ADU types · Denver, CO
Four ways to add an ADU to a Denver property.
Pick by what your lot already has: a yard, a garage, room beside the house, or a lower level. Each one gets design, permits and construction from the same team.
How do the ADU types compare in Denver?
A summary based on Colorado's ADU statute and Denver's ADU permit guidance, as of October 2026. The zone district on your parcel decides the exact limits.
| Type | What gets built | Rules to watch | Usually fits when |
|---|---|---|---|
| Detached ADU | A new building behind the house | Story limits differ between Denver's urban and suburban contexts | The yard is deep or reaches an alley |
| Garage conversion | Living space inside an existing garage | The structure must be brought up to residential building code | The garage has a sound slab and framing |
| Attached ADU | An addition joined to the house | Setbacks and lot coverage for the zone district | There is room beside or behind the house |
| Basement ADU | An apartment in the existing lower level | Ceiling height, egress, fire separation | The basement is dry with enough headroom |
How many ADUs can a Denver lot have?
One per primary home. As of October 2026, Denver's ADU permit page says a single-unit house can add one attached or detached ADU, and each unit of a duplex or row house can add one detached ADU where the zoning allows it. Colorado's HB24-1152 likewise guarantees one ADU, not several. See what HB24-1152 changes.
What could your Denver-area lot hold?
Give us the address and the type of unit you have in mind. We read the zoning for that parcel and reply with what looks buildable. Denver, Lakewood, Aurora, Englewood and Arvada.