Adams County keeps permitting simple for small backyard projects: sheds up to 200 square feet, decks under 30 inches off the ground, and short fences all bypass the permit process entirely.
But once you cross those thresholds, you are in the Adams County E-Permit Center, uploading a PDF site plan that a reviewer will either approve or reject within 10 business days. The county has made it very clear: wrong file format, wrong document name, or missing checklist items will get your review rejected outright.
Do You Need a Site Plan for a Small Permit in Adams County?
Yes, if your project requires a permit. Adams County requires every permitted project to include a site plan, submitted as a PDF through the E-Permit Center.
The site plan must include:
- Full property address and parcel number (APN).
- All property lines with dimensions.
- Existing structures (house, sheds, garages).
- Proposed structure with exact dimensions.
- Setbacks (the distance from the proposed structure to all property lines).
- Well, septic tank, and leach field (if applicable on rural parcels).
- Accessible route to the building.
- A scale indicator and a North arrow.
- A title block with address, owner name, project description, and date.
Who Runs Into This in Adams County
- Commerce City homeowners who submit their permit application to the Adams County E-Permit Center, only to be redirected to Commerce City's own building department.
- Rural New homeowners who build a 220-square-foot shed believing it is exempt, not realizing they exceeded the 200-square-foot threshold by just 20 square feet.
- Deck builders who build a 32-inch-high deck (just 2 inches over the 30-inch threshold) without a permit, triggering a code violation and stop-work order.
- Contractors who submit a JPEG image of a hand-drawn plan instead of a proper PDF, resulting in an immediate rejection.
What Needs a Site Plan in Adams County
- Fence permit site plan — Fences over 42 inches tall require a permit and site plan. (Fences 42 inches or under are exempt.)
- Shed permit site plan — Required for sheds larger than 200 sq ft. (Sheds 200 sq ft or less are exempt from building permits).
- Deck permit site plan — Required for decks more than 30 inches above ground level. (Decks 30 inches or less above grade are exempt).
- Patio cover / Carport permit site plan — Required. Patio covers, awnings, and carports require permits.
- Pool permit site plan — Required for pools, hot tubs, and spas.
- Garage permit site plan — Required for attached and detached garages.
- Addition permit site plan — Required for room additions. Must show the expanded footprint and all setbacks.
- Retaining Wall — Walls over 24 inches from the bottom of the footing require a permit.
Why This Trips People Up in Adams County
Multiple City Jurisdictions. Adams County contains several large cities—Aurora, Brighton, Commerce City, Northglenn, Thornton, Westminster, and Federal Heights—that each run their own building departments. Verifying your jurisdiction before applying is mandatory. Use the Adams County Property Look-Up or Eye on Adams tool online.
The 200 Sq Ft Shed Exemption. Adams County is generous: sheds 200 square feet or less (and gazebos 200 square feet or less) are fully exempt from building permits. But this exemption disappears the moment you exceed that size. A 15x14 shed (210 sq ft) requires a full permit and site plan.
The 30-Inch Deck Threshold. Similarly, decks not more than 30 inches above grade are exempt from permits. This is measured at the highest point of the deck surface. At 31 inches, you are in permit territory.
PDF-Only Submissions. Adams County is fully digital and will not review JPEGs, Word documents, or hand-drawn photos. All documents must be submitted as named PDFs through the E-Permit Center. The county explicitly warns that reviews may be rejected if the checklist and required documents are not provided or named properly.
Zoning and Setbacks in Adams County
Setbacks in unincorporated Adams County are governed by the county's Development Standards and Regulations and vary by zone district.
General Residential Zone Guidance:
- Front yard: Typically 20–30 feet.
- Side yard: Typically 5–10 feet.
- Rear yard: Typically 10–20 feet.
Accessory Structure Special Notes:
- In A-1 and RE zones: accessory structures must be within the established front building setback and within the required side/rear setbacks for the principal dwelling.
- In A-2 and A-3 zones: accessory structures must be within the required or established principal dwelling setbacks.
- R-1-C zone: specific requirements apply to lots over 900 sq ft.
How the Tool Handles This — 5 Steps
SitePlans.AI loads Adams County parcel data so you can generate the clean PDF site plan required by the E-Permit Center:
- Enter your address — Lot lines load from county GIS records.
- Place your project — Add your deck, shed, or room addition to the lot.
