Purpose and Intent
The RH District is established to accommodate high density residential neighborhoods. The RH District is intended to expand the range of housing densities and types in close proximity to commercial uses to increase lifestyle options. New development in the RH District shall be thoughtfully integrated, walkable, and interconnected to services and amenities. Supporting nonresidential uses that provide services and amenities to the predominantly residential development may be permitted in this district. Infill development in the RH District shall complement existing housing in accordance with the location requirements indicated in Article IV, Sections 18-304, 18-305, 18-307, 18 308, 18-309, 18-311, 18-312, 18-313, and 18-314 and provide appropriate transitions to existing neighborhoods including massing, orientation, and scale.
Summary of Allowable Uses
Please refer to Section 18-168 for a complete list of principal uses; Section 18-334 contains a list of accessory uses; and Section 18-366 contains a list of temporary uses.
Legend:
- (SUP): Special Use Permit required
- (L): Limited use standards apply
- (TUP) Temporary Use Permit required
Note: If no item in the legend is listed next to a listed land use, it is permitted by right in the RH district
Main Uses
Agriculture and Animal Related Uses
- Community Garden
- Crop Production (L)
Commercial Uses
- Artisan Manufacturing (SUP)
- Bar / Lounge / Tavern (L)
- General Commercial, 5,000 sq ft or less
- General Office / Professional Services, 5,000 sq ft or less
- Personal Services (L)
- Private Event/Banquet Facility (L)
- Restaurant 5,000 sq ft or less
Entertainment Uses
- Cultural and Arts Facility (SUP)
- Private Entertainment / Recreation / Fitness Facility, Indoor (L)
Industrial, Automotive, and Transportation Uses
- Mining (SUP)
- Parking Structure (SUP)
- Recycling Collection Center (L)
- Transit Passenger Shelter
- Transit Station (SUP)
- Well / Production Sites
Lodging Uses
- Boarding / Rooming House (SUP)
Public and Institutional Uses
- Cemetery / Mausoleum (SUP)
- Civic Meeting Facility (SUP)
- Day Care Facility (SUP)
- Group Home
- Institutional Residential, Assisted Living and Long-Term Care (SUP)
- Institutional Residential, Dormitory (SUP)
- Library (SUP)
- Park
- Post Office (SUP)
- Public Entertainment / Recreation Facility (SUP)
- Public Service / Safety Facility
- Recovery Residence
- Religious Institution
- School, Public or Private (SUP)
Residential Uses
- Cottage Housing (single lot)
- Duplex (single lot)
- Dwelling, 2 Units Attached (1 unit per lot)
- Dwelling, 3-8 Units Attached (1 unit per lot)
- Dwelling, Live-Work
- Multi-Unit Dwelling, Above Ground Floor (single lot)
- Multi-Unit Dwelling Complex (single lot)
- Multi-Unit Dwelling, Above Ground Floor (single lot)
- Triplex/Quadplex (single lot)
Utilities and Infrastructure Uses
- Public Utility Facilities
- Utility or Government Installation Other than Listed (SUP)
- Water Treatment Plant, Reservoir and Water Storage Tanks
- Wireless Telecommunications, Tower and Equipment (SUP)
Accessory Uses
- Accessory Building / Structure
- Accessory Commercial Unit (L)
- Accessory Community Center, Private
- Accessory Dwelling Unit
- Accessory Food Truck Court (L)
- Accessory Game Court, Private
- Accessory Outdoor Seating
- Accessory Outdoor Storage
- Accessory Retail / Restaurant (L)
- Amateur Telecommunications Facility
- Golf Safety Net (SUP)
- Home Occupation
- Short-Term Rental (SUP)
- Solar Energy Collection System, Canopy
- Solar Energy Collection System, Ground-Mounted
- Solar Energy Collection System, Roof-Mounted
- Swimming Pool, Private
- Urban Garden
- Wind Energy Conversion Systems
- Wireless Telecommunications, Building/Structure Mounted (L)
Temporary Uses
- Mobile Vendor
- Pop-Up Retail / Restaurant
- Seasonal Sales
- Special Event
- Temporary Concrete or Asphalt Batch Plant
- Temporary Grazing
- Temporary Parking Lot
- Temporary Use, Other
Development Standards:
To access the complete development standards for the RH zone district, use this link to Section 18-78 of the Code.
