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Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) Permit in Golden, Colorado

Required for construction of an ADU (a separate living space with kitchen, full bathroom, and bedroom) in conjunction with a single-household detached dwelling in Golden. Governed by Golden Municipal Code Section 18.28.240 and Section 18.29; the underlying building permit follows the standard City of Golden Building Permit Process.

Verified 2026-07-05 · Source

When you need this permit

  • ADUs allowed in conjunction with all single-household detached dwellings in residential zone districts R-E, R-1, R-1A, R-2, and R-3 — verify eligibility via the Residential Form Zone Map
  • Property owner must occupy either the principal dwelling or the ADU as their primary residence; proof of primary residence required
  • One (1) off-street parking space must be provided for the ADU
  • No more than three (3) people may occupy an ADU
  • Accessory structure lot coverage may not exceed 10% of total lot area
  • New detached ADU construction requires fire sprinklers in the new space
  • Utilities must connect back to the main house, except when converting an existing basement into the ADU
  • ADU Deed Restriction form required for a separate dwelling unit; a Declaration of Use form applies instead if adding only a kitchen without creating a fully separate dwelling (no new bedroom/bathroom)
  • Governed by Golden Municipal Code Section 18.28.240 and Section 18.29

Required documents

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Fee schedule

Building Permit Fee (same valuation-based Fee Table as new construction)No ADU-specific fee variance is published; standard Building Permit Fee Table and 3% use tax apply
$25.85 minimum, scaling per the valuation tiers in the Building Permit Fee Table

Review timeline

Plan review
Not published — contact the department

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

Anonymous — one question, no email. Answers are combined and only shown once at least 5 people have reported.

Inspection process

  1. 1

    Foundation

    Before concrete pour, 36-inch minimum frost depth

  2. 2

    Rough Frame

    Framing complete, fire sprinkler rough-in verified for new detached ADUs

  3. 3

    Rough Plumbing / Electrical / Heating

    Trade rough-ins before concealment

  4. 4

    Final Inspection

    All work complete, occupancy limit and utility-connection compliance confirmed

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

Tips

  • Confirm your zone district (R-E, R-1, R-1A, R-2, or R-3) on the Residential Form Zone Map before assuming ADU eligibility — not all residential zones in Golden qualify.
  • New detached ADUs require fire sprinklers — factor this into project cost even if the main house predates sprinkler requirements.
  • Basement-conversion ADUs get a specific utility exception (they don't have to run separate utility connections back to the main house) that other ADU types don't get.
  • Decide early whether you're creating a fully separate dwelling unit (needs the Deed Restriction form) or just adding a kitchen without a separate unit (Declaration of Use form) — the paperwork path differs.

Frequently asked questions

Golden requires an accessory dwelling unit (adu) permit for: ADUs allowed in conjunction with all single-household detached dwellings in residential zone districts R-E, R-1, R-1A, R-2, and R-3 — verify eligibility via the Residential Form Zone Map; Property owner must occupy either the principal dwelling or the ADU as their primary residence; proof of primary residence required; One (1) off-street parking space must be provided for the ADU; No more than three (3) people may occupy an ADU; Accessory structure lot coverage may not exceed 10% of total lot area; New detached ADU construction requires fire sprinklers in the new space; Utilities must connect back to the main house, except when converting an existing basement into the ADU; ADU Deed Restriction form required for a separate dwelling unit; a Declaration of Use form applies instead if adding only a kitchen without creating a fully separate dwelling (no new bedroom/bathroom); Governed by Golden Municipal Code Section 18.28.240 and Section 18.29. If your project isn't listed, confirm with City of Golden Building Department at (303) 384-8151 before starting work.

In Golden, the published Building Permit Fee (same valuation-based Fee Table as new construction) is: $25.85 minimum, scaling per the valuation tiers in the Building Permit Fee Table. These are the jurisdiction's own published figures — see the fee schedule table and source citations on this page.

Golden does not publish a plan-review timeline for this permit. Contact City of Golden Building Department at (303) 384-8151 for current turnaround.

You'll need: ADU Deed Restriction form; Building Permit Application (Online Permitting Portal). Depending on your project, Golden may also ask for: Declaration of Use form. See the required-documents checklist on this page for details on each.

Golden requires 4 inspection(s) for an accessory dwelling unit (adu) permit, in order: Foundation, Rough Frame, Rough Plumbing / Electrical / Heating, Final Inspection. Schedule each through City of Golden Building Department ((303) 384-8151).

Apply through City of Golden Building Department at 911 10th Street, Golden, CO 80401 (Building Department); Planning Department at 1445 10th Street, Golden, CO 80401. Phone: (303) 384-8151, email: building@cityofgolden.net. Office hours: Monday-Friday, general City Hall hours (main line (303) 384-8000); Building Department direct line (303) 384-8151. Official information: https://www.cityofgolden.gov/business/building_construction/building_permit.php.

ADUs are allowed in conjunction with single-household detached dwellings in residential zone districts R-E, R-1, R-1A, R-2, and R-3. Verify your specific property against the Residential Form Zone Map.

No more than three (3) people may occupy an accessory dwelling unit, per the City of Golden's ADU rules.

Sources & verification

Verified against official sources. Last reviewed 2026-07-05.

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 Golden building department before you submit. PermitBase is an independent reference and is not affiliated with any government agency.

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Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) Permit in other cities

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