Bolthole Index

Jefferson County, Colorado

Building permits, zoning and land rules in Westminster, Colorado

Westminster, Colorado requires building permits for interior and exterior residential projects, with requirements depending on the work and code exemptions.1 Westminster administers its own zoning inside city limits.2 For a parcel on the Jefferson County side, ask Jefferson County Public Health to confirm septic jurisdiction before planning an onsite system; we could not confirm the city-specific authority.3

At a glance

Building permits
City residential building permits required; project exemptions vary1
Zoning
Westminster municipal zoning applies inside city limits2
Applications and records
Use eTRAKiT for building and related applications4
Septic
Colorado requires an OWTS permit where applicable; confirm the local health authority for the address5
RV living
RV short-term rentals prohibited; private long-term occupancy remains unconfirmed6
ADU minimum size
190 square feet for an accessory dwelling unit7
Water and sewer taps
Separate taps required for each detached home and attached unit connecting to city infrastructure8

Who to call

Building permits

Westminster Building Division

City building-permit questions, residential plan review and building inspections

303-658-2075

permits@westminsterco.gov

Zoning

Westminster Planning Division

Municipal zoning, development review and parcel development standards

303-658-2092

planning@westminsterco.gov

Septic permits

Jefferson County Public Health - Environmental Health Services

Contact to confirm septic jurisdiction for a Westminster parcel on the Jefferson County side

303-232-6301

100 Jefferson County Parkway Golden CO 80419

Contact details are copied from each office’s official page and were checked against it on October 10, 2026.

Off-grid gear

Going off-grid in Westminster means bringing your own water and power. The kit we’d start with:

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Do you need a building permit in Westminster, CO?

Westminster requires building permits for interior and exterior residential building projects, although the exact requirement depends on the project and applicable code exemptions.1 Westminster has adopted building codes and city amendments, so the permit question and the construction-standard question belong with the city Building Division.9 Ask the Building Division to identify the required application and plan documents for your proposed home or alteration.10 Where fire suppression or fire alarm work is involved, the city requires separate Fire Department applications at the time of the building-permit application.10

Who issues building permits in Westminster, and how do you apply?

Contact the Westminster Building Division at 303-658-2075 or permits@westminsterco.gov for city building-permit questions.10 Westminster uses eTRAKiT for permit and project applications; registered users can pay fees and view detailed records, and contractors can apply for building permits and schedule or cancel inspections.4 Review the Building Division electronic-file submittal requirements before applying.4 Westminster building inspections create a permanent record of code compliance, and the deadline to schedule an inspection for the next business day is 4 PM.10

Does Westminster have zoning, and what are the lot and ADU rules?

Westminster administers zoning inside city limits, including rules for accessory dwelling units in zoning classifications that allow single-family detached dwellings.2 Contact the city Planning Division at 303-658-2092 or planning@westminsterco.gov for the parcel’s development standards.11 An official development plan includes specific standards governing its site, so obtain the applicable plan when assessing a property.11

Westminster ADUs must be at least 190 square feet; that minimum does not establish a minimum size for every principal home.7 Combined principal-dwelling and ADU square footage must stay within the principal dwelling’s maximum lot coverage, and the ADU has the same maximum height as the principal dwelling.1213 An ADU cannot be sold separately, and subdivision of its lot requires city approval.14

How do septic permits and water connections work inside Westminster?

For a Westminster building without sewage-treatment service, Colorado law requires the applicable local public health agency’s OWTS approval before building construction or remodeling approval.15 Permitted septic work must receive a final inspection before the system goes into use.16 We could not confirm the septic authority specifically inside Westminster; for a Jefferson County-side address, ask Jefferson County Public Health Environmental Health Services to confirm jurisdiction and the application route.3

New Westminster construction connecting to city water and sewer infrastructure needs separate taps for each detached home and attached unit, and domestic tap fees must be paid for building-permit issuance.8 These tap requirements do not establish that every parcel must connect, so ask the city about service availability for the actual address.8

Can you live in an RV or tiny home on land in Westminster?

Westminster prohibits short-term rentals in recreational vehicles, travel trailers and temporary structures; that provision does not settle long-term private-land RV occupancy.6 We could not confirm permission to live in an RV while building, so ask Westminster Planning about that proposed use before relying on it.11

Colorado Division of Housing-regulated tiny homes can be approved for long-term living, but require state plan approval, applicable code compliance and local zoning compliance.17 State tiny-home approval therefore does not establish that a particular Westminster lot can host the unit.17 If proposing an ADU, Westminster requires compliance with its ADU section and a certificate of occupancy for the principal dwelling before granting the ADU certificate.18

Building a home in Westminster: what should you do first?

