Planning Related Ordinances

This page provides information about Weld County ordinances related to planning and zoning that are being considered or were recently adopted. Most planning-related ordinances are reviewed by the Weld County Planning Commission before they are considered by the Board of County Commissioners (BOCC). The BOCC considers ordinances through a three-reading process before making a final decision.

The Weld County Code may not include recently adopted changes for several months after an ordinance is approved.

Planning Commission agendas and meeting information.

Board of County Commissioners agendas and meeting information. 

For questions about the ordinances listed on this page, contact Jim Flesher, Long-Range Planner, at jflesher@weld.gov or call 970-400-3552.

Ordinance 2026-04 - Power Plants, Battery Energy Storage Systems, etc.

On August 24, 2026, the Board of County Commissioners adopted an ordinance to revise sections of Chapters 2, 21, and 23 of the Weld County Code. Many of the changes relate to power plants, battery energy storage systems (BESSes), and other similar uses. Power plants over 50 megawatts (MW) and supplying public utilities will continue to be regulated by Chapter 21, the County’s “1041” process. Power generation that is under 50 MW or that doesn’t supply a public utility will be regulated by Chapter 23, Zoning, as “power plants”. A new section on battery energy storage systems (BESSes) has been added to Chapter 23 with regulations such as setbacks specific to this use.

Ordinance 2026-01 - Data Centers

The county adopted an ordinance to define data centers in Chapter 23, Zoning, of the Weld County Code and specify where they are allowed.

The ordinance allows data centers in the I-1 (Light Industrial) zone district with approval of a Use by Special Review (USR) following public hearings before the Planning Commission and Board of County Commissioners. In other Industrial zone districts, approval of an administrative Site Plan Review (SPR) will be required. Data Centers are not permitted outside the Industrial zones. County zoning only applies outside of incorporated cities and towns.

USRs, SPRs, and zone changes (amendments to zoning map) are covered in Article II of Chapter 23 of the Weld County Code.