Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) Permit in Cripple Creek, Colorado

Cripple Creek requires an accessory dwelling unit (adu) permit for: Maximum of one ADU per primary structure; ADU square footage capped at 750 sq ft or 50% of the primary structure's square footage, whichever is larger; Front and side setbacks must match the primary structure; rear setback is 5 feet (with or without a rear lane per the Development Code table); Detached ADU requires a minimum of 1 story above a basement story; maximum height may not exceed the primary structure's height (measured from finished grade to the highest roof point); An off-street parking space is generally required per ADU, subject to exceptions tied to on-street parking availability and pre-January-1-2024 zoning district requirements per Development Code Table 1.7(3)(f); Standard building/electrical/plumbing/mechanical permit review applies per the applicable adopted codes (2018 IRC/IBC etc.); Certificate of Appropriateness required if the ADU is located within a designated Historic District. If your project isn't listed, confirm with City of Cripple Creek Building Department at 719-689-3588 ext. 1 before starting work.

In Cripple Creek, the published Building Permit Fee is: Set per the City of Cripple Creek Building Fee Schedule, adopted/amended by City Council resolution. These are the jurisdiction's own published figures — see the fee schedule table and source citations on this page.

Cripple Creek does not publish a plan-review timeline for this permit. Contact City of Cripple Creek Building Department at 719-689-3588 ext. 1 for current turnaround.

You'll need: Building Permit Application — ADU scope; Site Plan. See the required-documents checklist on this page for details on each.

Cripple Creek requires 4 inspection(s) for an accessory dwelling unit (adu) permit, in order: Foundation, Framing, Rough Electrical / Plumbing / Mechanical, Final Inspection. Schedule each through City of Cripple Creek Building Department (719-689-3588 ext. 1).

Apply through City of Cripple Creek Building Department at 337 E. Bennett Ave, Cripple Creek, CO 80813 (mailing: P.O. Box 430, Cripple Creek, CO 80813). Phone: 719-689-3588 ext. 1. Office hours: Building Inspector normal duty hours are 7:30 AM to 4:00 PM on Mondays and Fridays only (with an alternate day sometimes added around a holiday week, decided case-by-case). The inspector is typically present in the office at 337 E. Bennett Ave from 7:30-9:00 AM on Monday/Friday mornings for questions in person or by phone (719-689-3588 ext. 1); after 9 AM the inspector is generally in the field performing inspections and returns to the office afterward for consultations. As of May 28, 2026, Martin L. Colgan serves as the City's Combination Inspector (Residential and Commercial Building, Mechanical, Plumbing, and Gas Piping). SAFEbuilt is stated on the City's Building Department page to be the City's new full-service company for plan review, permits, and inspections; the City notes it is currently implementing new permitting software and directs applicants to call the Building Department to ask about the current submission process.. Official information: https://www.cityofcripplecreek.com/building-department.

Cripple Creek, Colorado has adopted: 2018 International Building Code (IBC) — City of Cripple Creek Municipal Code Ch. 18, Art. 2 Sec. 18-2-10 and Art. 3 (adopted by Ord. No. 2019-03, as amended by Ord. No. 2022-06 and Ord. No. 2023-13); 2018 International Residential Code (IRC), including Appendices H, J, and Q — Ch. 18, Art. 4; International Plumbing Code (IPC), most current edition as adopted by the State of Colorado — Ch. 18, Art. 5; 2018 International Mechanical Code (IMC) — Ch. 18, Art. 6; 2015 International Fuel Gas Code (IFGC) — Ch. 18, Art. 7; 2018 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) — Ch. 18, Art. 8; 2018 International Fire Code (IFC), including all appendices A-N — Ch. 18, Art. 9; 2018 International Existing Building Code (IEBC) — Ch. 18, Art. 10; National Electrical Code (NEC), most current edition as adopted by the State of Colorado — Ch. 18, Art. 11; 2018 International Swimming Pool and Spa Code (ISPSC) — Ch. 18, Art. 12; 2018 International Property Maintenance Code (IPMC) — Ch. 18, Art. 13; ASME A17.1 (2010)/A17.2 (2010)/A17.6 (2010)/A17.3 (2010) and A18.1 (2011) Safety Code for Elevators and Escalators, as adopted by Teller County (SCEE) — Ch. 18, Art. 14; all inspections performed by Teller County's designated ASME Certified Inspector, results submitted to the City Building Department; Manufactured Home Code (locally drafted, not an ICC model code) — Ch. 18, Art. 19, enacted by Ord. No. 2021-11; Note on code currency: Cripple Creek Municipal Code Chapter 18 adopts the 2018-cycle IBC/IRC/IMC/IECC/IFC/IEBC/ISPSC/IPMC by reference (via Ord. No. 2019-03, adopted Aug. 7, 2019), one cycle behind the 2021/2024 editions used by some neighboring Colorado jurisdictions (e.g. Vail's 2024 cycle). The IPC and NEC sections instead float to 'the most current edition as adopted by the State of Colorado,' so those two trades track the state's adoption cycle rather than a fixed local edition. This is the governing, most-recently-verified text of Municode's Cripple Creek library as of this review (chapter carries amendment history through Ord. No. 2023-13, effective 1-3-24).. Local amendments apply — see the Cripple Creek overview page for the full list.

Per Development Code Section 1.5.12 (amended by Ordinance 2025-06), an ADU is capped at 750 square feet or 50% of the primary structure's square footage, whichever is larger, with a maximum of one ADU per primary structure.