Start with Westminster Planning to identify the proposed land use and applicable development standards; pre-application review is the city’s mandatory first step in its development review process.11 Resolve wastewater early: if the home will not have sewage-treatment service, Colorado requires local public health OWTS approval before construction approval.15 Ask Westminster Building which plans and building-permit applications your project needs, then use the city’s eTRAKiT application process.104 Arrange required city building inspections as construction proceeds.19

For land outside Westminster city limits, use the Jefferson County guide: Jefferson County’s building-permit rules cover unincorporated land, while zoning inside city limits belongs with the municipality.2021 We could not confirm a Westminster owner-builder exemption; ask the city Building Division before assuming you can act as your own contractor.10

What should you check before buying land in Westminster?

A new groundwater-diverting well in Colorado generally requires a Colorado Division of Water Resources permit, subject to statutory exemptions and basin-specific rules; a proposed well may also need an augmentation plan.22 Ask the Division of Water Resources about the proposed well’s permitted uses, and ask Westminster Planning about the parcel’s development standards.2211

Colorado requires local floodplain development regulations to meet or exceed federal minimum design and construction criteria and comply with state regulatory-floodplain rules.23 Before committing to a building site, ask Westminster Planning how those requirements affect the proposed development.11 For municipal utility connections, budget for Westminster domestic tap fees before building-permit issuance.8

Watch-outs

  • Westminster’s mobile-home-space setbacks are 7.5 feet at the front and 3 feet at the sides and rear; those figures are not a general setback schedule for ordinary residential lots.24
  • Authorized camping at Standley Lake Regional Park does not establish permission to camp on a private Westminster lot.25
  • We could not confirm Westminster-specific minimum lot sizes or agricultural building exemptions; ask Westminster Planning and Building about the proposed parcel and use.1110

Sources

  1. Permits & Licenses (Westminster), quoted and re-checked
  2. Westminster Municipal Code § 10-1-12, Parking Restrictions (Westminster), quoted and re-checked
  3. Jefferson County Public Health - Environmental Health Services (jeffco.us)
  4. Apply for a Permit / Project | Westminster, CO (Westminster), quoted and re-checked
  5. Title 25 - Public Health and Environment - Colorado Revised Statutes 2024 (Colorado statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  6. Westminster Municipal Code § 5-24-8, Short-Term Rental Limitations; Prohibited Uses (Westminster), quoted and re-checked
  7. Title XI, Chapter 4, Section 11-4-19, Accessory Dwelling Units (Westminster), quoted and re-checked
  8. Water Tap and Sewer Fees (Westminster), quoted and re-checked
  9. Building | Westminster, CO (Westminster), quoted and re-checked
  10. Westminster Building Division (westminsterco.gov)
  11. Westminster Planning Division (westminsterco.gov)
  12. Title XI, Chapter 4, Section 11-4-19, Accessory Dwelling Units (Westminster), quoted and re-checked
  13. Title XI, Chapter 4, Section 11-4-19, Accessory Dwelling Units (Westminster), quoted and re-checked
  14. Title XI, Chapter 4, Section 11-4-19, Accessory Dwelling Units (Westminster), quoted and re-checked
  15. Title 25 - Public Health and Environment - Colorado Revised Statutes 2024 (Colorado statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  16. Title 25 - Public Health and Environment - Colorado Revised Statutes 2024 (Colorado statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  17. Consumers of Manufactured Homes and Tiny Homes - HUD (Colorado statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  18. Title XI, Chapter 4, Section 11-4-19, Accessory Dwelling Units (Westminster), quoted and re-checked
  19. Step 4 Construction | Westminster, CO (Westminster), quoted and re-checked
  20. New Homes and Accessory Dwellings, quoted and re-checked
  21. Zoning Resolution, quoted and re-checked
  22. Water Administration (Colorado statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  23. SB24-179 Floodplain Management Program (Colorado statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  24. Title XI, Chapter 9, Section 11-9-14, Mobile Homes (Westminster), quoted and re-checked
  25. Westminster Municipal Code § 13-1-16, Regulations at Standley Lake Regional Park (Westminster), quoted and re-checked

Written October 10, 2026 from the rules quoted below, each taken from an official source and re-checked by an independent reviewer. This is research, not legal advice: rules change, so confirm with the office before you buy or build.

