Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) Permit in Lakewood, Colorado
Required for construction of a new attached or detached accessory dwelling unit (ADU) on a single-family residential lot in Lakewood. Governed by Section 17.4.3.1.A of the Lakewood Zoning Ordinance plus the standard building permit process (applied for as 'Building Residential New — New Accessory Dwelling Unit' in eTRAKiT). No variance or waiver may be requested to allow an ADU.
Verified 2026-07-01 · Source
When you need this permit
- ADUs allowed in most residential zone districts — check the use table in Article 4.1 of the Lakewood Zoning Ordinance for the specific zone
- Minimum lot size: 9,000 square feet, regardless of zone district
- ADU must comply with all primary-structure dimensional standards for the applicable zone district and may not be located in front of the primary dwelling unit
- Maximum height: 30 feet for a detached ADU
- ADU cannot exceed 700 square feet of gross floor area or contain more than one bedroom; only one ADU permitted per lot
- Owner-occupancy required: the property owner must live in either the primary or accessory dwelling unit, evidenced by a recorded Owner Occupancy Certificate with Jefferson County (submitted just prior to building permit issuance)
- Exterior of the ADU must be similar in appearance to the primary dwelling (materials, color, roof pitch, detailing)
- 1–2 off-street parking spaces required for the ADU, in addition to parking for the primary residence; must be labeled on the site plan
- Process: (1) check with Water/Sewer District for ADU requirements, (2) check with Building Department for code regulations, (3) submit ADU Supplemental Zoning Review Form, (4) prepare construction drawings and submit for building permit, (5) submit recorded Owner Occupancy Certificate before permit approval
Required documents
- Req
ADU Supplemental Zoning Review Form
Required zoning review submittal per the Lakewood Planning Department ADU process, prior to building permit application
- Req
Building Permit Application (via eTRAKiT)
Select Permit Type 'Building Residential New', subtype 'New Accessory Dwelling Unit'
- Req
Owner Occupancy Certificate
Must be recorded with Jefferson County; a recorded copy submitted just prior to building permit issuance; covenant runs with the property
- Req
Site Plan
Shows ADU location (not in front of primary dwelling), setbacks, and labeled off-street parking spaces (1-2 required)
- Req
Construction Drawings
Full plan set demonstrating exterior compatibility with the primary dwelling (materials, color, roof pitch, detailing)
Fee schedule
| Fee type | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Building Permit Fee — valuation-based (same table as new construction) | Varies by valuation — see Residential Building Permit fee tiers ($26.00 minimum up to $5,570.15 + $3.45/$1,000 over $1,000,000) | VERIFIED — ADUs are applied for as 'Building Residential New — New Accessory Dwelling Unit' in eTRAKiT (per the eTRAKiT Permit Types info sheet) and are therefore billed as new residential construction on the City of Lakewood Building Permit & Inspection Fee Schedule's valuation-based table — no ADU-specific fee variance or carve-out exists in the published fee schedule (re-confirmed by re-fetching and full-text-reading the 2-page fee schedule PDF via Playwright browser-fetch past the Akamai/edgesuite WAF). Plan review (65% of permit fee) and estimated use tax (3% of 50% of valuation) apply identically to ADUs as to any other new residential construction. |
| Plan Review Fee | 65% of the building permit fee | — |
| Estimated Use Tax | 3% of 50% of the project valuation | — |
Review timeline
~0–0 business days
Typical estimate — confirm current times with the Lakewood building department
Inspection process
- 1
Foundation
Footings and foundation before concrete pour — 36-inch frost depth minimum
- 2
Framing
Structural framing before insulation/wall cover
- 3
MEP Rough-In
Mechanical, electrical, plumbing rough-ins before walls closed
- 4
Final
All work complete; Certificate of Occupancy issued once required inspections pass
Tips
- The ADU Zoning Summary handout is dated (revised 06/20/2017) but remains the current document hosted on lakewoodco.gov — confirm no subsequent zoning text amendments with the Planning Department (303-987-7505) before relying on the 9,000 sq ft lot minimum and 700 sq ft/one-bedroom cap, since Colorado has passed statewide housing/ADU-related legislation in recent years that may interact with local ordinances.
- Owner-occupancy is mandatory and enforced by a recorded covenant with Jefferson County — plan to record the Owner Occupancy Certificate before your building permit can be approved.
- No variance or waiver may be requested for an ADU under the Lakewood Zoning Ordinance — the dimensional and site standards are hard requirements, unlike some other permit types.
- This is distinct from unincorporated Jefferson County's ADU rules — confirm you're in Lakewood city limits (not county land) before applying under this ordinance.
- FLUX WATCH: Colorado HB24-1152 (statewide ADU legalization/standards, effective for many jurisdictions by mid-2025-2026) and related HB24-1304 transit-corridor housing law may require Lakewood to revisit local ADU dimensional caps (e.g. the 700 sq ft/one-bedroom limit and 9,000 sq ft lot minimum) for state-law compliance. The fee mechanics here (valuation-based building permit fee + 65% plan review + 3%-of-50%-valuation use tax) are unaffected by this flux and remain grounded/published regardless of how the zoning standards resolve — but re-check the zoning figures with Lakewood Planning (303-987-7505) given the statewide ADU legislative activity.
Frequently asked questions
- How big can an ADU be in Lakewood?
- Per the Lakewood Zoning Ordinance Section 17.4.3.1.A, an ADU cannot exceed 700 square feet of gross floor area or contain more than one bedroom, and only one ADU is permitted per lot. Minimum lot size is 9,000 square feet regardless of zone district, and detached ADUs are capped at 30 feet in height.
- Does the owner have to live on the property for an ADU in Lakewood?
- Yes. The property owner must occupy either the primary dwelling or the ADU, and must record an Owner Occupancy Certificate with Jefferson County as a covenant running with the property, submitted just prior to building permit issuance.
Sources & verification
Verified against official sources. Last reviewed 2026-07-01.
- City of Lakewood — Public Works Department, Permit Counter (Building Division) — official building department
- City of Lakewood — Zoning Summary for Accessory Dwelling Units in Residential Zone Districts (rev. 06/20/2017, currently hosted)
- City of Lakewood eTRAKiT Permit Types info sheet (rev. 2022-01-06) — New Accessory Dwelling Unit subtype
- City of Lakewood Building Permit & Inspection Fee Schedule (effective Jan 1, 2021, current published version)
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 Lakewood building department before you submit. PermitBase is an independent reference and is not affiliated with any government agency.
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