- Label the setbacks — Drop dimension lines from the proposed structure to all property lines.
- Note the well/septic — Annotate locations if applicable for rural parcels.
- Export a clean PDF — Download a professional, scalable PDF ready for upload through the Adams County E-Permit Center.
Where This Tool Fits — and Where It Doesn't
| Situation | Best path |
|---|---|
| Shed over 200 sq ft, deck over 30 in, or standard addition | SitePlans.ai for the required site plan PDF |
| Confirming layout of an exempt shed or low deck | SitePlans.ai to check setbacks before building |
| New home construction | Licensed CO Architect/Engineer required |
| Retaining wall over 24 inches | Licensed Structural Engineer required |
| Disputed property lines | Licensed CO Land Surveyor required |
What This Doesn't Replace
SitePlans.ai helps create preliminary, conceptual site plans for standard residential projects in unincorporated Adams County. It is not a licensed land survey or sealed engineering drawing. If you are building a new single-family home, or if you need a retaining wall over 24 inches, Adams County requires professionally prepared and sealed documents.
Comparison: Your Options for an Adams County Site Plan
| Method | Cost | Time | Stamp | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hand sketch / scan | Free | 30–60 min | ✗ | Must convert to clean, legible PDF; county will reject poor-quality files |
| SitePlans.ai | Free first plan | Minutes | ✗ | Generates a properly formatted, scalable PDF directly for E-Permit Center |
| CAD drafter | $300–$800+ | 1–2 weeks | Sometimes | Overkill for most sheds, decks, and additions |
| Licensed CO Surveyor | $700–$2,000+ | 2–4 weeks | ✅ | Required for new homes or disputed boundaries |
| SitePlans.us (done-for-you) | Custom | 1–3 days | ✗ | Best if your E-Permit Center submission was rejected |
Common Mistakes That Delay Adams County Permits
- Wrong jurisdiction — Applying to Adams County when you are inside Aurora, Brighton, or another incorporated city.
- Exceeding the 200 sq ft threshold — Building a 201 sq ft shed and assuming the exemption still covers it.
- Exceeding the 30-inch deck threshold — Building a deck at 32 inches above grade and assuming no permit is needed.
- Wrong file format — Submitting a JPEG or photographed sketch; only properly formatted PDFs are reviewed.
- Missing document naming — Failing to follow the county's required document naming convention, causing an automatic rejection.
- Unregistered contractor — A contractor who is not registered with Adams County attempting to pull a permit.
Support and Local Resources
- Adams County E-Permit Center — epermits.adcogov.org — All permits are submitted here.
- Adams County CEDD — adcogov.org/community-economic-development — Call (720) 523-6800.
- Eye on Adams — adcogov.org — Track permits and verify jurisdiction.
- Adams County Property Look-Up — Verify your parcel and jurisdiction before applying.
- FEMA Flood Maps — msc.fema.gov
Nearby Counties requirments in Colorado
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Does Adams County issue permits for properties inside Aurora or Thornton?
No. If your property is inside an incorporated city (Aurora, Brighton, Commerce City, Northglenn, Thornton, Westminster, or Federal Heights), that city's building department handles your permit. Use the Adams County Property Look-Up to verify your jurisdiction.
2. Do I need a permit for a shed in Adams County?
Storage sheds 200 square feet or less are fully exempt from building permits. Sheds larger than 200 square feet require a permit and a site plan submitted through the E-Permit Center.
3. Do I need a permit for a deck?
Decks that are not more than 30 inches above ground level are exempt from building permits. Decks over 30 inches require a permit and a site plan.
4. What is the fence permit threshold?
Fences less than 42 inches tall are exempt from building permits. Fences 42 inches or taller require a permit and a site plan.
5. How do I submit my site plan?
All site plans must be submitted as PDFs through the Adams County E-Permit Center at epermits.adcogov.org. JPEGs and other file formats will not be reviewed.
6. Can I use SitePlans.ai for an Adams County permit?
Yes. SitePlans.ai generates a clean, properly scaled PDF site plan with all required elements—property address, lot lines, existing/proposed structures, setbacks, and a North arrow—ready for direct upload to the E-Permit Center.
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Start Your Adams County Site Plan
Verify your jurisdiction using the Adams County Property Look-Up first. Then, enter your address below to pull your property lines, place your project, label your setbacks, and download the named PDF you need for the E-Permit Center.
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