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Backyard cottage / ADU in Denver metro — clear path to estimate
ADU Feasibility Consultation, $350
Compare both studiesAutotelic helps Denver-metro homeowners assess ADU / backyard cottage feasibility on their lot, then moves from concept to a clear estimate and build under one team. Feasibility depends on lot, setbacks, HOA, and local rules—we do not invent zoning envelopes or permit guarantees.
- Full Design Lifecycle
- Construction & Tenant Finish
- Smart Home · A/V · Edge Compute
Build an income-producing unit in your backyard
Book an ADU feasibility study
Two fixed-price studies, booked online before you pay for design: a site visit with a go/no-go read on your lot, or a written report you can take to a lender.
Pay when you book. We confirm within 24 hours or refund you in full.
ADU Feasibility Consultation
An on-site review of your lot against local ADU zoning, setbacks, and utility access.
Pay when you book · morning (8–12) or afternoon (12–4)
What's included
An on-site review of your lot against local ADU zoning, setbacks, and utility access. You get a verbal go/no-go read plus a one-page summary of constraints and next steps.
ADU Feasibility Package
Site visit plus a written feasibility report: local ADU zoning check, buildable envelope sketch, utility routing notes, and a preliminary budget.
$475 deposit to book, the rest when the work is done · morning (8–12) or afternoon (12–4)
What's included
Site visit plus a written feasibility report: local ADU zoning check, buildable envelope sketch, utility routing notes, and a preliminary budget. A documented go/no-go you can take to a lender.
FREE PLANNING TOOLS
Both tools are free and take a couple of minutes — start in either one.
EVERY PROJECT STARTS WITH DESIGN
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What this covers
Detached or attached accessory dwelling on a Denver lot: foundation or module, envelope, and utility tie-in. Height and massing follow Denver bulk-plane and ADU rules for the zone; confirm with CPD before drawings freeze.
What the code allows
What the code allows in Denver — U-SU-A example
- ADU allowed
- Yes — Permitted by right under Denver's 2024 ADU reform for this district; confirm specifics with a hand-checked review.
- ADU gross floor area
- 864 sf on zone lots ≤7,000 sf, 1,000 sf aboveDZC §11.8.2.1.B.2
- Detached ADU footprint
- 864 sf/unit on zone lots ≤7,000 sf, 1,000 sf/unit aboveDZC Table §5.3.4.5.A
- Detached ADU height
- 24 ft · 2 storiesDZC §5.3.4.5.A
- Detached ADU bulk plane
- Starts 10 ft at the side lot lines and rises at 45°; 12 ft on lots 40 ft wide or lessDZC §5.3.4.5.A (p. 5.3-31)
- Dormers through the bulk plane
- Allowed on a Detached ADU in U- districts — not an over-height violation unless they exceed the 24 ft capDZC §13.1.4.3
- Detached ADU rear setback
- 5 ft, the no-alley default; 0 ft only when a known alley abuts and garage doors do not face itDZC §5.3.4
- Primary house setbacks
- Front 20 ft (block-contextual default) · side 3 ft · rear 12 ftDZC §13.1.5.9
- Primary building height
- 30 ftDZC §5.3 (U-SU-A dimensional standards, p.19)
- Lot coverage
- 60% maxDZC §5.3 (U-SU-A dimensional standards, p.19)
Illustrative only — not a code determination or permit approval. These values come from the same resolver that powers the lot tool, for one example lot; Denver rules are district-by-district and the front setback is block-contextual — run your own address.
A recent build
Backyard ADU in Denver
Denver · 2026
- Status
- Under construction — 2026
- Managed on
- Buildbot — Autotelic’s own PM platform
- Architecture, site plans, and full MEP design completed in-house
- Permits pulled — electric and plumbing rough-ins permitted and underway
- Spray-foam insulation and exterior work in progress
- First project managed end-to-end on Buildbot, Autotelic’s construction-PM platform
A ground-up backyard ADU in Denver — designed, permitted, and now under construction by Autotelic, and the first project managed end-to-end on Buildbot, Autotelic’s own construction-management platform.
