Rural Vacant LandZoning Library
Zoning Library › Colorado › Colorado Springs, CO

Colorado Springs, CO zoning: where a drive-thru restaurant is allowed

El Paso County · 20 districts on file · last read 2026-11-14 · data.json

Is a drive-thru allowed in Colorado Springs, CO?

A drive-thru restaurant is allowed by right (no conditional use permit, special exception or rezoning) in these zoning districts: MX-L, MX-M, MX-T.

It needs a conditional or special use approval in: MX-N.

It is not allowed in 10 districts: A, APD, OR, R-1 6, R-1 9, R-2, R-4, R-5, R-E, R-F L.

6 districts are not confirmed yet.

Drive-thru restaurant rule by zoning district

DistrictDrive-thru restaurantWhat the code saysSectionSourceRead on
ANot allowedDrive-through, Accessory: blankUDC Table 7.3.2-Acodelibrary.amlegal.com2026-11-14
APDNot allowedDrive-through, Accessory: blankUDC Table 7.3.2-Acodelibrary.amlegal.com2026-11-14
BPNot confirmedNot read closely enough to state a rule.codelibrary.amlegal.com2026-11-14
FBZ-T2BNot confirmedNot read closely enough to state a rule.codelibrary.amlegal.com2026-11-14
LINot confirmedNot read closely enough to state a rule.codelibrary.amlegal.com2026-11-14
MX-LBy rightDrive-through, Accessory: A
Window 150 ft from residential lot; MX-M lane not between facade and primary street; 90 ft stacking (7.4.1010).		UDC Table 7.3.2-A; 7.3.304.Dcodelibrary.amlegal.com2026-11-14
MX-MBy rightDrive-through, Accessory: A
Window 150 ft from residential lot; MX-M lane not between facade and primary street; 90 ft stacking (7.4.1010).		UDC Table 7.3.2-A; 7.3.304.Dcodelibrary.amlegal.com2026-11-14
MX-NConditionalDrive-through, Accessory: C
Column inferred.		UDC Table 7.3.2-Acodelibrary.amlegal.com2026-11-14
MX-TBy rightDrive-through, Accessory: A
Window 150 ft from residential lot; MX-M lane not between facade and primary street; 90 ft stacking (7.4.1010).		UDC Table 7.3.2-A; 7.3.304.Dcodelibrary.amlegal.com2026-11-14
ORNot allowedDrive-through, Accessory: blankUDC Table 7.3.2-Acodelibrary.amlegal.com2026-11-14
PDZNot confirmedNot read closely enough to state a rule.codelibrary.amlegal.com2026-11-14
PFNot confirmedNot read closely enough to state a rule.codelibrary.amlegal.com2026-11-14
PKNot confirmedNot read closely enough to state a rule.codelibrary.amlegal.com2026-11-14
R-1 6Not allowedDrive-through, Accessory: blankUDC Table 7.3.2-Acodelibrary.amlegal.com2026-11-14
R-1 9Not allowedDrive-through, Accessory: blankUDC Table 7.3.2-Acodelibrary.amlegal.com2026-11-14
R-2Not allowedDrive-through, Accessory: blankUDC Table 7.3.2-Acodelibrary.amlegal.com2026-11-14
R-4Not allowedDrive-through, Accessory: blankUDC Table 7.3.2-Acodelibrary.amlegal.com2026-11-14
R-5Not allowedDrive-through, Accessory: blankUDC Table 7.3.2-Acodelibrary.amlegal.com2026-11-14
R-ENot allowedDrive-through, Accessory: blankUDC Table 7.3.2-Acodelibrary.amlegal.com2026-11-14
R-F LNot allowedDrive-through, Accessory: blankUDC Table 7.3.2-Acodelibrary.amlegal.com2026-11-14

"By right" means permitted with site plan and building permit review only. Overlay districts, planned developments (PD/PUD) and conditions attached to a past rezoning can change the answer for a single parcel.

Official zoning map layer

To find the district for a parcel, query the jurisdiction's own GIS zoning layer: https://gis.coloradosprings.gov/arcgis/rest/services/GeneralUse/PlanningZoning/MapServer/11 (district field: ECP_Zoning_Code)

Sources

How to confirm before you buy

  1. Look up the parcel on the official zoning map to get its district and any overlay.
  2. Open the code section linked in the table and read the use table and the drive-thru standards.
  3. Call the planning office and ask whether a drive-thru restaurant needs anything beyond site plan review at that address.

Why this library exists

I'm Luke Smith. I find land for drive-thru brands like 7 Brew, Ellianos Coffee and Starbucks, sign the tenant, build the shop and sell it as a net lease property. Every deal starts with the same question: is the use allowed here without a rezoning? Getting that answer takes too long, so we read the codes (with AI research help), and I publish what we find with a link back to every source so you can check it yourself.

If you have a site that fits a drive-thru, or you want to learn how these deals are put together, join the free Reverse Deal Finder community on Skool, see cap rates and land prices by brand, or call 1-760-392-1525. Brokers welcome: I pay commissions.