Codes & Information
Adams County Government is committed to providing a website that is accessible to the widest possible audience and advancing technology accessibility in all our county information and communication technology (“ICT”). We are actively working to increase the accessibility and usability of our ICT in accordance with Colorado Laws For Persons With Disabilities, HB 21-1110, as amended, and the rules promulgated by the Office of Information Technology of the State of Colorado. To view our accessibility statement, please click here.
Permits
Does your project require a permit? Click here to see which projects require a permit.
How Do I Find the Status of My Permit Application?
Please call 720.523.6800 or email epermitcenter@adamscountyco.gov if you need help with the following:
- Assistance with the E-Permit Center or your E-Permit Center account
- Submitting items for a new application or re-submittal
- Once all documents have been uploaded for review, emailing us is preferred as we do not receive notification of your new uploads.
Please direct all inquiries to the appropriate email address below.
- E-Permit Center: epermitcenter@adamscountyco.gov
Certificate of Occupancy
To request a Certificate of Occupancy, please follow the process below:
- Upload all required documentation to the permit through your E-Permit Center account.
- Send an email to epermitcenter@adamscountyco.gov requesting a Certificate of Occupancy along with your BDP#
- Please allow 24-48 hours for review of documents and signature of CO
- You will be notified via email when your Certificate of Occupancy has been completed
Planning/Zoning/Engineering
Land Use Case/Engineering Review Submittal
Please submit all land use cases and engineering projects not currently accepted through the E-Permit Center by email to epermitcenter@adamscountyco.gov:
- Save all files as PDFs, preferably as one file if prepared by the same individual. Otherwise, attach separate files for each discipline in order to preserve the encrypted digital signatures.
- All drawings must be scalable and legible. No JPEGs or other non-PDF file types can be reviewed.
- All Subdivision Improvement Agreements (SIA) must be submitted in Word format
To submit payment for Land Use/Engineering applications, please create or log into your E-Permit Center account. Upon acceptance of the application, you will be assigned and emailed a permit number. You must search this permit number in the upper search bar and hit enter. You will find in the middle of the page a “Payments” tab with “Fees” in the dropdown. Follow the blue link to submit payment (see image below). Once payment is processed, please email the receipt to epermitcenter@adcogov.org. Review of the application will not begin until payment has been verified.
International Code Council (ICC)
**On December 4, 2018, the Board of County Commissioners adopted the 2018 editions of the International Codes. These codes will be in effect starting January 12, 2019. Building permit applications received and accepted prior to this date will be under the previous 2012 editions. All building permit applications received on or after January 12, 2019 will be under the 2018 editions of the International Codes.
Building Codes
The Adams County Board of Commissioners has adopted the following building codes:
2018 International Building Code
2018 International Energy Code
2018 International Fire Code
2018 International Fuel Gas Code
2018 International Mechanical Code
2018 International Plumbing Code
2018 International Residential Building Code
2017 National Electrical Code
**To obtain a copy of any one of these codebooks, please visit the International Code Council website.
Ordinances
The Adams County Board of Commissioners adopted the following ordinances:
Ordinance 4 Fire Code Adoption and Amendments Thereto
Ordinance 12 Building Code Adoption and Amendments Thereto
All contractors doing work in Unincorporated Adams County are required to be registered as a contractor before pulling a permit.
Contractor Registration
Contractors must provide a Certificate of Liability Insurance to the county prior to permitting with Adams County Building Safety listed as the Certificate Holder.
General Contractors: Adams County offers 4 classifications of general contractor licenses:
- Class A: Erect, add to, alter, or repair any building or structure, in all occupancy groups.
- Class B: Erect, add to, alter, or repair any building or structure not over two (2) stories in height, in group B, F, M, S, R, and U occupancies.
- Class C: Erect, add to, alter, or repair any building or structure of a non-structural nature, in group M and R occupancies
- Class D: Any specialty contractor including, but not limited to, plumbing, electrical, siding, fences, glass and glazing, insulation, and heating
Our E-Permit Center has just released the new Contractor Licensing Module! The link to the application below and all documents will need to be uploaded through your E-Permit Center Account. We no longer accept emailed applications.
Once you have logged into your account, you will need to select the “New” dropdown and choose “Contractor License”. Please allow 24-48 hours for confirmation of registration.
Adams County Building Safety requires the following documents to be successfully registered:
- Driver’s License of Authorized Person(s)
- General Liability Insurance – Requirements
- Licensure from any Colorado municipality OR ICC Certification
- Colorado State Contractor/Colorado Master License (Electrical and Plumbing Contractors ONLY)
NOTE: There is no fee to be licensed with Adams County Building Safety.
For help on how to start an account with the E-Permit Center, please click here.
Procedure for Contemporaneous Reviews of Electrical and Plumbing License and Apprenticeship Requirements
This standard procedure has been developed for conducting contemporaneous reviews to ensure consistent, timely and efficient enforcement of Colorado’s electrical and plumbing licensure and apprenticeship requirements.
Inspections of projects requiring an electrical or plumbing permit must include a contemporaneous review of electrical and plumbing licenses, when possible.
Contemporaneous reviews may include a full or partial review of the electricians, plumbers and apprentices working at a job site being inspected, at the discretion of the inspector, based on the inspector’s familiarity with the installers or other relevant factors.
Inspectors may perform contemporaneous reviews at any time. Inspectors may conduct occasional, random, on-site inspections while actual plumbing or electrical work is being conducted, with a focus on large commercial and multi-family residential projects.
If a contemporaneous review reveals any non-compliance with Colorado’s electrical and plumbing licensure or apprenticeship requirements, the inspector who performed the review shall promptly notify his or her immediate supervisor. Inspectors may file a complaint with the State electrical and plumbing boards for any violation of C.R.S. Title 12, Article 23 (Electricians) or C.R.S. Title 12, Article 58 (Plumbers).
Residential Guides
*To access the below documents, click here.
English/Español
Addition/Adición
Basement Finish/Sótano
Enclosing Existing Patio Cover/Cerco de un patio
Detached Garage/Garaje
Patio Covers and Carports/Cubierta del Patio/Cochera
Re-Roof/Azotea
Pole Barn/Construction de galpon
Uncovered Decks and Porches/Cubierta
Gas Line Plan/Diagrama de línea de gas
Development Standards & Regulations
The Adams County Board of Commissioners adopted the Development Standards and Regulations to guide development and protect and promote the public health, safety, and general welfare of the county.
These Development Standards and Regulations are regularly updated to reflect the goals of the Comprehensive Plan, to ensure that they adhere to current case law, and to comply with updated State and Federal regulations.