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Weld County Code Ordinance 2026-01 C► l V, f 14,6 iex,)
In the Matter of Repealing and Reenacting, with Amendments, Chapter 23 Zoning
of the Weld County Code
Be it ordained by the Board of County Commissioners of the County of Weld, State
of Colorado:
Whereas, the Board of County Commissioners of Weld County, Colorado, pursuant to
Colorado statute and the Weld County Home Rule Charter, is vested with the authority of
administering the affairs of Weld County, Colorado, and
Whereas, the Board of County Commissioners, on December 28, 2000, adopted Weld
County Code Ordinance 2000-1, enacting a comprehensive Code for the County of Weld,
including the codification of all previously adopted ordinances of a general and permanent
nature enacted on or before said date of adoption, and
Whereas, the Weld County Code is in need of revision and clarification with regard to
procedures, terms, and requirements therein.
Now, therefore, be it ordained by the Board of County Commissioners of the County of
Weld, State of Colorado, that Chapter 23 Zoning of the Weld County Code be, and hereby
is, repealed and re-enacted, with amendments, to read as follows.
Chapter 23
Zoning
ARTICLE I - General Provisions
Amend Sec. 23-1-90. — Definitions, as follows:
[Change all italicized terms throughout this section to non-italics.]
The following specific words and phrases, when appearing in this Chapter in
uppercase letters, shall have the meanings stated in this Section:
DATA CENTER: A BUILDING or BUILDINGS used to house information technology
or telecommunications equipment with which digital information is processed, transferred,
and/or stored, with no limitation on its peak electrical load. A DATA CENTER may include
associated ancillary STRUCTURES, including, but not limited to, OFFICES, security
BUILDINGS, cooling water tanks, and backup power systems with a total generation
capacity of less than fifty (50) megawatts.
All other definitions remain unchanged.
ARTICLE II - Procedures and Permits
Division 3 - Site Plan Review
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Amend Sec. 23-2-160. - Application requirements for site plan review.
Any person wanting to apply for a Site Plan Review shall arrange for a preapplication
conference with the Department of Planning Services. The purpose of the application is
to give the applicant an opportunity to demonstrate, through written and graphic
information, how the proposal complies with the standards of this Chapter. The following
supporting documents shall be submitted as a part of the application:
A. through E. - No change.
F. Evidence that the USE in the zone district shall have an adequate source of potable
water and meet the requirements of the zone distric+.Evidence of water in compliance
with the requirements of C.R.S. 29-20-301, et seq.
G. - No change.
H. +'cscrvcd. (Sec Subsection R.)A"will serve" letter from the electricity provider serving
the area where the property is located.
I. though T. - No change.
U. A statement explaining that the USE is compatible with the existing or future
DEVELOPMENT of the surrounding areas as permitted by the existing zoning and
with the future DEVELOPMENT of the area as projected by the Comprehensive Plan
or MASTER PLAN of affected municipalities and any Intergovernmental Agreement.
Such USE shall adhere to the following operation standards, to the extent that they
are affected by location, layout, and design prior to construction and operation. Once
operational, the operation shall conform to the standards listed below:
1. Noise. USES shall be located, designed, and operated in accordance with the
noise standards as established in Section 25 12 101, et seq., C.R.S.Chapter 14,
Article IX, of this code. In addition to the dB(A) noise limits in Section 14-9-40 of
this code, no DATA CENTER shall be allowed to exceed a C-scale noise limit of
sixty-five decibels (65 dB(C)) as measured at any point on the subject property
boundary.
Remainder of Section — No change.
Division 4 - Uses by Special Review
Amend Sec. 23-2-240. - Design standards.
A. An applicant for a Use by Special Review shall demonstrate compliance with the
following design standards in the application and shall continue to meet these
standards if approved for DEVELOPMENT.
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1. Adequate water service in terms of quality, qu
to the site to serve the USES permitted.Water in compliance with the
requirements of C.R.S. 29-20-301, et seq.
Remainder of Section — No change.
Amend Sec. 23-2-250. - Operation standards.
An applicant for a Special Review Permit shall demonstrate conformance with the
following operation standards in the Special Review Permit application to the extent that
the standards affect location, layout and design of the Use by Special Review prior to
construction and operation. Once operational, the operation of the USES permitted shall
conform to these standards.
A. The operation of the USES shall comply with the noise standards enumerated in
Section 25 12 101, et seq., C.R.S.Chapter 14, Article IX, of this code. In addition
to the dB(A) noise limits in Section 14-9-40 of this code, no DATA CENTER shall
be allowed to exceed a C-scale noise limit of sixty-five decibels (65 dB(C)) as
measured at any point on the subject property boundary.
Remainder of Section — No change.
Amend Sec. 23-2-260. - Application requirements.
