Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) Permit in Grand Junction, Colorado
VerifiedAccessory Dwelling Units in Grand Junction require a City of Grand Junction Planning Clearance (zoning review) in addition to the Mesa County building permit. The City's ADU Production Program (Ordinance No. 5136, adopted March 2023) also offers optional financial incentives for ADUs kept as long-term rentals.
Verified 2026-07-03 · Source
When you need this permit
- ADU must be subordinate in design to the principal structure (smaller than the primary dwelling)
- ADU must use the side setbacks of the principal structure; on corner lots, an ADU may use the principal structure's setbacks where the property abuts a roadway
- ADU must meet all requirements of building and fire codes (2024 IRC/IBC as adopted by Mesa County)
- ADU habitable space must not exceed 900 square feet
- ADU must not be located in front of the principal structure
- A City of Grand Junction Planning Clearance Application is required (fee adjusted annually) before the Mesa County building permit can be issued
- A site sketch drawn to scale and with dimensions is required, showing property lines, setbacks, easements, utility connections (water/sewer/electric/gas — including how utilities connect to both the principal structure and the ADU), drainage patterns, and an acceptance block signed by the City Development Engineer and City Planner
- Floor plan(s) and building elevations showing all four sides (north, south, east, west) are required
- Storm water runoff cannot flow onto neighboring property; all drainage must be directed to adjacent public rights-of-way or established drainage areas, and must be shown on the site sketch
- Sediment cannot be released from the ADU construction site and mud must be kept off streets, per City ordinance
- A Floodplain Elevation Certificate (FEC) is required if the site is located within a floodplain — contact City of Grand Junction Community Development for floodplain determination
Required documents
- Required
City of Grand Junction Planning Clearance Application
Required before Mesa County will issue the ADU building permit; fee adjusted annually; can be submitted at the Community Development counter (250 N. 5th St., Grand Junction), online, or via QR code
- Required
ADU Site Sketch
Scaled, dimensioned drawing showing property lines, setbacks, easements, utilities, drainage patterns, and the City's Acceptance Block
- Required
Floor Plan(s) and Building Elevations
All four building elevations (N/S/E/W) required as part of the ADU submittal
- Required
Mesa County Application for Permit to Build
Building permit application submitted to Mesa County Building Department after City Planning Clearance is obtained
- Optional
ADU Production Program (APP) Application
Optional application for City incentives (impact/water/sewer fee coverage, and up to $15,000 direct incentive under Tier 2); requires an existing Planning Clearance number before submittal
Fee schedule
| Fee type | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| City Planning Clearance Application Fee | Adjusted annually (specific current dollar amount not published on the ADU Worksheets document; confirm with City of Grand Junction Community Development) | City of Grand Junction ADU Worksheets (General ADU Requirements), Submittal Materials section |
| Mesa County Building Permit Fee — R-3 valuation-based | $50.00 minimum (up to $1,200 valuation), scaling per Table 2 Permit Fee Schedule using Table 3A R-3 square-foot construction costs | Mesa County Building Department Fee Schedule, Tables 2 and 3A |
| ADU Production Program (APP) Tier 1 Incentive | City impact fees and City water/sewer fees paid by the City (open to all ADU developers who commit to 5 years of long-term rental use) | City of Grand Junction Ordinance No. 5136 (ADU Production Program) |
| ADU Production Program (APP) Tier 2 Incentive | City impact/water/sewer fees paid by the City, plus a direct financial incentive, up to $15,000 total combined (for owner-occupants with household income below 140% AMI who commit to 7 years of long-term rental use and owner residency) | City of Grand Junction Ordinance No. 5136 (ADU Production Program) |
Review timeline
14–21 business days
Grand Junction’s published plan-review target
Inspection process
- 1
Foundation
Per Mesa County Residential Inspection Request Guidelines: 100-Footer or 104-Slab, 120-Setbacks, 475-UFER
- 2
Rough-In
Framing (105/106), electrical (462), plumbing (222), mechanical duct (348) as applicable, before insulation/cover
- 3
Final
116-Building, 232-Plumbing, 356-Mechanical, 476-Electrical final inspections; zoning sign-off required before Certificate of Occupancy
Tips
- Get the City Planning Clearance number FIRST — it is a prerequisite both for the Mesa County building permit and for applying to the ADU Production Program (APP) incentives.
- The APP incentive tiers require a long-term-rental commitment (5 years for Tier 1, 7 years plus owner residency for Tier 2) with annual or per-tenant Occupancy Certification Form filings — factor this into financing decisions before applying.
- 900 sq ft is a habitable-space cap, not a total-footprint cap — confirm how garage/storage space factors in with City Planning.
- AN ADU cannot be located in front of the principal structure, and must be visually/scale-subordinate to it — this affects site layout on narrow lots.
Frequently asked questions
- What is the maximum size for an ADU in Grand Junction?
- 900 square feet of habitable space, per the City of Grand Junction's General ADU Requirements checklist (part of the ADU Production Program, Ordinance No. 5136).
- Does Grand Junction offer financial incentives for building an ADU?
- Yes. The ADU Production Program (APP) offers Tier 1 (City-paid impact and water/sewer fees for any ADU developer committing to 5 years of long-term rental use) and Tier 2 (same fee coverage plus up to $15,000 total direct incentive, for owner-occupants under 140% AMI who commit to 7 years of long-term rental use and residency). Incentives are distributed first-come, first-served and require an existing Planning Clearance number to apply.
Sources & verification
Verified against official sources. Last reviewed 2026-07-03.
- Mesa County Building Department (Community Development Department) — official building department
- Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) Resources | City of Grand Junction
- ADU Worksheets / General ADU Requirements (PDF) | City of Grand Junction
- ADU Toolkit 2025 — step-by-step guide, Step 4 states 'allow app. 2-3 weeks for review' (PDF) | City of Grand Junction
- City of Grand Junction, CO — Accessory Dwelling Unit Production Program, GJMC § 43.01.050(e) (45-day APP action clock)
- ADU Cost Estimator (Excel) | City of Grand Junction
- Mesa County Building Department Fee Schedule (PDF)
- Residential Inspection Request Guidelines (PDF) | Mesa County
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 Grand Junction building department before you submit. PermitBase is an independent reference and is not affiliated with any government agency.
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