Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) Permit in Colorado Springs, Colorado
Required for construction of an attached, integrated, or detached ADU on a property with a single-family detached dwelling in Colorado Springs. Governed by City of Colorado Springs Ordinance No. 25-45 (approved April 8, 2025), which repealed prior ADU/Accessory Family Suite rules. Zoning/land-use standards are set by the City; the building permit itself is issued by PPRBD.
Verified 2026-06-30 · Source
When you need this permit
- One ADU per lot developed with a single-family residence; detached, integrated, and attached ADUs permitted in all zone districts EXCEPT the Wildland Urban Interface Overlay (WUI-O) district, where only integrated ADUs are allowed (detached/attached are prohibited)
- Size: limited to 50% of the primary structure's floor area or 1,250 sq ft, whichever is less; if the primary structure is under 1,500 sq ft, the ADU may be up to 750 sq ft
- Height: detached ADUs (or other accessory structures containing an ADU) may not exceed 16 feet; garages converted to a detached ADU may not exceed 25 feet; attached/integrated ADUs must match the principal building's maximum height
- Setbacks: front and side setbacks match the principal building; minimum 5-foot rear setback for detached ADUs; ADUs prohibited in front yards (permitted in corner, side, and rear yards)
- Parking: one off-street parking space required for the ADU, in addition to parking required for other uses on the site
- Access: for integrated/attached ADUs, exterior access may not be from the front; a 36-inch-wide access path from the front property line is required where possible
- Architectural compatibility with the principal residential structure required (design, color, materials)
- ADUs may NOT be subdivided or sold separately from the principal residential structure, and may NOT be used as a short-term rental
- City requires, in addition to standard PPRBD submittal: ADU Application Instruction, Owner Residency Determination Affidavit, Subdivision and Separate Sale Covenant, and a Colorado Springs Utilities (CSU) Ability to Service Determination (obtained during the PPRBD building permit review process); a Report of Acceptability is required only if the property is in a Historic Preservation Overlay district
- Public notice is required prior to building permit issuance — City Planning staff issues a notice poster that must be displayed along the property's street frontage for 14 days
- Tiny homes, prefabricated, or manufactured homes MAY be used as a detached ADU (contact PPRBD for applicable code requirements) but must be placed on a permanent foundation to connect to City utilities; mobile homes and RVs may NOT be used as an ADU
Required documents
- Req
Building Permit Application (PPRBD web account)
ADU building permit administered by PPRBD, following the same valuation-based process as new residential construction
- Req
Owner Residency Determination Affidavit and Subdivision and Separate Sale Covenant
City of Colorado Springs supplemental ADU documentation required in addition to PPRBD submittal requirements
- Req
Colorado Springs Utilities (CSU) Ability to Service Determination
Provided by CSU through the building permit review process
- Opt
Report of Acceptability
Required only for properties located in a Historic Preservation Overlay district
Fee schedule
| Fee type | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Building Permit Fee — valuation-based (Table A, same tiers as new construction) | Varies by valuation — see Residential Building Permit fee tiers | PPRBD Fee Schedule; no ADU-specific fee variance published |
| DRE (Development Review Enterprise) Plan Review Fee | Assessed based on the type of permit sought from PPRBD | Per City of Colorado Springs ADU FAQ — collected at time of PPRBD Building Permit issuance |
| Development Impact Fees (Park Land Dedication, School Land Dedication, Citywide Development Impact Fee) | Varies — see City of Colorado Springs Current Fee Schedules page | City of Colorado Springs ADU FAQ confirms ADUs are subject to these fees; no separate land-use application fee applies to ADUs |
Review timeline
~0–0 business days
Typical estimate — confirm current times with the Colorado Springs building department
Inspection process
- 1
Foundation
Footings and foundation before concrete pour — 30-inch minimum frost depth
- 2
Framing
Structural framing, egress windows, fire separation (if attached)
- 3
MEP Rough-In
Mechanical, electrical, plumbing rough-ins before walls closed
- 4
Final
All work complete, ready for Certificate of Occupancy
Tips
- Colorado Springs' current ADU ordinance (25-45, effective April 8, 2025) is a full rewrite that allows ADUs on ANY property with a single-family detached dwelling, in all zone districts except detached/attached ADUs in the Wildland Urban Interface Overlay.
- The 1,250 sq ft cap (50% of primary structure, whichever is less) is generous compared to many jurisdictions, and small-primary-structure lots get a 750 sq ft floor even if 50% would be smaller.
- ADUs cannot be used as short-term rentals in Colorado Springs — this is an explicit, absolute prohibition, not a licensing restriction.
- Public notice must be posted for 14 days before permit issuance — build this into your project timeline.
- Request a Pre-Application Meeting with City Planning before applying to confirm your specific property's ADU type and constraints.
Frequently asked questions
- How big can an ADU be in Colorado Springs?
- An ADU is limited to 50% of the primary structure's floor area or 1,250 sq ft, whichever is less. If the primary structure is under 1,500 sq ft, the ADU may be up to 750 sq ft. ADU floor area does not count against the lot's maximum total gross floor area of accessory structures.
- Can I rent my Colorado Springs ADU on Airbnb?
- No. Colorado Springs Ordinance 25-45 explicitly prohibits using an ADU as a Short Term Rental (STR) — a structure cannot be dually used as both an ADU and an STR.
- Who issues the ADU building permit — the City or PPRBD?
- The City of Colorado Springs sets ADU zoning/land-use standards (Ordinance 25-45), but the building permit itself is issued and administered by the Pikes Peak Regional Building Department (PPRBD), with additional City-required documentation (owner residency affidavit, utility service determination, public notice) folded into that PPRBD permit process.
Sources & verification
Verified against official sources. Last reviewed 2026-06-30.
- Pikes Peak Regional Building Department — official building department
- City of Colorado Springs — Accessory Dwelling Units (Ordinance 25-45)
- PPRBD Homeowner Permits
- PPRBD Fee Schedule (Appendix B)
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 Colorado Springs building department before you submit. PermitBase is an independent reference and is not affiliated with any government agency.
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