A. through D. - No change.
E. Supporting Documents. The following supporting documents shall be submitted as
part of the application:
1 . - No change.
2. adequate in-terms of quantity,
Proof
of water in compliance with the requirements of C.R.S. 29-20-301, et seq.
3. - No change.
4. A noise report, unless waived by the Department of Planning Services,
documenting the methods to be utilized to meet the applicable noise standard. A
noise mitigation plan indicating anticipated noise levels and proposed mitigation may be
required sufficient to demonstrate the proposed USE will comply with the applicable
noise limits.
5. and 6. - No change. Insert new 7.
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7. A "will serve" letter from the electricity provider serving the area where the
property is located.
Remainder of Section — No change.
ARTICLE III - Zone Districts
town-sites,
The following BUILDINGS, STRUCTURES and USES may be constructed, occupied,
operated and maintained on LOTS outside of SUBDIVISIONS and HISTORIC
TOWNSITES in the A (Agricultural) Zone District upon approval of a Special Review
Permit in accordance with the requirements and procedures set forth in Article II,
Division 4 of this Chapter, or Article II,Division 5, in the case of MAJOR FACILITIES OF
PUBLIC UTILITIES OR PUBLIC AGENCIES.
A. through J., no change. Insert new K.
K. DATA CENTERS.
Reletter as necessary. No other changes to this section.
Division 4 - Industrial Zone Districts
Amend Sec. 23-3-310. - 1-1 (Light Industrial) Zone District.
A. and B., no change..
C. Uses allowed subject to Site Plan Review. The following USES shall be allowed in
Ar icle II Division 3 of this Chang- Ony I ICE conducted outside of an ENC OSED
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BUILDING shall be SCREENED from adjacent PUBLIC RIGHTS OF WAY and
ADJACENT LOTS in any Zone District other than 13.
1. through 7., no change. Insert new 8.
8. DATA CENTERS.
A. through E., no change.
F. Uses by Special Review. The following BUILDINGS, STRUCTURES and USES may
be constructed, occupied, operated and maintained in the I-1 Zone District upon
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approval of a permit in accordance with the requirements of Article II, Division 4 of
this Chapter.
1. through 4. - No change. Insert new 5.
5. DATA CENTERS.
Renumber remainder of section as necessary.
Amend Sec. 23-3-320. - 1-2 (Medium Industrial) Zone District.
A. and B. - No change.
C. Uses allowed subject to Site Plan Review. The following USES shall be allowed in the
1-2 Zone District following approval and recording of a Site Plan in accordance with
Article II, Division 3, of this Chapter. Any USE conducted outside of an ENCLOSED
BUILDING shall be SCREENED from adjacent PUBLIC RIGHTS-OF-WAY and
ADJACENT LOTS in any Zone District other than 1-3.
1. through 8., no change. Insert new 9.
9. DATA CENTERS.
Renumber as necessary. No other changes to this section.
Amend Sec. 23-3-330. - 1-3 (Heavy Industrial) Zone District.
A. and B., no change.
C. Uses allowed subject to Site Plan Review. The following USES shall be allowed in the
1-3 Zone District following approval and recording of a Site Plan in accordance with
Article II, Division 3, of this Chapter.
1. through 11. - No change. Insert new 12.
12. DATA CENTERS.
Renumber as necessary. No other changes.
Be it further ordained by the Board that the Clerk to the Board be, and hereby is, directed
to arrange for Municode to supplement the Weld County Code with the amendments
contained herein, to coincide with chapters, articles, divisions, sections, and subsections
as they currently exist within said Code; and to resolve any inconsistencies regarding
capitalization, grammar, and numbering or placement of chapters, articles, divisions,
sections, and subsections in said Code.
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Be it further ordained by the Board, if any section, subsection, paragraph, sentence,
clause, or phrase of this Ordinance is for any reason held or `decided to be
unconstitutional, such decision shall not affect the validity of the remaining portions
hereof. The Board of County Commissioners hereby declares that it would have enacted
this Ordinance in each and every section, subsection, paragraph, sentence, clause, and
phrase thereof irrespective of the fact that any one or more sections, subsections,
paragraphs, sentences, clauses, or phrases might be declared to be unconstitutional or
invalid.
Publication: January 14, 2026
First Reading: January 26, 2026
Publication: January 30, 2026, in the Greeley Tribune
Second Reading: February 9, 2026
Publication: February 13, 2026, in the Greeley Tribune
Final Reading Rescheduled to: February 25, 2026
Continued to. April 6, 2026
Publication: April 10, 2026, in the Greeley Tribune
Effective: April 15, 2026
The Board of County Commissioners of Weld County, Colorado, adopted the above
and foregoing Ordinance, on motion duly made and seconded, by the following vote on
the 6th day of April, A.D., 2026:
[Insert Resolution Attestation Block Post Meeting]
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