How Many Horses Can I Legally Keep on My Colorado Property?
There is no statewide number for how many horses you can keep on a Colorado property. The limit is a mix of county zoning rules, your acreage, and any neighborhood covenants that apply.
To protect your horses, your land, and your wallet, you have to read more than just the listing description. You need to understand zoning codes, Animal Units, and how HOAs treat livestock.
Quick Summary: Doing the Horse Math
- There is no statewide number: Colorado does not set a single limit on horses. Your legal number depends on your specific county zoning and the size of your lot.
- Understand Animal Units (AU): Most counties do not just count heads. A typical code might allow "2 Animal Units per acre," where one 1,000 pound horse equals 1 Animal Unit.
- HOAs can stop you: Even if the county allows 10 horses, your Homeowners Association might restrict you to 2. If HOA rules are stricter, they win.
- Legal versus practical: Colorado is arid. You have to think about how many horses the land can realistically support without turning your pasture into a dust bowl.
This is the first question every equestrian buyer asks, and it is also one of the most complicated to answer.
You find a beautiful five acre property. It looks perfect. But can you bring your three horses, or are you limited to two? What if you want to add a miniature donkey later?
The answer is almost never a simple number on a sign. It is a calculation based on zoning codes, soil conservation, and neighborhood covenants. Getting this wrong can lead to fines, forced removal of animals, or a property that degrades into a mud pit.
Here is how to calculate exactly how many horses you can have on your Colorado property.
1. The County Rules: Zoning and Acreage
Your first step is to identify the county and the specific zoning code of the property. Every county in Colorado handles this differently.
- Douglas County: Douglas often uses an Animal Unit system based on acreage. On certain residential lots, you might be allowed 2 Animal Units for the first 5 acres and 1 additional unit for every acre after that.
- Elbert County: Elbert is known for being more horse friendly. Agricultural zones here often have looser restrictions, sometimes with no specific numeric limit as long as the animals are healthy and the land is not abused.
- Jefferson County: In the mountain areas, limits are usually stricter because of steep terrain, erosion risk, and water quality concerns.
The strategy: Do not guess. Call the County Planning Department with the parcel number and ask for the livestock allowances for that specific zone. They can tell you exactly how many Animal Units are allowed and how they define each type of animal.
2. The Math: What is an "Animal Unit"?
When you read the zoning code, you will probably see the term Animal Unit (AU). This is how counties measure the impact an animal has on the land in terms of grazing, manure, and water use.
- The standard: One mature 1,000 pound horse usually equals 1.0 Animal Unit.
- The variables: A miniature horse might only count as 0.5 AU. A cow might be 1.0 AU, while a sheep or llama might be 0.2 AU. Each county publishes its own chart.
- The calculation: If your zoning allows 4 Animal Units on your property, you could keep 4 large horses, or 2 large horses and 4 miniature ponies, or some other combination that adds up to 4 AU.
Once you know how your county defines each animal, you can play with the numbers and plan for current horses and future additions to your herd.
3. The Neighborhood Rules: The HOA Trap
This is where many buyers get in trouble. They check with the county, get the green light for four horses, buy the home, and then receive a cease and desist letter from the HOA.
HOA covenants function like law inside the neighborhood. If you buy in a covenanted community, which includes many popular equestrian areas in Parker and Black Forest, the HOA rules override the county zoning if they are stricter.
Example: The county allows 4 horses. The HOA allows 2 horses. You are legally limited to 2 horses.
The fix: Before you make an offer, request the Covenants, Conditions, and Restrictions (CC&Rs) and read the section on livestock. Look for limits on the number of horses, where you can place barns or runs, and any requirements for screening or manure management.
4. The Land’s Limit: Carrying Capacity
Just because you are legally allowed to squeeze 10 horses onto 5 acres does not mean the land can handle it.
Colorado is a high desert climate. Our grass does not bounce back the way it does in Kentucky or Florida.
- Overgrazing: Too many horses on too little land will eat the grass down to the roots in weeks. Once the roots are gone, the grass dies, weeds move in, and your green pasture turns into a dust bowl or, when it snows, a muddy mess.
- Manure management: One horse produces about 50 pounds of manure every day. As your herd grows, so does the manure pile. If you are running high density, you need a serious plan for composting or hauling that manure away, or you will create odor and fly issues that upset neighbors and invite complaints.
The bottom line: the legal limit is your starting point, not your target. You also have to respect the carrying capacity of the land so your horses stay healthy and your property remains enjoyable to live on.
We Verify the Numbers for You
You should not have to spend your evenings decoding county zoning ordinances or calculating Animal Units by hand.
When we search for properties with our clients, we do more than ask whether there is a barn. We verify the zoning code, we review the HOA covenants, and we look honestly at the land’s capacity to support your herd. Our goal is to make sure the property is legal for the number of horses you own today and the ones you plan to add tomorrow.
Contact Us Today to start your search with a team that understands the regulations and the realities of horse keeping in Colorado.
Browse active Colorado horse properties that are pre screened for equestrian use before you fall in love with the photos.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) About Horse Limits
Do foals count toward my limit?
In many counties, nursing foals under a certain age, often six months or one year, do not count toward your Animal Unit limit. Once they are weaned or reach the age defined in the code, they count as a full animal, so plan ahead if you are breeding.
Can I get a variance to have more horses?
You can apply for a variance, but you should not bank on getting one. The process usually requires public hearings, neighbor notification, and county approval. It can be time consuming and expensive, and it is rarely granted simply because you want one more horse.
Does a barn count as acreage for density calculations?
In most cases, no. Zoning density is based on the gross acreage of the lot. However, some counties require that a certain amount of open land be available for the animals, excluding the footprint of the house, barn, and driveway. Your planning department can explain how they handle this for your parcel.