On April 8, 2025 Colorado Springs City Council voted to update the code for Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs). Click here for more information on the new regulations for ADUs.
Overview
The City of Colorado Springs’ Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) Ordinance is part of the city’s effort to ensure smart, equitable, and diversified housing solutions that allow our neighborhoods to grow in a way that is appropriate. Recent state legislation requires the City to allow ADUs in any location where a single-family detached home is permitted, and prevents the City from enacting or enforcing certain local laws that would restrict ADUs. As such, the City’s ADU Ordinance proposes updates to the Unified Development Code (UDC) based on state-mandated legislation as well as to support the citywide strategic priorities of housing availability and choice for city residents.
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About
Background
Under the City of Colorado Springs’ current Unified Development Code (UDC), there has been a limited number of Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) constructed since its inception. In alignment with recent state legislation, the City desires to ensure smart, equitable, and diversified housing solutions that allow our neighborhoods to grow in a way that is appropriate, which the City’s proposed ADU Ordinance supports. The City too sees the proposed ADU Ordinance as an opportunity to rethink the shortcomings within the current city code that better align with the direction of the housing market, all the while ensuring housing choice and opportunity for residents.
Purpose/Goals/Benefits
The Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) Ordinance update project will take shape over the coming months and adoption is anticipated in early 2025. Some of the benefits or goals of the ordinance update include:
- Allow ADUs in all zone districts where single-family detached dwellings are permitted
- Updates to use specific standards for ADUs
- Removal of owner occupancy requirements and associated declarations or restrictions
Per legislative direction, the Unit Owners’ Associations (HOAs and COAs) and Planned Development Zone (PDZ) districts, may not prohibit or unreasonably restrict the construction of ADUs.
Public Engagement
Public Meeting
The City held a public meeting on Wednesday, Nov. 20 from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the National Cybersecurity Center (3650 N Nevada Ave). The session provided an opportunity to learn more about the proposed changes and provide feedback.
Other ways to engage
- Comment during the upcoming City Planning Commission hearing on December 11, 2024.
- Comment during the upcoming City Council hearings in January and February of 2025.