EL PASO COUNTY
LAND DEVELOPMENT CODE

CHAPTER I.
INTRODUCTION

The title of these regulations shall be the "El Paso County Land Development Code" and may be so cited and pleaded.

B.    AUTHORITY

The El Paso County Land Development Code and the amendments thereto are authorized by the Colorado Revised Statutes and shall apply to all of the unincorporated territory in El Paso County, Colorado. Such enabling legislation includes, but is not limited to:

1. Article 65 of Title 24, (Colorado Planning Act); 
2. Article 65.1 of Title 24, (Areas and Activities of State Interest);
3. Article 67 of Title 24, (Planned Unit Development); 
4. Article 68 of Title 24, (Vesting of Property Rights); 
5. Article 20 of Title 29, (Local Government Planning Control);
6. Article 11 of Title 30, (Powers of the Board of County Commis-sioners);
7. Article 28 of Title 30, (County Planning and Building Codes);
8. Article 12 of Title 31, (Municipal Annexations); 
9. Article 2 of Title 43, (County Highways). 

C.    PURPOSES

The Land Development Code is designed and enacted for the purpose of promoting the health, safety, morals, convenience, order, prosperity, and welfare of the present and future inhabitants of the county, including the implementation of the El Paso County Land Development Guidelines. 

D.    LEGAL STATUS

1. Interpretation 

Whenever the provisions of these Regulations are found to be inconsistent with any other regulation, the regulation imposing the more restrictive standards shall control. The provisions of these regulations are minimum requirements that do not preclude imposition of more restrictive standards by agreement or by law. 

2. Repeal 

All Zoning Regulations and Subdivision Regulations of El Paso County effective prior to the date of adoption of these Regulations are hereby repealed. The repeal of any of the above mentioned regulations does not revive any other regulations or portion thereof repealed by said regulations. Such repeals shall not affect or prevent the prosecution or punishment of any person for the violation of any regulation repealed hereby for an offense committed prior to the repeal. 

3. Severability 

If any section, clause, provision or portion of these regulations is adjudged unconstitutional or invalid by a court of competent jurisdiction, the remainder of these regulations shall not be affected thereby. 

4. Effective Date 

These Regulations shall be in effect from the date of adoption by the Board of County Commissioners of El Paso County. 

E.    BUILDING PERMIT AUTHORIZATION

No building shall be constructed, reconstructed, or structurally altered, nor shall any building or land be used for any purpose except in conformity with the Land Development Code. Authorization for the issuance of a building permit shall not be issued by the Development Services Department unless the plans for the proposed construction, reconstruction, alteration, or use fully conform to the applicable requirements of the Land Development Code. Unless otherwise provided within these Zoning Regulations, Development Services Department authorization for the issuance of a building permit by the Regional Building Department shall only be accomplished after the submission and approval of a site plan of the subject property, drawn to scale and fully dimensioned, reflecting the legal description, location, size, height, and use of all existing and proposed buildings and/or accessory buildings and any other information required by the Development Services Director to facilitate the enforcement of these Zoning Regulations.

F.    VIOLATIONS AND PENALTIES

Any person, firm, or corporation violating any provision of these regulations shall be subject to the penalties set forth in the Colorado Revised Statutes, as amended, and any other legal action provided by law.

G.    RESPONSIBILITY

The ultimate responsibility for land use decision-making lies with the Board of County Commissioners. Certain authority has been delegated by the Board of County Commis-sioners to administrative officers, however, the Board remains the ultimate arbiter except where such authority is modified by statute or regulation. 

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