Design Standards Update
The Design Standards (City Standards) were first published in 1993 to provide consistent guidance for the minimum design criteria and technical specifications for the construction of public infrastructure. The last revision was adopted by City Council in July of 2007. Regular updates to the City Standards are required to reflect changes to industry standards and improvements in construction technologies. In 2019 staff presented an update to the City Standards. This included a final draft of Sections 100 through 700 which represented a robust effort by the relevant city departments to restructure and bring up to date the City Standards. The final drafts included review and input from design consultants, the public, the development community and City advisory boards. At that time, staff was directed to consider affordable and attainable design standards as part of the City Standards update. In 2024 staff presented the new Section 800 Urban Design Standards which was approved in January 2025.
The current standards include criteria for streets; storm drainage systems; water distribution; wastewater collection (sanitary sewer); landscaping and irrigation requirements for public right-of-way, greenways, and public improvements; power (electric) and communications infrastructure; and urban design standards. These standards are technical in nature and apply to the way in which the improvements are to be constructed and are complimentary to the Land Development Code which includes zoning regulations and guides the overall land use and site planning for development.
 
Please check this webpage periodically for the release of current drafts for each section of the City Standards. Final drafts for each section will be posted for public engagement as they are ready. Staff will seek input from the public, the development community, and relevant advisory boards. Staff will bring individual sections to City Council, rather than bring all sections together at once, for final consideration and approval. Staff plans to group individual sections together for council consideration based on the tentative schedule outlined below. Â
Public Engagement
For questions or to provide comment on the draft design standards, please contact Public Works at 303-651-8330 or by email at PWEng@longmontcolorado.gov. Please use ‘Draft City Standards’ in the subject line of all correspondence.Â
Public Meeting Information –Â
Date: Thursday, October 2, 2025
Time: 5:00 PM
Location: Twin Sisters Conference Room – Development Services Center, 385 Kimbark Street, Longmont, CO 80501
Virtual Meeting Option
Join Via Microsoft Teams:Â Meeting ID:Â 267 607 224 215 5; Passcode:Â t2Er3Wx9
Join Via Phone: Number: +1 970-822-8681; Passcode: 423 088 354#
Section 100 – General Requirements
Draft Final Design Standards, Section 100
Please provide feedback by October 7, 2025.
Section 100 provides the general requirements that govern all the other sections and, therefore, must be updated first. Staff intends to bring this section to City Council for consideration and approval in October 2025.
Section 200 – Transportation (Formerly Streets)
Draft Final Design Standards, Section 200 – Q2 2026
Draft Section 200 Details – Q2 2026
Staff intends to bring this section forward as the final section for City Council consideration and approval. Staff intends to schedule the final readings for these sections in Q2 2026 pending final drafts and public input.
The current revisions proposed to Section 200 focus mainly on bringing the standards into compliance with current industry standards including Vision Zero and construction best practices. Vision Zero will continue to look at design standard updates and is actively participating in current discussions to update the design criteria and standards. As such, city staff have determined that, if needed, a separate update to Section 200 will occur as a result of the Transportation Safety/Vision Zero Action Plan. To become involved in or follow Vision Zero please use this link:Â www.longmontcolorado.gov/visionzero.
Section 300 – Storm Drainage and Private Underdrains
Draft Final Design Standards, Section 300 – Q1 2026
Draft Section 300 Details – Q1 2026
Staff intends to bring this section forward for City Council consideration and approval in conjunction with the Longmont Storm Drainage Criteria Manual (LSDCM) update. The LSDCM is the policy section of the storm drainage design standards and Section 300 is the technical specifications for construction of the storm drainage system. Staff intends to bring the LSDCM and Section 300 to City Council in Q1 2026 pending final drafts and public input.
Section 400 – Wastewater CollectionÂ
Draft Final Design Standards, Section 400 – Q1 2026
Draft Section 400 Details – Q1 2026
Staff intends to bring this section forward, along with Sections 500 and 600, for City Council consideration and approval following the Section 100 and 700 approvals. Staff intends to schedule the final readings for these sections in Q1 2026 pending final drafts and public input.
Section 500 – Water DistributionÂ
Draft Final Design Standards, Section 500 – Q1 2026
Draft Section 500 Details – Q1 2026
Staff intends to bring this section forward, along with Sections 400 and 600, for City Council consideration and approval following the Section 100 and 700 approvals. Staff intends to schedule the final readings for these sections in Q1 2026 pending final drafts and public input.
