How big can a Denver ADU be?
✓ Verified against code · August 19, 2026
In single-unit districts the cap is a building footprint of 864 sq ft (lots up to 7,000 sq ft) or 1,000 sq ft (larger lots) — and because it's a footprint cap, a two-story ADU can roughly double the livable space within it. Urban-context height allows 2 stories / 24 ft.
Citation: DZC §11.8.2.1.B.2; §5.3.4.5
How current is this?
Denver’s ADU rules run under Denver Zoning Code §11.8.2 and Article 3/5 form standards (CB24-1302 (amended by CB25-0684, CB25-2163)). Denver's citywide ADU ordinance (CB24-1302) ended parcel-by-parcel rezonings in December 2024, a follow-up repealed all vehicle-parking minimums citywide in August 2025, and a February 2026 amendment forced PUDs to allow ADUs. The city's own 2023 'Constructing an ADU' handout, still linked from its permits page, describes the pre-2024 regime — ignore it. We verified this answer against primary sources on August 19, 2026, and every change we catch is logged in the changelog.
More Denver ADU questions
- Do I need a rezoning to build an ADU in Denver?
- Do I need parking for a Denver ADU?
- Do I have to live on the property?
- Does a Denver ADU need a sewer permit?
All Denver ADU rules → · Compare Colorado cities →
Not legal advice — lot-specific overlays can change the answer for your parcel. The citation above points at the governing code section; check it, or ask the city to confirm.