Manitou Springs, CO Accessory Structures: ADU Rules (2026)
ADU rules in Manitou Springs, CO, also called accessory dwelling unit regulations or granny flat ordinances, cover setbacks, owner-occupancy, parking, and permit requirements.
Key Facts
- ADUs per lot
- One per principal dwelling
- Minimum size
- 250 sq. ft. habitable space
- Maximum size
- Larger of 50% of house or 750 sq. ft.
- Short-term rental use
- Prohibited
- Tap fee
- 1/2 of single-family water/sewer fee
Summary
Manitou Springs allows one accessory dwelling unit per lot as a by-right use with a principal single-family home, capping size at 250 to 750 square feet, barring short-term rental use, and charging a half water/sewer tap fee before a building permit issues.
18.04.3.7Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU). ... B.Use Standards. ... 1.Number. Only one ADU shall be permitted for each principal dwelling unit on a lot. However, ADUs shall not be subject to density restrictions stated in the applicable dimensional standards table;2.Size. The ADU shall be no less than two hundred and fifty square feet in habitable space and no more than fifty percent of the square feet of the principal dwelling unit or seven hundred and fifty square feet, whichever is larger. In no event shall the ADU exceed the square footage of the principal dwelling unit. ... D.An accessory dwelling unit shall not be permitted for use as a short-term rental as defined under Section 18.04.5.4.E.Detached ADUs shall not be located in front yards. The minimum front setback for a detached ADU shall be the rearmost façade of the primary residence. ... G.A water tap fee, and a sewer tap fee of ½ the respective water and sewer tap fees for a single-family residence shall be paid to the city for an accessory dwelling unit prior to issuance of a building permit.
Full Breakdown
7 of the Land Use and Development Code makes an ADU a permitted use on any lot that allows a principal dwelling, including Planned Development zoning, and only one ADU is allowed per principal dwelling unit on a lot. ADUs are exempt from the density restrictions in the applicable dimensional standards table, but every other dimensional standard, including height, still applies, and an ADU can never exceed the height or the square footage of the principal dwelling it accompanies. Size is bracketed at a floor of 250 square feet of habitable space and a ceiling of the larger of fifty percent of the principal dwelling's square footage or 750 square feet. 1-1. 4. 16 cross-referenced exceptions allowing an ADU to extend the principal unit's service line while still requiring individual metering.
Violations & Fines
Building or converting space into a second ADU on one lot, exceeding the size cap, placing a detached ADU in a front yard, or advertising or renting an ADU as a short-term rental violates Section 18.04.3.7 and can result in denial or revocation of the building permit and code-enforcement action requiring removal of the noncompliant use. Occupying an ADU before paying the required water and sewer tap fees is also a permit violation that can halt final inspection and occupancy approval.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I rent my Manitou Springs ADU out nightly on a booking site?
How big can an ADU be in Manitou Springs?
Do I need to pay a tap fee for a new ADU?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Manitou Springs
How Manitou Springs compares: Easiest Cities to Build an ADU·Compare Manitou Springs to another location·View the Colorado accessory structures overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.
ADU Rules in Nearby Cities
How other cities in El Paso County handle adu rules.