Colorado Springs allows accessory dwelling units (ADUs) under the Unified Development Code (UDC) adopted in 2023, codified in City Code Chapter 7. Detached and attached ADUs are permitted by right in most R-1 and R-2 single-family residential zone districts subject to a building permit reviewed by the Pikes Peak Regional Building Department (PPRBD). No Conditional Use Permit is required for compliant ADUs.
The Colorado Springs Unified Development Code (UDC), adopted by City Council in 2023 and codified in City Code Chapter 7, Article 4, allows accessory dwelling units (ADUs) by right in most low-density residential zone districts (R, R-1, R-2 series). Both attached (interior conversion or attached addition) and detached (separate structure) ADUs are permitted. The applicant submits zoning verification through the City Planning Department, then a building permit through the Pikes Peak Regional Building Department (PPRBD), which serves Colorado Springs, El Paso County, and surrounding municipalities. PPRBD reviews structural, mechanical, electrical, and plumbing compliance with the 2021 International Residential Code as locally amended. ADUs must meet standard residential setbacks under UDC § 7.4 (typically 5 ft side, 15 ft rear for detached accessory structures), maximum height 25 ft, and may not exceed 1,000 sq ft or 50% of the principal dwelling's habitable floor area, whichever is less. One additional off-street parking space is required. Properties in the Wildland Urban Interface (WUI) overlay — including much of the west side, Black Forest fringe, and northwest mountainsides — face additional defensible-space and ignition-resistant construction requirements under the 2021 International Wildland Urban Interface Code adopted by Colorado Springs Fire Department. Colorado has no statewide ADU preemption (HB24-1152 was vetoed and HB25-1083 remains under consideration), so local rules govern.
Building an ADU without permits is a code violation under City Code § 7.7 with civil penalties up to $1,000 per day under City Code § 1.1.107. Unpermitted work can result in stop-work orders, removal orders, and inability to obtain a Certificate of Occupancy. Title transfer is impaired by recorded violations.
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See how Colorado Springs's adu permits rules stack up against other locations.
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