Answers from the rulebook for Westminster

Westminster’s own rules

  • Building permitRequired

    New residential buildings and the listed residential projects inside Westminster city limits.

    • The city describes its list as examples and not exhaustive.
    • Development-review approval, approved final plans, and completed/accepted public improvements are prerequisites for issuance in the construction process.
    “Please see the examples of projects that need permits, note - this is not an extensive list:”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Required — Interior and exterior residential building projects inside Westminster city limits.
      “Permits are required for both interior and exterior residential building projects within the City of Westminster.”
  • Building code adoptedAdopted (with conditions)

    Construction inside Westminster city limits.

    • The city page identifies 2021 I-Codes as in effect beginning June 1, 2024; the Municipal Code defines the Building Code as amended and adopted by City Council.

    international code edition: 2021

    “The 2021 International Codes (I-Codes) have been in effect since June 1, 2024.”
  • InspectionsRequired

    Permitted construction inside Westminster city limits.

    • Number and type of inspection vary with project scope and nature.
    • A person over age 18 must be onsite to allow safe inspector access; next-business-day scheduling deadline is 4 p.m.
    “All permits require inspections. Inspections can be scheduled online via eTRAKiT. The deadline to schedule an inspection for the next business day is 4 pm.”
  • Certificate of occupancyLimited

    Accessory dwelling units inside Westminster city limits.

    • A certificate of occupancy may be granted only to an ADU complying with Section 11-4-19.
    • A certificate of occupancy must first be granted to the principal dwelling unit on the same lot.
    “A certificate of occupancy may be granted only to an accessory dwelling unit in compliance with this section and only after a certificate of occupancy has been granted to the principal dwelling unit on the same lot.”
  • Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

    Land inside Westminster city limits.

    • Title XI zoning includes the listed residential districts and official-development-plan residential areas.
    “Residential district shall mean any area zoned RE, R1, RA, R2, R3, R4 or R5 under Title XI of this Code, or designated as a residential area in the official development plan for any planned unit development, along with all land within 300 feet of such area.”
  • Zoning districtsPartial

    Residential zoning districts inside Westminster city limits.

    • The identified residential district names are RE, R1, RA, R2, R3, R4, and R5; planned-unit-development residential areas are included for the cited definition.
    “Residential district shall mean any area zoned RE, R1, RA, R2, R3, R4 or R5 under Title XI of this Code, or designated as a residential area in the official development plan for any planned unit development, along with all land within 300 feet of such area.”
  • Minimum dwelling sizeSpecified

    Accessory dwelling units inside Westminster city limits.

    • This numeric minimum applies to ADUs, not necessarily to principal dwelling units.

    minimum ADU size: >= 190 square feet

    “The minimum size for an accessory dwelling unit shall be 190 square feet.”
  • SetbacksSpecified

    Mobile homes and accessory buildings on mobile-home spaces inside Westminster city limits.

    • A mobile home may not be less than 7 feet 6 inches from the front boundary of the mobile-home space.
    • A mobile home may not be less than 3 feet from side or rear boundaries.
    • Accessory buildings and carports/patio covers have the same 7 feet 6 inches front and 3 feet side/rear minimums stated in the section.

    mobile-home front setback: >= 7.5 feet · mobile-home side setback: >= 3 feet · mobile-home rear setback: >= 3 feet

    “No mobile home shall be parked less than 7 feet 6 inches from the front boundary of the mobile home space, measured from the flowline of the curb and gutter of the road providing access to the space. No mobile home shall be parked less than 3 feet from the side or rear boundaries of the mobile home space.”
  • Lot coverageDistrict specific (with conditions)

    Lots with an accessory dwelling unit inside Westminster city limits.

    • Combined principal-dwelling and ADU area cannot exceed the principal dwelling's applicable maximum total lot coverage.
    “The total combined square footage of the principal dwelling unit plus the accessory dwelling unit shall not exceed the maximum total lot coverage established for the principal dwelling unit.”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Specified — Lots with accessory dwelling units inside Westminster city limits.
      “The total combined square footage of the principal dwelling unit plus the accessory dwelling unit shall not exceed the maximum total lot coverage established for the principal dwelling unit.”
  • Building heightDistrict specific (with conditions)

    Accessory dwelling units inside Westminster city limits.

