Adams County, CO Building Safety: Building Permits (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing ordinance
- Ordinance No. 12, effective July 1, 2026
- Code adopted
- 2024 International Building Code and Residential Code
- Enforcing agency
- Adams County Building Safety Division
- Fence exemption
- Fences up to 7 feet need no building permit
- Appeal deadline
- 30 days to Board of Building Code Appeals
- Maximum fine
- $1,000 per violation, per day
Summary
Unincorporated Adams County adopted the 2024 International Building Code by reference through Ordinance No. 12, effective July 1, 2026, so any construction, alteration, repair or occupancy change needs a Building Safety Division permit unless the work is specifically exempted. Section 105.2 lists the exemptions, including short fences, minor roof patches and certain farm buildings, but plumbing, mechanical and electrical work on those same structures still needs its own permit.
105.2 Work exempt from Permit Buildings:
2. Fences, other than swimming pool barriers, not over 42 inches (1067 mm) 7 feet (2134 mm) high.
14. Replacement of asphalt shingles when over the aggregate roof area there is less than one square (100 square feet) of replacement or repair.
15. Pursuant to C.R.S. § 30-28-201(1), as may be amended, buildings or structures used for the sole purpose of providing shelter for agricultural implements, farm products, livestock, or poultry. Nothing herein eliminates the requirements that (i) any such agricultural building or structure must comply with local land use requirements contained in the Adams County Development Standards and Regulations (e.g., setbacks and size limitations), and (ii) any necessary plumbing, mechanical, or electrical permits for the agricultural building or structure must be sought and obtained from the County.
Full Breakdown
Ordinance No. 12, adopted April 21, 2026 and effective July 1, 2026, repealed the county's 2018-edition building codes and adopted the 2024 International Building Code and related I-Codes by reference (Section 1). 2. § 30-28-201(1). The agricultural exemption is narrow: the structure must still meet the setback and size limits in the Adams County Development Standards and Regulations, and any plumbing, mechanical or electrical work inside it needs its own permit from the county regardless of the building-permit exemption. Every other item on the International Building Code's exemption list not rewritten by the county is adopted exactly as printed in the 2024 edition.
A property owner who is turned down for a permit, or who disputes how the code official applied a section, can appeal to the Adams County Board of Building Code Appeals within 30 days of the decision (Section 4).
Violations & Fines
Building without a required permit is a violation of Ordinance No. 12 and is punishable under C.R.S. § 30-28-409: a fine of up to $1,000 per separate violation, with each day the unpermitted work or use continues counted as a separate offense. The Building Safety Division can require unpermitted work to be exposed for inspection or removed before approving any permit for the structure.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a permit to build a shed for livestock in unincorporated Adams County?
How long do I have to appeal a denied building permit?
What building code edition does Adams County currently enforce?
What happens if I build without a permit?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Adams County
Compare Adams County to another location·View the Colorado building safety overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.