The build sequence for a ADU / Backyard Cottage project
This service is a component of How a ADU project works.
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How the work is coordinated
A municipally licensed Denver general contractor coordinates licensed specialty trades for electrical and plumbing. Denver-metro work is permitted locally. Colorado has no statewide general-contractor license. Cities and counties license general contractors. DORA licenses electrical and plumbing (and similar regulated trades), not general contractors. Autotelic is a municipally licensed Denver general contractor that coordinates licensed specialty trades. Denver building permits run through Community Planning and Development (CPD). Costs are project-specific; no dollar figures.
FAQ
ADU feasibility FAQ
Can I build an ADU on my lot?
It depends on lot size, setbacks, HOA rules, and your city’s code. Autotelic helps assess feasibility—we do not invent zoning envelopes or guarantee permit outcomes.
Is the online sizing tool a permit determination?
No. Lot-aware sizing on /adu/ is illustrative only and is not a permit determination. A clear estimate and local review come next.
What happens after I start an estimate?
You move from feasibility into a clear estimate with the same design-build team, then permit coordination and build with a licensed Denver-metro crew when you proceed.
Do you publish fixed ADU prices or license claims on these pages?
No. We do not invent prices or license claims on landing pages. Call (720) 287-7958 or start an estimate for project-specific numbers.
Who builds the ADU?
Autotelic’s design-build path: concept → clear estimate → licensed local crew → commissioning—one throat to choke, not a designer handed to a random GC.
How much does ADU Feasibility Consultation cost?
$350.
How do I book?
Press Book next to the job, pick a date and a morning (8–12) or afternoon (12–4) window, and pay in full. We confirm within 24 hours or refund you in full.
How much does an ADU cost in Denver?
We don't put a single number here on purpose — the honest answer depends on your lot, the utility runs and the finish level. Our Instant Estimate reads the same published tier ranges we quote from and narrows them to your project in about two minutes: https://autotelic.build/estimate?trade=adu-backyard-cottage. It is an estimate, not a quote; after feasibility the build is quoted as a fixed-price proposal, so you know the number before work starts.
Garage conversion or detached backyard cottage?
Each has different zoning, cost, and site implications. We design all three and recommend based on your lot, budget, and how you plan to use the unit. On a Denver U-SU-A lot like the example on this page, a detached ADU is capped at 24 ft and 2 stories with an 864 sf footprint on zone lots of 7,000 sf or less (DZC §5.3.4.5.A); a garage or basement conversion reuses the structure you already have.
Should I build for a rental or for family?
The code limits on this page apply to the building no matter who lives in it — what changes is the layout and the specification. Our Premium tier is written as a rental-ready one-bedroom (complete kitchen, laundry, private entrance); family and multigenerational use more often points to a Studio ADU or a lofted Signature plan. Run the lot check for the size you are allowed, then the estimate for the tier price.
What are the drawbacks — permits, timeline, neighbors?
Two municipal reviews run in order: a zoning review confirming the unit fits your district’s standards, then a building permit review of the construction documents, with inspections during the build and a certificate of occupancy at the end. Building permits in Denver are issued by Community Planning and Development, and contractor licensing here is municipal — a Denver-licensed contractor pulls Denver permits. We handle permit applications and inspections as part of every project. One Denver-specific wrinkle: the front setback is block-contextual (DZC §13.1.5.9) — blocks with established homes may require matching their existing fronts. We manage zoning review, the permit application and every inspection through certificate of occupancy.
How It Runs
01
Survey
02
Design
03
Build
04
Verify
DESIGN SERVICES
Discovery & Site Analysis
Needs + preference programming, site survey, as-built documentation, feasibility.
We walk, measure, and photograph your property — existing conditions, utilities, structure, and constraints. You get the as-built documentation and feasibility read that every later decision rests on.
