Adams County, CO Building Safety: Plumbing Permits (2026)
Key Facts
- Code adopted
- 2024 International Plumbing Code
- Graywater systems
- Banned outright, Section [A]102.7-A
- Exterior water piping depth
- At least 48 inches below grade
- Governing ordinance
- Ordinance No. 12, effective July 1, 2026
- Maximum fine
- $1,000 per violation, per day
Summary
Unincorporated Adams County adopted the 2024 International Plumbing Code by reference through Ordinance No. 12, effective July 1, 2026, so plumbing work needs a permit under that adopted code and its local amendments. The county's biggest departure from the model code is an outright ban on graywater reuse systems, which the 2024 IPC otherwise allows.
101.1 Title. These regulations shall be known as the Plumbing Code of Adams County, hereinafter referred to as "this code." ... [A] 102.7-A. Graywater. Graywater systems are prohibited and shall not be designed, installed, or connected to building plumbing. Any provision of this code authorizing graywater reuse is hereby excluded from adoption by Adams County. No provision of this code shall be interpreted to allow graywater reuse.
Full Breakdown
Section 1 of Ordinance No. 1. Because Section 5's amendments clause states that sections and provisions not listed in Section 5 are adopted as written, the 2024 IPC's permit and inspection requirements apply in unincorporated Adams County exactly as the International Code Council published them, except where the county specifically rewrote a section. 7-A, which flatly prohibits graywater reuse: graywater systems are prohibited and shall not be designed, installed, or connected to building plumbing, and the amendment goes on to state that no provision of the code shall be interpreted to allow graywater reuse, overriding the graywater-reuse provisions the 2024 IPC would otherwise authorize.
4 on freezing protection, which requires exterior water supply piping to be buried not less than 48 inches below finish grade or otherwise protected from freezing. A permit applicant working from plans that include a graywater system or a shallow water line will be rejected under these amendments even though the base 2024 IPC would otherwise allow them.
Violations & Fines
Installing plumbing, including a prohibited graywater system, without a permit or in violation of the adopted Plumbing Code exposes the owner or contractor to the same Ordinance No. 12 penalty as any other building code violation: up to $1,000 per separate violation under C.R.S. § 30-28-409, with each day of noncompliant work counted separately.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I install a graywater recycling system in unincorporated Adams County?
How deep does exterior water piping have to be buried?
What plumbing code edition applies in unincorporated Adams County?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Adams County
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