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Accessory Structure Permit (Detached Garage, Shed, Pole Barn) & Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) in Platteville, Colorado

Platteville's published SAFEbuilt guide series covers Accessory Structures (garages, sheds) and Pole Barns generically under the 2024 IRC. RESOLVED 2026-07-23: Platteville DOES have a dedicated Accessory Dwelling Unit zoning framework — Chapter 16 (Zoning), Article III, Sec. 16-3-20 'Accessory Dwelling Units,' confirmed live via the Town's Code of Ordinances (Municode Library, Supp. 2, updated 2026-02-17, codified through Ordinance No. 2025-851, Dec. 16, 2025). Live-quoted: each ADU 'shall comply with the principal structure standards, except that each ADU shall be subordinate to and no larger than seventy-five percent (75%) of the square feet [of the principal dwelling unit]'; and 'no portion of a structure containing an ADU may have ownership different from the ownership of the principal dwelling unit' (an ADU cannot be sold or subdivided off from the primary residence). Sec. 16-2-40 'Agricultural/Holding (A-H) District' further confirms an 'Agricultural accessory dwelling unit/structure, limited to nine hundred (900) square feet per acre of land' as a permitted use in that zoning district specifically. A habitable ADU is therefore permitted by right in at least some Platteville zoning districts (subject to the 75%-of-principal-structure size cap and single-ownership rule), but which OTHER zoning districts (beyond A-H) allow ADUs, and any district-specific size/setback variations, were not independently enumerated in this pass — building-permit processing for an ADU is expected to follow the same combined Building Permit Application / SAFEbuilt review path as any other accessory structure or addition, under the 2024 IRC.

Verified 2026-07-23 · Source

When you need this permit

  • Site plan showing setback compliance (structures may not be built over setback lines, easements, or property lines); check with the zoning department for size/location restrictions specific to accessory structures
  • Construction details: foundation detail (Foundation Detail A or B per the guide), framing, roof covering/sheathing, insulation values, and wall/floor framing dimensions
  • Floor plan showing bracing, whether the space is heated or unheated (heated spaces must check local energy code requirements for conditioned accessory structures), door/window header sizes, and garage door opening dimensions
  • A survey from a registered land surveyor required if the project is in a protected area; an as-built survey required if proposed within 12 inches of a required minimum setback
  • For a habitable ADU specifically: Sec. 16-3-20 (Chapter 16 — Zoning) requires the ADU be no larger than 75% of the principal dwelling unit's square footage, and that the property retain single ownership across the principal dwelling and the ADU (no separate sale/subdivision) — confirmed 2026-07-23 via the Town's live Code of Ordinances
  • In the Agricultural/Holding (A-H) zoning district specifically, an agricultural ADU/structure is capped at 900 square feet per acre of land (Sec. 16-2-40) — other zoning districts' ADU allowances were not individually enumerated in this pass; confirm the applicable district's specific rule with Planning and Zoning

Required documents

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Fee schedule

SAFEbuilt building permit fee (accessory structure/ADU scope)Appendix A - Fee Schedule (live-checked 2026-07-23) carries no ADU-specific fee line.
No ADU-specific dollar figure is separately published — verified-negative, confirmed 2026-07-23; follows the same Chapter-18/adopted-IBC-referenced base building permit fee as other accessory structures

Review timeline

Plan review
Not published — contact the department

How long did your Accessory Structure Permit (Detached Garage, Shed, Pole Barn) & Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) permit actually take in Platteville?

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

Inspection process

  1. 1

    Footings

    After trenches excavated, forms erected, PRIOR to placing concrete

  2. 2

    Slab

    Prior to placing concrete

  3. 3

    Frame/Rough (with utility inspections if installed)

    After roof, framing, bracing, fasteners in place

  4. 4

    Final

    After the structure is completed

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

Tips

  • Platteville's zoning code (Sec. 16-3-20) DOES permit a habitable Accessory Dwelling Unit, but caps it at no larger than 75% of the principal dwelling unit's square footage and requires the ADU remain under the same ownership as the principal dwelling (it cannot be sold or subdivided off separately) — confirm these two constraints, plus your specific zoning district's ADU allowance (only the Agricultural/Holding district's 900-sq-ft-per-acre rule was independently confirmed in this pass), with Planning and Zoning before designing an ADU project.
  • A garage/shed/pole-barn accessory structure and a habitable ADU are governed by different sections of the Zoning Code (general accessory-structure standards vs. Sec. 16-3-20's ADU-specific size/ownership rules) even though both may be reviewed under the same combined Building Permit Application and 2024 IRC — don't assume a simple accessory-structure permit automatically clears ADU-specific zoning requirements.

