Garage conversion rules in Colorado Springs, CO — sometimes called garage-to-ADU or accessory living unit conversions — govern permits, ceiling height, egress, and parking replacement.
Colorado Springs expressly allows an existing detached garage to be converted into an accessory dwelling unit; the converted garage must meet the ADU setbacks of UDC Subsection 7.3.304E, and under Colorado HB 24-1152 (C.R.S. 29-35-103) the City may not require a new off-street parking space for a garage-to-ADU conversion.
Under UDC Subsection 7.3.304E.2 (Standards for Detached ADUs), 'Conversion of Existing Detached Garages: The detached garage shall meet the minimum setbacks for an accessory dwelling unit as required in this Section.' A converted garage therefore follows the same ADU dimensional rules - a 5-foot rear setback (10 feet if a unit is above the garage and the overhead door faces an alley), front and side setbacks no greater than those of the primary dwelling, and the 25/28-foot height limits. Prefabricated, manufactured, and tiny homes are also permitted as ADUs when placed on a permanent foundation and connected to metered utilities, but a mobile home or recreational vehicle may not be used as an ADU. Colorado's HB 24-1152 (C.R.S. 29-35-103), effective June 30, 2025, prohibits the City from requiring the construction of a new off-street parking space in connection with the construction or conversion of an ADU, except on a parcel with no existing off-street parking that is in a zoning district requiring parking and on a block where on-street parking is prohibited. ADUs, including garage conversions, are processed administratively with a building permit and site plan reviewed against objective standards, with no public hearing.
Converting a garage to a dwelling unit without a building permit and ADU site-plan approval, or in a way that fails the ADU setbacks of UDC Subsection 7.3.304E, is subject to zoning enforcement under UDC Part 7.5.9, including correction or removal. A converted-garage ADU also may not be used as a short-term rental or sold separately from the principal dwelling.
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