How much of Aurora is airport-related zoning?

The Airport District alone covers roughly 18,004 acres, essentially tied with the largest residential district. Adding Buckley Air Force Base, the Mixed Use Airport district and the Accident Potential Zone, aviation-related classifications account for a very large share of the city.

What is the Accident Potential Zone?

A zoning district covering roughly 1,228 acres near the airfield. It appears on the map as its own classification rather than as an advisory layer, so a parcel within it is governed by that designation and its constraints are real for development purposes.

Which residential district covers the most land?

Medium Density Residential, at roughly 20,188 acres, slightly ahead of Low Density Single Family at about 18,096. That is an unusual balance for a suburban city, where the low-density district is normally dominant.

Aurora Zoning Intelligence

Zoning, permitted uses, and development potential for Aurora, Colorado. 30 districts with their permitted uses and building controls.

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City Context

How is Aurora zoned?

Aurora regulates land through 30 zoning districts across a very large city, and the top of the list is unusual: Medium Density Residential covers roughly 20,188 acres, Low Density Single Family about 18,096, and the Airport District roughly 18,004. Aviation land is essentially tied with the city's largest residential classification.

That aviation footprint is not incidental. Alongside the Airport District sit Buckley Air Force Base at roughly 2,748 acres, a Mixed Use Airport district at about 2,053, and an Accident Potential Zone covering roughly 1,228. The Accident Potential Zone in particular is a genuine constraint written onto the map rather than an advisory layer, and any site near the airfield has to be read against it.

The mixed use family is extensive and organised by setting: corridor, regional, office and institutional, transit oriented development, airport, and a Fitzsimons boundary district. Mixed Use Corridor is the largest at roughly 3,699 acres.

The Original Aurora districts form a separate parallel set covering the historic core, with low and medium density residential, a main street district and a general district. A site in Original Aurora is governed by that set rather than by the citywide residential districts. Aurora regulates building height, coverage, density, floor area ratio, lot size and width, pervious area, and front, side and rear setbacks. This is pre-development intelligence, not legal advice - verify with the local planning department before acquisition.

Zoning Districts

Aurora, Colorado Zoning Districts: What Do They Mean?

Zoning districts are areas regulated by specific laws that determine land use, building types, and development rules. Each district below shows its zone type. Aurora's ordinance does not state permitted uses as citywide flags, so they are read from each district's own table rather than summarised here.

Zone Code	Zone Type	Area
R-2 Medium Density Residential District	-	20,187.6 ac
R-1 Low Density Single Family Residential District	-	18,095.7 ac
AD Airport District	-	18,004 ac
POS Parks And Open Space District	-	12,313.8 ac
I-2 Industrial District	-	7,284.3 ac
I-1 Industrial District	-	6,589.3 ac
MU-C Mixed Use Corridor District	-	3,699.3 ac
PD Planned Development	-	3,091.8 ac
BAFB Buckley Airforce Base	-	2,748.5 ac
MU-R Mixed Use Regional District	-	2,703.6 ac
MU-A Mixed Use Airport	-	2,053.3 ac
R-3 Medium Density Multifamily Residential District	-	1,987.3 ac
MU-OI Mixed Use Office And Institutional District	-	1,831 ac
APZ Accident Potential Zone	-	1,227.7 ac
OA-R-1 Original Aurora Low Density Residential	-	1,098.5 ac
MU-TOD Mixed Use Transit Oriented Development District	-	463.8 ac
OA-R-2 Original Aurora Medium Density Residential	-	311.1 ac
R-4 High Density Residential District	-	290.5 ac
OA-MS Original Aurora Main Street	-	245.6 ac
OA-G Original Aurora General	-	245.5 ac

Building Controls

What are the building controls in Aurora?

Setback, height, FAR, lot area, and density controls enforced across Aurora zoning districts.

Building height
Coverage
Density
FAR
Front setback
Lot
Lot width
Multi
Pervious
Rear setback
Side setback

Other Colorado cities

Aurora zoning: frequently asked questions

How much of Aurora is airport-related zoning?: The Airport District alone covers roughly 18,004 acres, essentially tied with the largest residential district. Adding Buckley Air Force Base, the Mixed Use Airport district and the Accident Potential Zone, aviation-related classifications account for a very large share of the city.
What is the Accident Potential Zone?: A zoning district covering roughly 1,228 acres near the airfield. It appears on the map as its own classification rather than as an advisory layer, so a parcel within it is governed by that designation and its constraints are real for development purposes.
What are the Original Aurora districts?: A parallel set covering the historic core, including low and medium density residential, a main street district and a general district. A site there is governed by these rather than by the citywide residential classifications.
How does Aurora zone for mixed use?: Through six districts distinguished by setting: corridor, regional, office and institutional, transit oriented development, airport, and a Fitzsimons boundary district. Mixed Use Corridor is the largest at roughly 3,699 acres.
Which residential district covers the most land?: Medium Density Residential, at roughly 20,188 acres, slightly ahead of Low Density Single Family at about 18,096. That is an unusual balance for a suburban city, where the low-density district is normally dominant.

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Zoning data is pre-development intelligence, not legal advice. Verify with the Aurora planning department before acquisition or design.