Development Code Amendments and Other Projects
Major Development Code Update (starting summer 2023)
The City of Thornton is updating its Development Code which is the regulatory document which guides land development within the City. Thornton’s Development Code has not been comprehensively updated since 1992 and many changes in the community have occurred since then, necessitating an overhaul of the Code. Click here to learn about the project and opportunities to get involved.
Development Code Amendments
The City of Thornton Development Code is a regulatory document,
which guides development within the City. In order to ensure the Development
Code changes as the City's needs evolve, amendments are necessary. These
amendments are generally initiated by City of Thornton Staff and are reviewed
and adopted by City Council through a public hearing process. This page
provides information on all active Development Code amendments.
Residential Growth Pacing Ordinance
The Thornton Water Project has been delayed due to Larimer County's unprecedented denial of Thornton's permit requesting to access and transmit City-owned water from Larimer County to Thornton, despite state approval to do so. State statute requires that the city ensure adequate water is available prior to the recordation of a subdivision plat for new development, after which the development may move forward with construction. Therefore, a residential growth pacing ordinance has been drafted in order to balance growth with available quality water supplies, provide an orderly and uniform process for allocating available water, and provide transparency to the development community. If approved, the ordinance is expected to remain effective at least until there is certainty for the Thornton Water Project.
Linked on the right side of the page are the documents from the initial presentation to City Council on June 7, 2022. Information on this page will be updated as available.
Note: The previously scheduled July 5th Planning Session presentation has been postponed, and the Growth Pacing Ordinance is not currently scheduled for formal consideration.
When further discussions have been rescheduled, the new date(s) will be posted here.