Purpose and Intent
The RL District is established to accommodate low density residential neighborhoods. The RL District is intended to provide opportunity for gentle density infill development that complements existing housing and provides 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 AG district
Main Uses
Agriculture and Animal Related Uses
- Community Garden
- Crop Production (L)
Commercial Uses
No land uses listed
Entertainment Uses
- Cultural and Arts Facility (SUP)
- Private Entertainment / Recreation / Fitness Facility, Indoor (SUP)
Industrial, Automotive, and Transportation Uses
- Mining (SUP)
- Recycling Collection Center (L)
- Transit Passenger Shelter
- Transit Station (SUP)
- Well / Production Sites
Lodging Uses
- No land uses listed
Public and Institutional Uses
- Cemetery / Mausoleum (SUP)
- Civic Meeting Facility (SUP)
- Day Care Facility (SUP)
- Group Home
- 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) (L)
- Duplex (single lot)
- Dwelling, 1 Unit Detached (single lot)
- Dwelling, 2 Units Attached (1 unit per 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 (SUP)
- Accessory Dwelling Unit
- Accessory Game Court, Private (SUP)
- Accessory Outdoor Storage
- Amateur Telecommunications Facility
- Golf Safety Net (SUP)
- Home Occupation
- Private Stables (SUP)
- Short-Term Rental
- 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
- Seasonal Sales
- Special Event
- Temporary Concrete or Asphalt Batch Plant
- Temporary Grazing
- Temporary Living Quarters
- Temporary Parking Lot
- Temporary Use, Other
Development Standards:
To access the complete development standards for the RL zone district, use this link to Section 18-76 of the Code.
Table 18-76.1. RL District dimensional standards by use.
| Regulation | Dwelling, 1 Unit Detached (with alley access or no vehicular access) | Dwelling, 1 Unit Detached (with front vehicular access) | Dwelling, 2 Units Attached or Duplex (with alley access or no vehicular access) | Dwelling, 2 Units Attached or Duplex (with front vehicular access) | Cottage Housing (with or without alley vehicular access) | All Other Uses (with or without alley vehicular access) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lot Area, Minimum per Dwelling Unit (square feet) | 3,500 [1] | 4,500 [1] | 2,000 | 3,500 | 2,000 | N/A |
| Lot Width, Minimum per Dwelling unit (feet) [2] | 30 | 50 | 25 | 45 | N/A | N/A |
| Front and Street Side Setback, Minimum (feet) | 10 [1] | 10 / 20 [1] [3] | 10 [1] | 10 / 20 [1] [3] | 15 | 25 |
| Interior Side Setback, Minimum (feet) | 5 | 5 | 5 [4] | 5 [4] | 10 [5] | 10 [5] |
| Rear Setback, Minimum (feet) [6] | 10 / 0 | 15 / 5 | 10 / 0 | 15 / 5 | 10 | 20 |
| Building Height, Maximum (feet) [7] | 35 / 16 | 35 / 16 | 40 / 16 | 40 / 16 | 40 / 16 | 40 / 16 |
| Lot Coverage, Maximum (%) | 85 | 85 | 90 | 90 | 80 | 90 |
Table 18-76.1 footnotes:
- See Sections 18-573(d) and (e) and 18-574(d) and (e) for setback and minimum lot area reductions in green court and motor court configurations.
- Lot width for front-loaded dwellings can be reduced to match the alley-loaded dwellings if shared driveways are used.
- 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 a fire-related partition wall meeting all Thornton Building Code requirements is provided.
- Ten feet between structures is required unless a fire-rated partition wall meeting all Thornton Building Code requirements is provided.
- The first number is for the principal structure. The second number, if indicated, is for an accessory structure or rear-loaded garage without a driveway. If a driveway is provided for an alley-loaded garage, the setback is 20 feet.
- The first number is for the principal structure and Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) above a garage. The second number is for all other accessory structures.