Table 18-78.1. RH District dimensional standards by use.
| Regulation | Duplex / Triplex / Quadplex; Dwelling, 2 Units Attached; Dwelling, 3-8 Units Attached; or Dwelling, Live – Work (with alley access or no vehicular access) | Duplex / Triplex / Quadplex; Dwelling, 2 Units Attached; Dwelling, 3-8 Units Attached; or Dwelling, Live - Work (with front vehicular access) | Multi-Unit Dwelling; Multi-Unit Dwelling Complex; or Multi-Unit Dwelling, Above Ground Floor (with or without alley) | Cottage Housing (with or without alley) | All Other Uses (with or without alley) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lot Area, Minimum per Dwelling Unit (square feet) | 1,000 | 2,000 | 1,000 | 1,000 | N/A |
| Lot Width, Minimum per Dwelling unit (feet) [1] | 15 | 30 | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Front or Street Side Setback, Minimum (feet) | 10 [2] | 10 / 20 [2] [3] | 15 | 15 | 15 |
Interior Side Setback, Minimum (feet) [4] [5] | 3 | 5 | 10 | 10 | 10 |
Rear Setback, Minimum (feet) [5] [6] | 10 / 0 | 15 / 5 | 20 | 10 | 20 |
| Building Height, Maximum (feet) [7] | 45 / 16 | 45 / 16 | 65 / 16 | 45 / 16 | 60 / 16 |
| Lot Coverage, Maximum (%) | 93 | 93 | 90 | 90 | 80 |
| Distance Between Buildings Up to Two Stories, Minimum (feet) | N/A | N/A | 10 | 10 | 10 |
| Distance Between Buildings More Than Two Stories, Minimum (feet) | N/A | N/A | 20 | 20 | 20 |
Table 18-78.1 footnotes:
- Lot width for front-loaded dwellings can be reduced to match the alley-loaded dwellings if shared driveways are used.
- See Section 18-573(d) and 18-574(d) for setback reductions in green court and motor court configurations.
- The first number applies to a porch with or without living space above or to the building if there is no porch. The second number applies to front-loaded garages.
- Standard shall not apply if fire-rated partition wall meeting all Thornton Building Code requirements is provided.
- Standard shall depend on required buffer yards as detailed in Section 18-600.
- The first number is for the principal structure. The second number, if indicated, is for an accessory structure or alley-loaded garage with no driveway.
- The first number is for principal structures and Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) above a garage. The second number is for all other accessory structures.
RH District, Additional Standards
Use this link to Section 18-78(b) to access the additional provisions.
- Required mix of dwelling types. New development in the RH District shall include at least two distinct dwelling types that are permitted uses in this zoning district.
- This requirement shall be fulfilled by the construction of two or more of the following residential options:
- Cottage Housing (single lot);
- Duplex (single lot) or Dwelling, 2 Units Attached (1 unit per lot);
- Dwelling, 3-8 Units Attached (1 unit per lot);
- Dwelling, Live-Work;
- Multi-Unit Dwelling or Multi-Unit Dwelling Complex (single lot);
- Multi-Unit Dwelling, Above Ground Floor (single lot); and
- Triplex or Quadplex (single lot).
- The development may be exempt from this requirement if:
- The location of the proposed development does not require at least two distinct dwelling types on the Future Land Use Map based on its Future Land Use Designation in the Comprehensive Plan; or
- The total land area of the site proposed to be developed is less than ten acres; or
- The applicant submits an analysis that demonstrates to the satisfaction of the director that the mix of dwelling types will be achieved through existing or planned housing on adjacent parcels.