Weld County Commissioners approve updates to zoning code

Published on November 19, 2025

The Weld County Board of Commissioners approved two ordinances updating Chapter 23 (Zoning) of the Weld County Code. Ordinance 2025-11 updates zoning standards to improve clarity and consistency, and Ordinance 2025-15 strengthens building setback requirements around oil and gas facilities. Both ordinances apply to unincorporated Weld County and take effect Nov. 26, 2025.

Ordinance 2025-11 includes the following updates:

• Refined definitions for commercial vehicle parking and trucking operations to better address impacts in rural residential areas.
• Updated standards for home-based businesses to reflect modern work practices while maintaining neighborhood compatibility.
• Simplified and consolidated administrative review procedures to reduce duplication and improve efficiency.
• Corrected outdated references and typographical errors throughout Chapter 23 for clarity.
• Aligned certain land-use categories with state and regional planning standards for improved consistency across jurisdictions.

“These changes reflect the county’s commitment to keeping our zoning regulations clear, consistent, and responsive to the needs of residents and businesses,” said David Eisenbraun, Director of the Weld County Department of Planning Services.

Ordinance 2025-15 focuses on increasing safety around oil and gas facilities. The ordinance:

• Maintains the 250-foot required setback for occupied structures from active oil and gas operations.
• Increases the minimum setback for occupied structures from plugged and abandoned wells from 50 feet to 75 feet.
• Requires a 75-foot setback for unoccupied structures, such as sheds and detached garages, from all oil and gas facilities, whether active or abandoned.

“We are always looking to enhance safety standards and align land-use policy with evolving energy sector conditions. These code changes are the latest step in that effort,” said Brett Cavanagh, Director of the Weld County Department of Oil and Gas Energy.

These amendments do not change existing setback requirements for oil and gas facilities relative to buildings.

For more information, visit Weld County's Long-range Planning webpage.