ADUs are allowed in Unincorporated El PasoTypes:DetachedInternal
Types:DetachedInternal
Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) Rules for Unincorporated El Paso, CO
Is your property eligible for an ADU?
# of Properties
60,799
Owner-occupied
78%
Zoning districts
43
Avg Home Value
$541,502
Median Lot Size
0.27 acres
Avg Income
$126,761
Residential Types:
60,799 housing units
Single Family
91%
Other
9%
Zoning Districts:
70,152 parcels · 43 districts
PUD
29%(20,079)
RR-5
17%(12,173)
RS-6000
14%(9,843)
RS-5000
10%(6,801)
Other
30%(21,256)
ADU Rules
What can you build in Unincorporated El Paso, CO?
Unincorporated El Paso, CO follows state and local rules for Accessory Dwelling Units. Here is a concise overview of the local rules.
Eligibility
- –Internal / Attached ADU: By Right
- –Detached ADU: By Right
Interior / Attached ADU Size Limits
- –Maximum size cannot exceed the total square footage of the primary dwelling.
- –Maximum of 1,500 sq ft of finished habitable floor area for an internal or attached in-home apartment.
- –With Special Use approval, the maximum may increase by up to 20% to 1,800 sq ft of finished habitable floor area.
Detached ADU Size Limits
- –Detached unit’s finished habitable area cannot exceed the primary residence’s total square footage.
- –Maximum finished habitable floor area of 1,500 sq ft for a detached unit.
- –Detached unit building footprint may not exceed the principal building’s footprint (up to 2× on lots 2.5+ acres; exempt in A-35 on 35+ acres).
- –With Special Use approval, the maximum finished habitable floor area may increase to 1,800 sq ft.
Max Units
- –1 ADU per lot, parcel, or tract (attached or detached)
Owner Occupancy
- –Owner occupancy not required; affidavit restricts leasing and use.
Parking
- –No ADU-specific parking; min/max not stated; general rules apply (on-site; tandem spaces don't count; single-family typically 2 spaces per dwelling; ADUs not assigned their own parking ratio).
Rental Restrictions
- –Renting is prohibited in all forms for ADUs/ALQs (including short-term).
- –An ADU leased or rented is not considered an ALQ and requires a variance.
- –Detached ALQ occupancy is limited to immediate family with special use approval; attached ALQ may only be used for temporary occupancy.
ADU State Law
What can you build in Colorado?
- –ADUs must be approved based on objective standards; no discretionary hearings allowed.
- –Historic properties: Local historic review may still apply in designated historic districts.
- –Exempt parcels: ADUs are not required to be allowed on parcels without adequate water/sewer, in floodways, or on certain historic properties.
- –HOAs cannot prohibit ADUs: HOA rules that conflict with the state ADU law are void.
- –Parking exceptions exist: In rare cases, one parking space may be required if there is no existing off-street parking and on-street parking is prohibited.
- –Local rules still matter: Building code, fire code, utility capacity, and life-safety standards still apply.
- –More permissive is allowed: Municipalities may allow larger ADUs, multiple ADUs, or additional housing types beyond what the state requires.
- –Local zoning controls whether ADUs are allowed at all.
- –HOA rules may still apply.
- –More permissive local rules are allowed.
What's allowed on your lot?
These are the municipality-wide rules. What's allowed on a specific property also depends on state laws, setbacks, floor area ratio, lot coverage, environmental constraints, topography, and other property-specific factors. Search your address on FutureLot to see what's allowed on your property.
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ADU rules in other Colorado municipalities
Rules change at the town line. Check the municipality your property is actually in.
El Paso County