    • The ADU maximum is the height required for its principal dwelling on the same lot.
    “The maximum height of an accessory dwelling unit shall be the same as required for the principal dwelling unit on same lot.”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
  • Living in an RVLimited

    Use of an RV, travel trailer, or temporary structure as a short-term rental inside Westminster city limits.

    • This is a short-term-rental restriction; it does not establish a comprehensive rule for long-term private-parcel RV occupancy.
    “No Short-Term Rental shall be located in any recreational vehicle, travel trailer, temporary structure.”
  • Camping on your landLimited

    Camping at Standley Lake Regional Park, inside Westminster city limits.

    • The restriction applies from sunset to sunrise; authorized camping is the stated exception.
    “Standley Lake Regional Park shall be closed to the public from sunset to sunrise except for authorized camping.”
  • Mandatory utility hookupWater and sewer (with conditions)

    New construction inside Westminster city limits that connects to the City's water and sewer infrastructure.

    • Separate taps are required for each single-family detached home and attached unit, and for each multifamily and non-residential building.
    • Mixed residential and commercial buildings require separate residential and non-residential taps.
    • Domestic tap fees must be paid for permit issuance.
    • The source establishes tap requirements for connections but does not state a universal distance-based connection mandate for every parcel.
    “Separate taps are required for each single-family detached home and attached unit”
  • Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

    Subdivision/plats and land-development projects inside Westminster city limits.

    • A land-disturbance permit can issue after approved plans, final-plat recording if applicable, paid fees including recording fees, recorded PIA, and surety.
    • ADU lot subdivision requires City approval.
    “A Land Disturbance Permit can be issued once the plans are approved, the final plat is recorded (if applicable), the fees are paid (including recording fees), the PIA is recorded and surety is in place.”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic
    • Regulated (with conditions) — Lots containing accessory dwelling units inside Westminster city limits.
      “Accessory dwelling units shall not be sold separately from the principal dwelling unit, nor shall the lot on which it is situated be subdivided unless such subdivision has been approved by the City.”
  • Short-term rentalsLimited

    Short-term rentals inside Westminster city limits.

    • Only one party may occupy licensed premises at a time.
    • Commercial activities incompatible with residential use are prohibited.
    • STR occupancy is subject to W.M.C. 11-12-4.
    • No STR may be in an RV, travel trailer, or temporary structure.
    “The Licensed Premises shall be occupied by only one Party at a time. Renting to multiple Parties at the same time is prohibited.”
  • Permit feesPublished (with conditions)

    Westminster Building Division permits and related inspections.

    • Fees are valuation-based and include permit/plan-review, use-tax, and applicable trade fees.
    • The city says fees are subject to change.
    • The fee schedule identifies an effective date of September 1, 2010.

    plan review fee: 65 percent of building permit fee · reinspection fee: 50 USD

    “Building permit fees are valuation based and shall include the permit and plan review fees, use tax and trade fees (as applicable).”
  • Permit processPublished (with conditions)

    Permit applications inside Westminster city limits.

    • Public registered users may pay fees and view detailed records; contractors may pay, apply, and schedule/cancel inspections.
    • Applications cannot be completed on a smartphone or tablet.
    “To apply for a permit or project, users can access the eTRAKiT portal. This system provides users the ability to view records and check project status without logging in.”

Still unanswered

We looked and could not find an official answer yet. Silence is not permission; ask Westminster or Jefferson County directly.

  • Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder residential work inside Westminster city limits.
  • Minimum lot size — RE, R1, RA, and R5 districts inside Westminster city limits.
  • Tiny homes — Tiny-home occupancy inside Westminster city limits.
  • Who permits septic — Onsite wastewater systems inside Westminster city limits.
  • Septic permit — Installation or repair of an onsite wastewater system inside Westminster city limits.
5 more unanswered
  • Septic inspection
  • Off-grid sanitation
  • Well permit
  • Agricultural exemption
  • Driveway access

Each answer was extracted from an official source and independently re-checked against that source by a second reviewer. That is an evidence check, not legal advice. Rules change; confirm with the authority before you buy or build.

Unanswered questions are usually a sign that Westminster publishes no rule on the point, not that none exists. Jefferson County’s page lists the county offices to call.

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