Summit County, CO - Official Website (2024)

Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs): Is an ADU right for me…?

ADUs are small units of housing, generally on a single-family lot, where occupancy is restricted to the local workforce. They may be integrated into a home, stand-alone, or be located above or below a garage or outbuilding.

To encourage workforce housing, the process to approve an ADU in unincorporated Summit County has been streamlined to require only a building permit. There is no planning approval required prior to the submission of a building permit application (please note that there are some exceptions where a Class 2 planning review will still be required, such as an ADU on a duplex lot, or in a PUD where a Class 2 process is specified).

If you are considering an ADU on your property, you should be aware of the following items:

1. Covenant and Requirement of Workforce Housing: ADUs are specifically reserved for workforce housing. Each single-family lot in Summit County is zoned for one unit of density. Therefore, the special allowance to have an additional unit of density (the ADU) on your lot comes with the agreement that the ADU will be rented to persons who are members of the local workforce.
   • A covenant will be recorded on the property restricting the occupancy of the unit to a member of the local A draft covenant is attached to this information sheet. Please contact the Summit County Housing Department at 970-668-4210 for questions about this requirement.
   • To encourage the development of ADUs, Summit County has waived all county administered fees for an ADU, provided the property owner continues to use it according to the provisions of the covenant and the Summit County Land Use and Development Code for a minimum period of 10 years. This includes building permit and planning and engineering fees ,but does not include fees that are outside of county purview such as tap fees and design fees.
   • A signed and notarized covenant is required with your building permit submission.

2. Water / Wastewater Capacity and Fees:
   • Properties on central water or sewer: Property owners are encouraged to contact the applicable water and/or sewer entity (e.g. Snake River Sanitation, Buffalo Mountain Metro District, Upper Blue Sanitation, ) to understand their fees for service and confirm that your district has capacity available for the ADU.
   • Properties on well water: Property owners are encouraged to contact the office of the Colorado State Engineer to understand your current water rights. In most cases, the property owner will be required to augment water rights and update their well permit. Summit County has obtained water rights to assist property owners in this process.
     • Colorado State Engineer (District 36): 970-355-4516
     • Information on water augmentation through Summit County is available on the Manager’s Office website: https://www.summitcountyco.gov/224/Water-Augmentation.
     • As part of the building permit submission, the following shall be submitted:

• • • • Evidence that the existing well is sufficient in quantity to serve the proposed use, OR:
      • Draft contract with water augmenter (Vidler, Manager’s office), which will confirm that the process to augment water is underway.
      • Communication with the Colorado State Engineer showing that the property owner has initiated the process with the state.

• • • Prior to Certificate of Occupancy (CO), the following must be submitted:

• • • • Executed water
      • Evidence of new well permit for the

• • Properties on septic systems: The property’s septic system and leach field must have the capacity to accommodate the additional bedrooms associated with an ADU.
    • • Please reach out to the Summit County Environmental Health Department at 970-668-4070 to determine if your current septic system can accommodate an ADU or if the septic system will need to be enlarged to accommodate the additional bedrooms.

3. Building Code Requirements:

• • • • When converting an existing space within an existing building to an ADU, the requirements for fire and sound separation between units shall be required in order to assure compliance with the 2018 IRC, Section R302.3 and Appendix K. The electrical panel shall be fully accessible to the habitants of both For questions about Building Code requirements and what will be needed as a part of the building permit submittal, please contact the Building Inspection Department at 970-668-3170.

4. Engineering Department:

• • • • There are several Engineering Department requirements that are reviewed as a part of a building permit submittal for an ADU including grading work, excavation, drainage improvements, or anything relating to wetlands, bodies of water, or A Grading and Excavating Permit may be required as part of the application process. Please contact the Engineering Department at 970-668-4208 before submitting for a building permit to ensure you understand all applicable Engineering Department requirements and what might be needed as part of the submittal.