Land Use and Development
Use this process for:
- Subdivisions
- Planned developments
- Rezoning or land-use applications
- Commercial development sites
- Multi-lot residential development
- New or modified private roads
- Projects submitted through El Paso County’s development review system
El Paso County Planning and Community Development manages land-use and development applications in unincorporated El Paso County. BFFR reviews projects for fire protection and emergency-response considerations.
Land-Use and Development Process
Step 1
Submit the Application to El Paso County
Begin the land-use or development application through El Paso County Planning and Community Development and the Electronic Development Application Review Program, commonly called EDARP.
EL PASO COUNTY PLANNING → https://planningdevelopment.elpasoco.com/
SUBMIT OR VIEW AN EDARP APPLICATION → https://epcdevplanreview.com/
Step 2
The Project Is Routed for Agency Review
El Paso County distributes the application to applicable reviewing agencies, including Black Forest Fire Rescue when the property is within the BFFR district.
Applicants should not submit a separate copy of the same land-use application unless requested by BFFR.
Step 3
Provide Fire-Protection Information
BFFR may review the project for:
- Emergency vehicle access
- Roads, driveways, grades, and turnarounds
- Emergency access and evacuation routes
- Firefighting water supply
- Hydrants, cisterns, and dry hydrants
- Fire-flow requirements
- Addressing
- Structure hardening
- Fire protection systems
- Colorado Wildfire Resiliency Code requirements
For certain projects, the applicant may be required to submit a comprehensive fire protection report prepared by a fire protection engineer licensed as a Professional Engineer in Colorado.
Step 4
Respond to Review Comments
The applicant and project team must respond to BFFR and other agency comments and revise the project documents as required.
BFFR does not support waivers or variances that negatively affect emergency access, evacuation, water supply, structure hardening, addressing, or required fire protection systems.
Step 5
Obtain Land-Use Approval
Complete the El Paso County development review and approval process.
Land-use approval does not replace the separate building permit, fire plan review, or BFFR impact fee requirements that may apply to future construction.
Land-use application questions:
El Paso County Planning and Community Development
719-520-6300
plnweb@elpasoco.com
