the performance of the activity. In no way shall the general public be invited or solicited upon the premises.

Performance of any personal service shall be limited to one pupil, client or customer at any one time. In no way should the activity increase vehicular or pedestrian traffic. In no way shall the use jeopardize the health, safety or welfare of the occupants or of the surrounding neighborhood.

Outdoor Storage

Outside storage is prohibited in Residential and Business districts.

Parking Surfaces and Driveways

Only 40 percent of the front yard can be a parking or driveway surface. The parking or driveway surface in a rear yard cannot exceed 500 square feet or 25 percent of the backyard- whichever is less. Parking of any type of vehicles, boats, trailers and campers on landscape and/or lawn portion of the yard is prohibited. Any new parking area must be surfaced with asphalt, concrete, brick or stone pavers. All surfaces shall be maintained free of vegetation, weeds, dirt, trash and debris.


Snow Shoveling

Within 24 hours after a snowfall ends, snow must be removed from all city sidewalks adjacent to your property, including snow on sidewalks outside rear and side fences. FINE: $10/day for single-family homes; $20/day for all others.

Trash & Debris

No Dumping. Dumping trash and debris on private or public property is prohibited.

Accumulation/Storage. Items may not be stored outdoors (litter, trash, furniture, mattresses, appliances, wrecked or inoperative vehicles, car parts, salvage, etc.)

Trash Removal and Containers 
Trash service is required.

It is the responsibility of the occupant and/or owner to have the trash removed weekly, or more often if necessary. Trash must be in an approved, secure trash container. Trash containers must be reasonably screened from adjacent streets and be stored in the rear or side yard only, not in the front or side yard. Trash containers may not be placed in the front yard or alley prior to 5 p.m. on the day before trash pickup, and must be removed within 12 hours after pickup. 

Vehicles

Any vehicle that is apparently inoperable, partially or totally dismantled, or is wrecked or damaged to the extent that it would be unlawful to operate on public streets may not be stored outside on any public or private property. Motor vehicles must be currently registered and display a valid license plate. 

IT IS UNLAWFUL TO CONDUCT MAJOR AUTO REPAIR OUTSIDE ON PRIVATE PROPERTY OR ON PUBLIC STREETS.


Vehicles Parked on Street

Any camper, trailer, boat or inoperative or abandoned auto parked on a public street is prohibited and should be reported to the Police Department at 303-739-6000.


Visibility Triangles

To ensure pedestrian and vehicular safety, no plants, fences, trees and/or other objects over 26 inches high may be maintained in the visibility triangle. The visibility triangle is measured from intersecting lines 30 feet each way along flow-line (street gutter).

Weeds and Grasses

It is the responsibility of the occupant and/or owner of any property to cut and remove all weeds over 8 inches in height on any developed property and 12 inches in height on any undeveloped property. Weeds outside rear and side yard fences to curb and from center line of the alley to rear yard must also be cut & removed.


Woodburning

On high pollution days, woodburning is prohibited, unless an exemption has been granted. For information on high pollution days, call 303-758-4848