Monument / Tri-Lakes acreage community guide
Canterbury Estates
Canterbury Estates is an established equestrian community about five miles east of Monument, known for approximately five-acre homesites, rural-residential zoning, horses, mature trees and a long-running volunteer homeowners association.
Community overview
Canterbury Estates at a glance
The Canterbury Improvement Association dates to 1969. The neighborhood was created as a low-density residential and equestrian community, and the HOA describes the properties as approximately five acres each. Home construction reaches back to the 1970s, with homes added and improved across later decades.
Canterbury is outside the Town of Monument municipal boundary in unincorporated El Paso County, but carries Monument 80132 addresses and is part of the broader Tri-Lakes housing market.
Equestrian character
Canterbury is explicitly organized as an equestrian community. The covenants allow horses subject to acreage, setback, sanitation and architectural requirements. On a typical five-acre tract, barns, corrals, fencing and other horse improvements can materially affect both usability and value.
Roads
The HOA states that El Paso County administers the public right-of-way and maintains Canterbury roads. Many roads remain unpaved, a feature some residents prefer for horseback riding.
Covenants and HOA
What the Canterbury covenants control
Architectural approval
The Architectural Control Committee reviews most visible exterior changes, including additions, barns, guest houses, workshops, fencing, roofing, exterior colors, decks, solar equipment and major landscaping.
Residential use
The association is focused on preserving a residential equestrian environment. Home-based business activity is restricted when it creates visible, audible, traffic or safety impacts inconsistent with the residential character.
Animals and structures
The recorded covenants address horses, chickens, stables, corrals and related setbacks. Horse facilities and other auxiliary structures require compliance with both covenant and county requirements.
Acreage and zoning
RR-5 is built around five-acre rural residential lots
El Paso County describes RR-5 as a five-acre district intended for low-density rural single-family residential development. The county’s dimensional table lists a five-acre minimum lot size for new RR-5 lots, subject to exceptions and parcel-specific history.
Canterbury’s existing homesites generally track that five-acre pattern, but legal lot size, setbacks, easements and nonconforming conditions should always be checked on the individual parcel.
What to inspect on acreage property
Well yield and permit, septic condition, drainage, driveway and road exposure, fencing, pasture quality, trees, outbuildings, fire mitigation, easements and any prior ACC approvals are all relevant to value and ownership cost.
Buying in Canterbury Estates
Compare land and systems, not just square footage
Two Canterbury homes can differ materially even when the houses are similar. Usable pasture, horse infrastructure, well and septic condition, views, privacy, tree cover, outbuildings and renovation level can have substantial value.
For buyers planning horses or additional structures, verify the intended use with the HOA and El Paso County before closing rather than assuming that acreage alone guarantees approval.
Selling in Canterbury Estates
Acreage features need to be documented
Recent Canterbury sales are the strongest starting point, but limited turnover may require carefully selected comparisons from nearby five-acre communities. Document high-cost improvements such as wells, septic work, barns, fencing, roofs, mitigation and major exterior upgrades.
Current real estate
Find homes in Canterbury Estates
Use the live Monument search for current 80132 inventory, then search or filter by Canterbury Estates / Canterbury East and verify the exact subdivision and legal description on any property of interest.
Before writing an offer
Request the current HOA status letter, governing documents, architectural history where available, county tax record, well and septic documentation, and any applicable surveys or improvement-location certificates.
Community resources
Verify current Canterbury information
Community information reviewed October 9, 2026. HOA dues, covenants, zoning, school assignments, utilities and property characteristics can change or vary by parcel; verify the exact address before purchase.