Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) Permit in Center, Colorado

Center requires an accessory dwelling unit (adu) permit for: One ADU permitted per lot or principal structure; must remain under common ownership with the principal unit; Detached ADU: maximum 750 sq. ft. floor area; Internal/attached ADU: maximum 30% of principal structure floor area, unless located in a basement/garden level (no percentage cap in that case); Must comply with all setbacks and dimensional standards of the zoning district (Municipal Code Section 44-38); Detached ADUs require independent utility services; all ADUs must have a Town-compliant water/wastewater service method; Must comply with IRC, IECC, and all applicable building and fire codes (i.e., the Town's adopted 2018-cycle codes); Adequate emergency access must be provided; If rented, minimum 90-day rental period required (Municipal Code Section 44-74); short-term rental disclosure required at application; Commercial-district ADUs additionally require: the ADU be clearly subordinate/incidental to the principal commercial use, not establish residential density rights, and remain contingent on continuous operation of the principal commercial use (approval subject to termination if the commercial use ceases for 12+ months); A separate Town of Center building permit (standard Building Permit Application) is still required to construct the ADU after zoning approval — ADU approval only authorizes applying for a building permit. If your project isn't listed, confirm with Town of Center Public Works Department at (719) 754-3497 before starting work.

Center's published plan-review target for an accessory dwelling unit (adu) permit is Up to 10 business days.

You'll need: ADU Application (fillable form); Site plan; Floor plans and elevations; Proof of property ownership or owner authorization; Utility plan. Depending on your project, Center may also ask for: Commercial ADU Addendum (Sections H-K of the same form). See the required-documents checklist on this page for details on each.

Apply through Town of Center Public Works Department at 294 S. Worth Street, Center, CO 81125. Phone: (719) 754-3497, email: cwebb@centerco.gov. Office hours: Monday-Thursday 7:00 AM - 5:00 PM; Friday 8:00 AM - 1:00 PM; Saturday-Sunday Closed. Fax (719) 754-3379.. Official information: https://www.centerco.gov/documents.

Center, Colorado has adopted: 2018 International Building Code (IBC) and International Residential Code (IRC) — per the Town of Center's own Building Permit Application / Fee Schedule document ('CURRENT (2018 Codes)', referencing https://codes.iccsafe.org/codes/colorado); 2018 International Plumbing Code (IPC); 2018 International Mechanical Code (IMC); 2018 International Fire Code (IFC); 2018 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) (listed on the Town's document as 'International Energy Commission Code'); 2018 International Fuel Gas Code (IFGC); ICC/ANSI A117.1 Accessibility Code (ADA); ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code; Note on currency: the Town's Building Permit Application/Fee Schedule packet (the only currently-published code-adoption source found) explicitly labels these as the '2018 Codes' with no revision date visible on the document itself. No newer code-adoption ordinance, resolution, or updated fee-schedule packet was found anywhere on the Town's current website (centerco.gov) or its Documents/Building Department listing as of this review (2026-07-06). The prior townofcenter.colorado.gov CivicPlus-style site (which hosted the original seed URL, .../departments/public-works-department/building-department, and an alternate .../departments/building-department path) now 301-redirects at the domain root to www.centerco.gov — the entire old site has been retired and its content was not recoverable via Wayback Machine chase within this review; the Town's own current-generation site (a minimal TownCloud/SvelteKit site launched circa 2025-2026) is treated as authoritative and does not itself carry a separate 'Adopted Codes' page distinct from the Building Permit Application document.. Local amendments apply — see the Center overview page for the full list.

No. Per the Town's ADU Application form, approval of the ADU zoning application authorizes the applicant to apply for a building permit; it does not itself authorize construction. A separate building permit must still be obtained.

A detached ADU is capped at 750 sq. ft. An internal or attached ADU may not exceed 30% of the principal structure's floor area, unless it is located in a basement or garden level, in which case that percentage cap does not apply.