Frequently asked questions

Platteville requires an accessory structure permit (detached garage, shed, pole barn) & accessory dwelling unit (adu) for: Site plan showing setback compliance (structures may not be built over setback lines, easements, or property lines); check with the zoning department for size/location restrictions specific to accessory structures; Construction details: foundation detail (Foundation Detail A or B per the guide), framing, roof covering/sheathing, insulation values, and wall/floor framing dimensions; Floor plan showing bracing, whether the space is heated or unheated (heated spaces must check local energy code requirements for conditioned accessory structures), door/window header sizes, and garage door opening dimensions; A survey from a registered land surveyor required if the project is in a protected area; an as-built survey required if proposed within 12 inches of a required minimum setback; For a habitable ADU specifically: Sec. 16-3-20 (Chapter 16 — Zoning) requires the ADU be no larger than 75% of the principal dwelling unit's square footage, and that the property retain single ownership across the principal dwelling and the ADU (no separate sale/subdivision) — confirmed 2026-07-23 via the Town's live Code of Ordinances; In the Agricultural/Holding (A-H) zoning district specifically, an agricultural ADU/structure is capped at 900 square feet per acre of land (Sec. 16-2-40) — other zoning districts' ADU allowances were not individually enumerated in this pass; confirm the applicable district's specific rule with Planning and Zoning. If your project isn't listed, confirm with Town of Platteville — SAFEbuilt Permits (contracted building department services) at 970-785-2245 before starting work.

In Platteville, the published SAFEbuilt building permit fee (accessory structure/ADU scope) is: No ADU-specific dollar figure is separately published — verified-negative, confirmed 2026-07-23; follows the same Chapter-18/adopted-IBC-referenced base building permit fee as other accessory structures. These are the jurisdiction's own published figures — see the fee schedule table and source citations on this page.

Platteville does not publish a plan-review timeline for this permit. Contact Town of Platteville — SAFEbuilt Permits (contracted building department services) at 970-785-2245 for current turnaround.

You'll need: Town of Platteville Building Permit Application; Site Plan, Floor Plan, and Construction Details. See the required-documents checklist on this page for details on each.

Platteville requires 4 inspection(s) for an accessory structure permit (detached garage, shed, pole barn) & accessory dwelling unit (adu), in order: Footings, Slab, Frame/Rough (with utility inspections if installed), Final. Schedule each through Town of Platteville — SAFEbuilt Permits (contracted building department services) (970-785-2245).

Apply through Town of Platteville — SAFEbuilt Permits (contracted building department services) at 400 Grand Avenue, Platteville, CO 80651. Phone: 970-785-2245, email: kcampos@plattevillegov.org. Office hours: Town Hall main line 970-785-2245 (fax 970-785-2476). Building permit applications and plan-review submittals are emailed to kcampos@plattevillegov.org; SAFEbuilt plans examiners (coloradoplanreview@safebuilt.com for resubmittals) interpret International Codes and conduct building inspections on the Town's behalf. No separate SAFEbuilt local office address or in-person hours are published on the Town's site; all intake is via Town Hall or email.. Official information: https://platteville.colorado.gov/safebuilt-permits.

