Answer 1: The FAR measurement is taken from exterior wall to exterior wall. Elevators and interior stairwells are counted on all levels; each stairwell is not to be double counted. Go to Section 26.575.020(A) of the Land Use Code for further information.

Answer 2: Go to Section 26.575.020(A)(3) of the Land Use Code for further information.

Answer 3: Go to Section 26.575.020(B) of the Land Use Code for further information.

Answer 4: Please reference the What is My Zoning map. 1.3MB

Answer 5: Go to Section 26.710 of the Land Use Code for further information.

Answer 6: Not necessarily. Please read Section 26.575.020(C) of the Land Use Code regarding areas of a lot which may be excluded for the purposes of calculating FAR.

Answer 7: Probably not. Plans are disposed of once a permit has been issued a Certificate of Occupancy. Some records do exist in the building permit files, but it was not until 1995 that zoning worksheets were retained for FAR calculation documention. Further, as the Land Use Code has changed several times since 1995, old FAR calculations may not be accurate.

Answer 8: Yes, the Land Use Code does require a permit be submitted and issued for a fence. Please see Section 26.575.020(C), Section 26.410.040(A)(3) and Section 26.575.050 of the Land Use Code for regulations relating to the height, materials required and locations of fences in the City of Aspen.

Answer 9: All three of these subdivisions are in the City of Aspen BUT things such as calculating FAR, height, etc. are subject to a Planned Unit Development (PUD) guide, which is based on the Pitkin County Land Use Code. All questions, enforcement issues and other items are administered through the City of Aspen.

Answer 10: Probably nothing. The City of Aspen does not designate view planes from private properties and as long as the building is within the height limits as required per the Land Use Code there is no violation. The only places that have preserved view planes of Aspen Mountain are Glory Hole Park, Wagner Park, Cooper Avenue, Court House, Wheeler Opera House and Main Street.

Answer 11: Call the City of Aspen Zoning Officer at (970) 920-5441. The Zoning Officer responds to issues such as sign code violations, the construction of sheds and fences without a permit and lighting code violations. The Zoning Officer DOES NOT have jurisdiction over things such as junk on private property (Police Department), encroachment into the public right-of-way (Engineering Department) or construction noise and hours (Environmental Health Department).

Answer 12: Yes. There is nothing in the code which requires exterior lighting be turned off at a certain time. But, the code does have certain requirements intended to keep lighting levels low and non-invasive to neighboring properties. So, your neighbor may be in violation and a complaint can be submitted as described in Question 11.

Answer 13: Christmas lights may be illuminated from November 15 to March 1, and must be shut off for the rest of the year.

Answer 14: The sign code can be viewed by going to Section 26.510 of the Land Use Code.