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Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) Permit in Westcliffe, Colorado

Required for construction or conversion of an Accessory Dwelling Unit in Westcliffe. ADUs were established as a permitted use by right (within certain parameters) by Ordinance No. 4-2024 (adopted October 15, 2024), which added Title 10, Chapter 1, Section 17 to the Municipal Code. An ADU may be new construction or a conversion of an existing accessory structure (e.g. shed, garage).

Reviewed 2026-07-06 · Source

When you need this permit

  • Permitted as a use by right within certain parameters per Ordinance No. 4-2024 (Title 10, Chapter 1, Section 17) — confirm specific dimensional/parameter limits (size caps, setbacks, owner-occupancy requirements, etc.) directly with the Building and Zoning office, as the full ordinance text could not be independently retrieved in machine-readable form during this review
  • May be new construction or conversion of an existing accessory structure (shed, garage) per the Town Manager/Building & Zoning Officer's own public description of the program
  • Underlying construction must still comply with the 2006 IRC/IBC as locally adopted, including the Town's Climatic and Geographic Design Criteria
  • A Board of Trustees resolution delaying ADU permit and other fees applies ONLY to town-owned lots, not privately-owned lots generally — do not assume a blanket fee deferral

Required documents

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Fee schedule

Building Permit Fee (same valuation-based schedule as new construction)No ADU-specific fee waiver applies to privately-owned lots; a fee-delay resolution passed by the Board of Trustees applies only to town-owned lots per the Town Manager's own public statement
$100.00 minimum, scaling per the valuation tiers in the Town's standalone Fee Schedule

Review timeline

Plan review
Not published — contact the department

How long did your Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) Permit permit actually take in Westcliffe?

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Inspection process

  1. 1

    Foundation (new-construction ADU only)

    Before concrete pour, if new construction rather than a conversion

  2. 2

    Framing

    Structural framing complete before cover

  3. 3

    Final Inspection

    All work complete per approved plans and applicable codes

See the full Westcliffe inspection guide — scheduling & re-inspection fees →

Tips

  • Confirm the specific ADU parameters (size limits, setbacks, parking, owner-occupancy conditions, etc.) directly with the Building and Zoning office at 719-783-2282 ext. 12 — the full text of Ordinance No. 4-2024 was not available in machine-readable form during this research pass, so treat the 'use by right within certain parameters' framing as directional, not a complete parameter list.
  • A shed or existing garage may be converted into an ADU rather than requiring ground-up new construction, per the Town Manager's own public description of the program.
  • Do not assume a blanket ADU permit-fee deferral — the Board of Trustees' fee-delay resolution applies only to town-owned lots, not privately-owned parcels generally.

Frequently asked questions

Westcliffe requires an accessory dwelling unit (adu) permit for: Permitted as a use by right within certain parameters per Ordinance No. 4-2024 (Title 10, Chapter 1, Section 17) — confirm specific dimensional/parameter limits (size caps, setbacks, owner-occupancy requirements, etc.) directly with the Building and Zoning office, as the full ordinance text could not be independently retrieved in machine-readable form during this review; May be new construction or conversion of an existing accessory structure (shed, garage) per the Town Manager/Building & Zoning Officer's own public description of the program; Underlying construction must still comply with the 2006 IRC/IBC as locally adopted, including the Town's Climatic and Geographic Design Criteria; A Board of Trustees resolution delaying ADU permit and other fees applies ONLY to town-owned lots, not privately-owned lots generally — do not assume a blanket fee deferral. If your project isn't listed, confirm with Town of Westcliffe Building and Zoning Department (Building and Zoning Official / Town Manager) at 719-783-2282, ext. 12 (Building Department); ext. 10 or 11 (other permit/application forms) before starting work.

In Westcliffe, the published Building Permit Fee (same valuation-based schedule as new construction) is: $100.00 minimum, scaling per the valuation tiers in the Town's standalone Fee Schedule. These are the jurisdiction's own published figures — see the fee schedule table and source citations on this page.

Westcliffe does not publish a plan-review timeline for this permit. Contact Town of Westcliffe Building and Zoning Department (Building and Zoning Official / Town Manager) at 719-783-2282, ext. 12 (Building Department); ext. 10 or 11 (other permit/application forms) for current turnaround.

You'll need: Building Permit Application — ADU scope. See the required-documents checklist on this page for details on each.

Westcliffe requires 3 inspection(s) for an accessory dwelling unit (adu) permit, in order: Foundation (new-construction ADU only), Framing, Final Inspection. Schedule each through Town of Westcliffe Building and Zoning Department (Building and Zoning Official / Town Manager) (719-783-2282, ext. 12 (Building Department); ext. 10 or 11 (other permit/application forms)).

Apply through Town of Westcliffe Building and Zoning Department (Building and Zoning Official / Town Manager) at 1000 Main Street, P.O. Box 406, Westcliffe, CO 81252. Phone: 719-783-2282, ext. 12 (Building Department); ext. 10 or 11 (other permit/application forms), email: deputyclerk@townofwestcliffe.com. Office hours: Building and Zoning office hours: Monday through Thursday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (Town Hall general hours: Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.).. Official information: https://townofwestcliffe.colorado.gov/departments/building-department.

Yes, within certain parameters, per Ordinance No. 4-2024 (adopted October 15, 2024), which added Title 10, Chapter 1, Section 17 (Accessory Dwelling Units) to the Municipal Code. Confirm specific dimensional and use parameters directly with the Building and Zoning office, as this file could not independently retrieve the full ordinance text.

Only for town-owned lots. The Town Manager/Building & Zoning Officer stated in a November 2024 interview that a Board of Trustees resolution delaying ADU permit and other fees was passed, but it applies only to town-owned lots, not private-lot ADUs generally.

Sources & verification

Key facts verified against official sources. Last reviewed 2026-07-06.

Fees, timelines, and adopted codes are researched from each jurisdiction's published records — see how we verify. Requirements change and vary by project, so always confirm the current details with the Westcliffe building department before you submit. PermitBase is an independent reference and is not affiliated with any government agency.

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