Lakewood, CO Accessory Structures: ADU Owner Occupancy (2026)
Key Facts
- Permit holder
- owner-occupant or designee
- ADUs per lot
- one maximum
- Applies to
- R zone districts, limited use
Summary
Lakewood will only issue an accessory dwelling unit permit to the property's owner-occupant or their designee, and allows just one ADU per lot under the Zoning Ordinance.
3. Only one accessory dwelling unit shall be permitted per lot.
4. A permit for an ADU shall only be issued to an owner occupant or their designee.
5. Dimensional Standards and Location:
a. An accessory dwelling unit shall comply with all primary structure dimensional standards for the applicable zone district.
b. The maximum height of a detached accessory dwelling unit shall be 30 feet.
c. An accessory dwelling unit shall not be located in front of the primary dwelling unit.
6. Single-family Dwelling Design Requirements:
a. An accessory dwelling unit shall not exceed 1400 square feet of gross floor area.
b. External alterations that would change the residential character of the property shall be prohibited.
c. The exterior of an accessory dwelling unit shall be similar in appearance to that of the existing primary dwelling unit including, but not limited to, materials, color, roof pitch and detailing.
d. Accessory dwelling units located above garages or located on a second floor may be accessed by a separate external stairway.
Full Breakdown
Lakewood's ADU standards single out occupancy as a gating condition separate from the dimensional and design rules: a permit for an accessory dwelling unit will only be issued to an owner occupant of the property or their designee, not to an absentee owner renting out the primary home. This sits alongside the city's one-ADU-per-lot cap, meaning a single-family lot in an R district gets one accessory unit, and its permit is tied to whoever occupies the primary dwelling, or a person that owner designates.
Violations & Fines
Applying for an ADU permit as a non-occupying owner or investor, without a qualifying designee arrangement, violates the standard and the Director can deny the permit.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can an absentee landlord get an ADU permit in Lakewood?
What does 'designee' mean for Lakewood's ADU owner-occupancy rule?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Lakewood
Compare Lakewood to another location·View the Colorado accessory structures overview
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ADU Owner Occupancy in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Jefferson County handle adu owner occupancy.