Before You Build in Colorado Springs, CO: Permit & Rule Checklist (2026)

A fence under 7 feet that meets UDC standards needs no permit in Colorado Springs. Fences 7 feet or taller are accessory structures requiring a building permit through Pikes Peak Regional Building Department.

Colorado Springs requires all pools and spas deeper than 24 inches to be enclosed by a barrier at least 60 inches (5 feet) tall with self-closing and self-latching gates under the International Swimming Pool and Spa Code as adopted. Gate latches must be 54 inches above grade. Power safety covers compliant with ASTM F1346 may substitute for a barrier around hot tubs.

Colorado Springs allows fences atop retaining walls so long as the fence material alone (excluding the wall) stays within the permitted fence height, and opaque walls and fences visible from a street are limited to 3 feet in the landscape setback.

Colorado Springs allows fences up to 7 feet anywhere on a lot without a building permit, but fences between the front facade and a street may not exceed 4 feet, and fences over 30 inches are prohibited within any Sight Distance Line.

No Colorado Springs ordinance requires neighbors to share boundary-fence costs; the UDC only governs placement, height, and materials. Colorado's statutory partition-fence cost-sharing applies to adjoining agricultural or grazing land, not typical residential lots.

A building permit from the Pikes Peak Regional Building Department is required before installing any in-ground or permanent above-ground pool, spa, or water feature in Colorado Springs; only prefabricated above-ground pools less than 24 inches deep and not more than 5,000 gallons are permit-exempt.

Hot tubs and spas in Colorado Springs over 24 inches deep require a building and electrical permit through Pikes Peak Regional Building Department. They must have either a compliant barrier (60-inch fence) or a locking rigid safety cover meeting ASTM F1346. Electrical work must comply with NEC Article 680 bonding and GFCI requirements.

All swimming pools in Colorado Springs require a building permit, electrical permit, and gas/mechanical permit as applicable. Multiple inspections are required during and after construction. Above-ground pools must also comply with barrier requirements.

Outdoor residential pools and spas in Colorado Springs must be enclosed by a barrier at least 48 inches high with self-closing, self-latching, outward-opening gates, under the 2021 International Swimming Pool and Spa Code (ISPSC) Section 305 enforced by the Pikes Peak Regional Building Department.

Above-ground pools in Colorado Springs require a building permit and must meet the same barrier/fencing requirements as in-ground pools. The pool walls may serve as part of the barrier if they meet height requirements.

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.

Colorado Springs allows one accessory dwelling unit (ADU), plus up to two detached ADUs per lot, wherever single-family detached dwellings are permitted, with administrative approval and no required parking, under UDC Subsection 7.3.304E as amended to align with Colorado House Bill 24-1152 (C.R.S. 29-35-103).

Tiny homes on foundations in Colorado Springs must comply with the full International Residential Code as adopted, including a minimum 120-square-foot habitable room under IRC Appendix Q (tiny house appendix) where adopted. Tiny homes on wheels (THOWs) are treated as recreational vehicles and cannot be permanently occupied as primary residences in most residential zones.

Carports in Colorado Springs require a building permit from Pikes Peak Regional Building Department. They are permitted as accessory structures in all residential zones with setbacks of 5 feet from side and rear lot lines, 25 feet from front. Maximum height is 15 feet and structures must be designed for the Front Range 115-mph wind and 30-psf snow load.

In Colorado Springs, detached sheds and storage buildings are accessory structures regulated by UDC Subsection 7.3.304.A; structures under 200 square feet may sit in the rear setback and need no building permit, while larger ones must meet 5-to-10-foot setbacks and height limits, and total accessory floor area may not exceed that of the home.

Colorado Springs allows any outdoor fire contained in a portable or fixed fireplace, fire pit, or appliance. At a single-family home there is no setback from your own structure, but a portable outdoor fireplace may not be operated within 15 feet of a neighboring structure or combustible material, and the fire must be constantly attended.

Open burning is never allowed by non-governmental entities within the Colorado Springs city limits. Burning trash, rubbish, yard clippings, or construction materials is prohibited at all times. Recreational fires and bonfires are the only permitted outdoor fires, subject to clearance rules and permits.

Colorado Springs generally does not require a permit to remove trees on private property, except for trees in designated preservation areas or impacting public rights-of-way. No heritage tree protection ordinance exists citywide.

City Code requires trees to be kept trimmed to at least 14 feet of clearance over streets and 8 feet of clearance over sidewalks. Property owners are responsible for pruning the street trees and right-of-way vegetation adjoining their property to maintain these clearances.

Colorado Springs has permanent year-round watering rules: sprinkler irrigation is limited to any three days per week of the customer's choosing, and from May 1 to October 15 sprinklers cannot run between 10:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. Drip irrigation, watering cans, and hand-held hoses with shut-off nozzles are allowed at any time.