Title
An Ordinance amending Chapter 7 (the “Unified Development Code” or “UDC”) of the Code of the City of Colorado Springs 2001, as amended, as related to kennels.
(Legislative)
Related Files: CODE-25-0004
Located in All Council Districts
Presenter:
Austin Cooper, Senior Planner, City Planning Department
Kevin Walker, Planning Director, City Planning Department
Body
Summary:
Owner: City of Colorado Springs
Initiating Agency: Planning Department
Location: City-wide
The City of Colorado Springs’ Kennel Ordinance (See Attachment 1 – Ordinance) revises the City’s Unified Development Code (UDC) to permit kennel uses where they were previously allowed under the old Chapter 7 but excluded in the UDC update passed in 2023.
Prior to the June 5, 2023, the ReTool project implementation date, kennels were permitted conditionally and by-right in our commercial zones and permitted by-right in our industrial zones under the previous Unified Development Code (Chapter 7). The City’s current UDC consolidated and removed these uses from our mixed-use zoning districts and made them conditionally permitted in several industrial zones, creating nonconforming issues for some existing kennels and impacting properties that could have established kennel uses. As such, this ordinance addresses this impact by again allowing these uses, conditionally and by-right, where they were previously allowed under the previous Unified Development Code (Chapter 7). Additional changes under this ordinance now allow for animal shelters within the LI (Light Industrial) and GI (General Industrial) zone districts. This ordinance also proposes the decreased use-specific setbacks of buildings or ancillary outdoor areas from 55’ to any property line to 25’ to any property line.
Background:
Prior to the City’s UDC Update (ReTool), the previous Unified Development Code (Chapter 7) included use types for Kennels (Indoor and Outdoor), Veterinary Services, Pet Services and Animal Shelters individually. These uses were permitted by right in many of our industrial and large-scale commercial districts and allowed conditionally in other commercial zone districts under the City’s previous Unified Development Code (Chapter 7). Following the City’s UDC Update (ReTool), which was effective on June 5th of 2023, use types for animal facilities were combined removing the ability for kennels to be allowed by right in any zone district outside of A (Agriculture) and only allowed conditionally in the LI (Light Industrial) and GI (General Industrial) zone districts.
What is being reverted to the previous Unified Development Code (Chapter 7):
1. Definitions for animal related care uses to include Kennels, Pet Services, Veterinary Services and Animal Shelters
2. Most of the Base and NNA-O District Use Table (7.3.2-A) will mirror what was allowed under the previous Unified Development Code (Chapter 7) with adjustments made to reflect the new zone districts.
3. Use Specific Standards for Pet Services and Veterinary Services.
Changes being proposed are not reflective of the previous Unified Development Code (Chapter 7):
1. Use Specific Standards for Animal Shelters and Kennels to restrict any kennel building and any associated animal run, enclosure, or other outdoor animal use must be constructed at least twenty-five feet (25') from all property lines where it was previously fifty five feet (55’) in both the previous Unified Development Code (Chapter 7) and the UDC Update (ReTool)
2. Parking requirements will maintain new UDC requirements for existing Animal-Related Uses which will result in 1 space being required per 400 sf of Gross Floor Area (GFA). Old code required 1 space being required per 400 sf of office space.
3. Animal Shelters are proposed to be permitted in the Light Industrial (LI) and General Industrial (GI) zone districts where they were only permitted by right in the Public Facilities (PF) zone district under the previous Unified Development Code (Chapter 7).
Review Criteria:
The subject Amendment to UDC Text application was initiated by the City of Colorado Springs Planning Department at the request of industry partners and City Administration after the implementation date (06/05/2023) of the City’s Unified Development Code. Per UDC Section 7.5.702 Amendment to UDC Text, this section establishes standards and provides a mechanism for the City to review and decide on an application to amend the text of this UDC.
An application for an Amendment to UDC Text shall be subject to the following criteria for approval:
1. The Colorado Springs Comprehensive Plan and other plans adopted by City Council.
2. The current conditions and character of current structures and uses in each zone district.
3. The most desirable use of land in each zone district.
4. The conservation of sensitive environmental features.
After evaluation of the UDC Text Amendment application for the Kennel Ordinance, City Planning staff finds that the application meets the approval criteria as set forth under City Code Section 7.5.702.D Approval Considerations.
Previous Council Action:
N/A
Financial Implications:
N/A
City Council Appointed Board/Commission/Committee Recommendation:
City Planning Commission, at their regularly scheduled meeting on August 13, 2025, recommended adoption of the ordinance amending portions of the UDC related to kennels. City Planning Commission voted unanimously 9-0-0 to recommend approval to City Council the UDC Text Amendment application as part of the consent calendar.
Recommended Action
Proposed Motions:
Should the City Council wish to approve the UDC Text Amendment application, the following motion is suggested:
Adopt an Ordinance amending Chapter 7 (Unified Development Code) of the Code of the City of Colorado Springs 2001, as amended, pertaining to kennels.
Should the City Council wish to deny the UDC Text Amendment application, the following motion is suggested.
Deny an Ordinance amending Chapter 7 (Unified Development Code) of the Code of the City of Colorado Springs 2001, as amended, pertaining to kennels.
Summary of Ordinance Language
An Ordinance amending Chapter 7 (the “Unified Development Code” or “UDC”) of the Code of the City of Colorado Springs 2001, as amended, as related to kennels.