Platteville, Colorado has adopted: 2024 International Building Code (IBC), Chapters 1-35 — CONFIRMED 2026-07-23 directly from the Town's own codified ordinances (Sec. 18-2-10, 'Adoption', Chapter 18 — Building Regulations, Article II — Building Code): 'The International Building Code, 2024 Edition as published by the International Code Council, 4051 West Flossmoor Road, Country Club Hills, IL 60478, Chapters 1 through 35 inclusive...' Retrieved live via Municode Library (library.municode.com/co/platteville/codes/code_of_ordinances), Code of Ordinances Supplement 2, online content updated 2026-02-17, codified through Ordinance No. 2025-851 (enacted 2025-12-16) — the Dec-2025 code-adoption ordinance referenced in this corpus's Colorado research playbook.; 2024 International Residential Code (IRC), Chapters 1-43 — CONFIRMED 2026-07-23 via Sec. 18-10-10 'Adoption' (Chapter 18, Article X — Residential Code): 'The International Residential Code, 2024 Edition as published by the International Code Council... Chapters 1 through 43 inclusive...' Corroborates the SAFEbuilt guide series' consistent '2024 IRC' heading with a second, independent, directly-codified source.; 2024 International Mechanical Code (IMC), Chapters 1-15 — CONFIRMED 2026-07-23 via Sec. 18-3-10 'Adoption' (Chapter 18, Article III — Mechanical Code), live Municode text.; 2024 International Fuel Gas Code (IFGC), Chapters 1-8 — CONFIRMED 2026-07-23 via Sec. 18-9-10 'Adoption' (Chapter 18, Article IX — Fuel Gas Code), live Municode text.; 2024 International Fire Code (IFC), plus Appendix B-0 — CONFIRMED 2026-07-23 via Sec. 18-11-10 'Adoption' (Chapter 18, Article XI — Fire Code): 'chapters and appendices B-0 of the 2024 International Fire Code (the "IFC") are hereby adopted by reference as the Town of Platteville Fire Code...'; 2024 International Property Maintenance Code (IPMC), Chapters 1-8 — CONFIRMED 2026-07-23 via Sec. 18-12-10 'Adoption' (Chapter 18, Article XII — Property Maintenance Code), live Municode text.; 2024 International Existing Building Code (IEBC), Chapters 1-16 — CONFIRMED 2026-07-23 via Sec. 18-13-10 'Adoption' (Chapter 18, Article XIII — Existing Building Code); this code family was not previously identified in this file — new finding from the 2026-07-23 chase.; 2024 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC), Chapters 1-6 Commercial [+ Residential provisions] — CONFIRMED 2026-07-23 via Sec. 18-14-10 'Adoption' (Chapter 18, Article XIV — Energy Conservation Code), which ALSO adopts by reference 'Appendix CK Colorado Model Electric and Solar Ready Code-Commercial and Appendix RM Colorado Model Electric and Solar Ready Code-Residential' — this is the direct, specific HB22-1362 electric-ready/solar-ready citation that could not be located in 2026-07-06's chase (only the generic 'State of Colorado Electric Ready Code' guide reference was found then). Sec. 18-14-30 'Amendments' further amends the IECC to replace all references to 'ICC Electrical Code' with 'National Electrical Code as adopted by the State.'; National Electrical Code (NEC), 2023 Edition, exclusive of appendices — CONFIRMED 2026-07-23 via Sec. 18-5-10 'Adoption' (Chapter 18, Article V — Electrical Code): 'The National Electrical Code, 2023 Edition, exclusive of appendices, published by the National Fire Protection Association, 1 Batterymarch Park, Quincy, MA 02169, is hereby [adopted]...' This RESOLVES the gap flagged in the 2026-07-06 pass ('The NEC edition... could not be independently re-confirmed... omitted rather than guessed') — Platteville does codify its own NEC edition (2023) in Chapter 18 Article V, notwithstanding that day-to-day electrical licensing runs through DORA contemporaneous review rather than a Town trade-license program (see localAmendments).; All nine code-family adoptions above were retrieved 2026-07-23 from the Town's live, current Municode Library codification (library.municode.com/co/platteville/codes/code_of_ordinances), Supplement 2, online content updated 2026-02-17, 'Codified through Ordinance No. 2025-851, enacted December 16, 2025' — via that page's own full-text search API (localapi/search, clientId=19046, scoped to Platteville only), which returns live indexed section text. This is a second, independent, more authoritative confirmation of the 2024 cycle than the SAFEbuilt guide series alone, and definitively supersedes the stale 'Photovoltaic System Submittal Requirements' PDF (last revised 10.22.2021, citing '2020 NEC, 2018 International Codes') — that PDF's code-year language is now confirmed stale against the Town's own codified ordinances, not merely inferred against a differently-dated guide series.; Colorado is a home-rule state with no statewide-mandated building code edition; Platteville's own codified Chapter 18 adoption ordinances (as amended through Ord. No. 2025-851, Dec. 16, 2025) are the direct governing source, corroborated by the SAFEbuilt guide series.; HB22-1362 (Colorado's statewide minimum energy code floor for the July 2023-July 2026 window, requiring at least the 2021 IECC plus electric- and solar-ready / EV-ready provisions for jurisdictions issuing residential building permits) is satisfied and directly evidenced: Platteville's 2024 IECC adoption (Sec. 18-14-10) exceeds the 2021 IECC floor AND explicitly adopts by reference the Colorado Model Electric and Solar Ready Code Appendices CK (Commercial) and RM (Residential) — the specific state-mandated electric-ready/solar-ready provisions, confirmed 2026-07-23 directly from the ordinance text rather than inferred from a generic guide-page mention.. Local amendments apply — see the Platteville overview page for the full list.

Platteville's Zoning Code (Sec. 16-3-20, confirmed live 2026-07-23) does recognize and regulate Accessory Dwelling Units: an ADU must be no larger than 75% of the principal dwelling unit's square footage, and the property must retain single ownership across the principal dwelling and the ADU. Building-permit processing itself follows the same combined SAFEbuilt-reviewed Building Permit Application as other accessory structures, under the 2024 IRC. The Agricultural/Holding (A-H) zoning district additionally caps agricultural ADUs at 900 sq ft per acre (Sec. 16-2-40); other districts' specific ADU allowances were not individually enumerated in this pass — confirm with Planning and Zoning for a specific parcel.

Sources & verification

Verified against official sources. Last reviewed 2026-07-23.

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

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