Commerce City to consider permit rules and standards for accessory homes

Commerce City’s council is scheduled to consider Oct. 5 building-code changes that would change when residential roof, siding, window and door replacements need permits and set standards for accessory dwelling units (ADUs).

The proposal would align the city’s permit exemptions with the International Residential Code and International Building Code, staff said in a presentation. The draft retains exemptions for some work, so whether a project needs a permit would depend on the type and scope of the work.

The draft would allow a home to add an ADU without changing its occupancy classification only if the unit has a separate entrance, no more than two bedrooms, and adequate electricity, water and sewage provisions. A detached ADU would also have to meet the code’s location requirements. An attached unit could avoid a one-hour fire-rated separation if smoke and carbon-monoxide alarms are interconnected between the units, the proposed ordinance says.

City staff recommends approval. The changes are intended to align local rules with the Land Development Code and Colorado Wildfire Resiliency Code, among other updates. The council communication says council members were generally supportive at a July study session and lists Oct. 5 as the scheduled consideration date: the council communication.