Learn more →Concept Design & Space Planning
Schematic design, floor plan studies, layout options.
Your scope becomes schematic floor plans you can compare side by side — circulation, daylight, adjacencies, and what each option does to the budget. Layout decisions happen on paper, where changes are cheap.
Learn more →Architectural Design & 3D Renderings
Design development, materials + finishes, photorealistic visualization.
The chosen concept resolves into materials, finishes, fixtures, and lighting — with the automation layer drawn in. Photorealistic renderings let you walk the space and adjust before anything is priced.
Learn more →Construction Documents & Permitting
Full CD sets, structural + MEP engineering coordination, permit-ready drawings.
Approved designs become coordinated architectural, structural, and MEP sheets — the set your jurisdiction permits from and trades build from. We submit, track, and answer review comments.
Learn more →CONSTRUCTION
New Construction & Custom Homes
Ground-up homes and light commercial, dirt to keys.
Ground-up residential and light commercial builds — foundations through finishes, including modular and steel construction. One accountable builder from dirt to keys.
Learn more →Remodels & Additions
Kitchens, baths, basements, pop-tops, whole-home.
Kitchens, baths, basements, pop-tops, and whole-home renovations that respect the house you already have. We handle structure, permits, and the dust.
Learn more →Commercial Tenant Finish & Build-Outs
Shells to working spaces — retail, office, restaurant, school.
Raw shells become working spaces — showrooms, offices, restaurants, schools. Dealer-spec finishes, code compliance, and opening dates held.
Learn more →ADUs & Modular Construction
Backyard cottages, garage conversions, factory-built homes.
Backyard cottages, garage conversions, and factory-built homes — zoning, design, permits, and set. Denver’s ADU rules are a specialty, not a surprise.
Learn more →Outdoor Living & Patio Structures
Decks, pergolas, and dining patios built for Colorado weather.
Decks, pergolas, and dining patios engineered for Colorado sun, snow, and hail — structure, shade, and drainage done right the first time.
Learn more →TECHNOLOGY
Smart Home Automation
Lighting, shades, climate, audio, security — one interface.
Whole-home control of lighting, shades, climate, audio, and security from a single interface — Crestron, Lutron, Savant, and Control4 designed in, not bolted on.
Learn more →A/V Systems
Theaters, distributed audio, video walls, commercial sound.
Theaters, distributed audio, video walls, and commercial sound — designed, installed, and tuned by the same team for over 20 years.
Learn more →Control Systems
Custom programming — scenes and schedules that fit the space.
Every subsystem brought into one elegant interface — custom programming for homes and venues, with scenes and schedules that match how the space is actually used.
Learn more →Networking & Edge Compute
Enterprise Wi-Fi, structured cabling, racks, on-prem compute.
Enterprise-grade Wi-Fi, structured cabling, racks, and on-premise compute — the backbone that makes everything else reliable, including our own Barbot platform.
Learn more →Solar & Energy Storage
Solar arrays, Tesla Powerwall, EV charging — certified install.
Solar arrays, Tesla Powerwall, and EV charging designed and installed by a Tesla Energy Certified team — roof, electrical, and app in one scope.
Learn more →Let's design your perfect ADU / Backyard Cottage together
Get a personalized estimate in about 2 minutes — no pressure, no obligation.
How This Works (2 minutes)
- 1Tell us about your project (30 seconds)
- 2Answer a few quick questions for an accurate estimate (60 seconds)
- 3Get your personalized estimate instantly (30 seconds)
No pressure. No obligation. No spam calls. If we're not the right fit, we'll tell you — and even recommend someone who is.
Areas We Serve
Where we build ADU / backyard cottage
Lot check
Check your lot's height & bulk-plane limits
Illustrative ADU envelope explorer for Denver and the metro cities we serve — cited code sections, sealed Edgewater map, honest refusals. Not a permit determination.
Open the explorerBuilding in Edgewater? Chapter 16 rules + what the map says about your lot →
What does an ADU cost in Denver? Real ranges, then your number →