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BROOMFIELD SERVICES

ADU / Backyard Cottage in Broomfield

Licensed ADU / backyard cottage services for Broomfield and Broomfield County. Build an income-producing unit in your backyard.

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ADU / Backyard Cottage

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Local Service

ADU / Backyard Cottage Services in Broomfield, Colorado

Autotelic provides professional ADU / backyard cottage services throughout Broomfield and the surrounding Broomfield County area. Accessory dwelling unit construction across the Denver metro — detached new builds, garage conversions, and basement conversions compliant with Colorado HB 24-1152. One veteran-owned design-build team runs the full Denver sequence under a single contract: zoning verification and concept design, municipal zoning and building permit reviews, then construction and inspections through certificate of occupancy. Whether you're in Broomfield (city and county between Denver and Boulder) or nearby communities, our team delivers quality workmanship backed by Colorado licensing and full insurance coverage.

Permit Thresholds

Broomfield permit thresholds

Code reference
Permits and inspections verify compliance with adopted codes (primarily the 2024 International Residential Code and related codes via Ordinance 2295, effective April 15, 2026, under Title 15 / Chapter 15-03 of the Broomfield Municipal Code).Ordinance 2295
Use tax (not collapsed into a single rate)
Broomfield collects use tax of 4.15% applied to 50% of the total project valuation (assumed materials portion) at permit issuance for building materials.
Code reference
Use tax of 4.15% is also charged on 50% of site work valuation (e.g., landscaping, patios) per BMC §§ 3-08-040 and 3-08-060; exemptions are in BMC § 3-08-050.§ 3-08-040
Code reference
All information derives from Broomfield’s official Building Division resources and municipal code references (Title 15, Chapter 15-03, and use tax chapter 3-08).

Codes are amended regularly — verify current requirements with **The City and County of Broomfield (specifically its Building Division in the Community Development Department) issues residential building permits.

Zoning & ADU

Broomfield zoning & ADU quick facts

Code reference
ADUs are permitted in all zoning districts allowing single-family residential uses as a principal use (including the most common single-family districts such as R-1 Low-Density Residential District, Chapter 17-14), per 17-32-160 as amended by Ordinance 2265 (2025). One ADU per lot is allowed.Ordinance 2265
ADU maximum size (applies across these districts)
Up to 500 square feet, or 50% of the principal dwelling unit’s footprint (excluding garage, porch, or similar areas), or 800 square feet, whichever is less (per city implementation of 17-32-160).
Lot coverage, building height, and principal/accessory setbacks
These are specified individually in each district chapter (e.g., Chapter 17-14 for R-1 and related chapters such as 17-12 for E-2 Estate District or 17-09 for RR Rural Residential).
Code reference
Specific numeric standards (such as maximum lot coverage percentages or maximum building heights) are not detailed in publicly summarized sources or recent ordinances reviewed; they must be confirmed directly from the applicable district section in Title 17 of the Broomfield Municipal Code for the esection in

Codes are amended regularly — verify current requirements with **The City and County of Broomfield (specifically its Building Division in the Community Development Department) issues residential building permits.

Energy Code

Broomfield energy code quick facts

Code reference
Broomfield, Colorado (climate zone 5B), has adopted the 2024 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) as amended by the Colorado Model Low Energy and Carbon Code (MLECC/LECC), via Ordinance 2295 (effective April 15, 2026, for permits issued on or after that date).Ordinance 2295
Code reference
This replaces the prior 2021 IECC cycle.
Key prescriptive or related requirements relevant to remodels/additions (drawn f
Key prescriptive or related requirements relevant to remodels/additions (drawn from the adopted 2024 IECC + MLECC framework; specific numeric envelope values like R-values or U-factors follow the base 2024 IECC tables for zone 5B unless further amended locally, with emphasis on performance/credits,
Air leakage/ testing thresholds (R402.5.1.3 or equivalent in MLECC amendments)
Maximum air leakage rates vary by climate zone and compliance path (e.g., prescriptive or ERI); testing required for many additions/alterations affecting the envelope.
Electric-ready requirements (new Section R409/C410 in MLECC, integrated with pri
Dedicated branch circuits, appropriately sized panel space, labeling, and condensate drainage provisions for future electrification of space heating, water heating, cooking, and clothes drying where combustion equipment is present (applies to alterations adding or replacing such systems).Section R409
Solar-ready zone (R409/C410 in MLECC)
Designated solar-ready roof zone with construction document specifications for single-family, townhomes, and certain multifamily (applies to new roofs or major roof work in remodels/additions).
EV-ready spaces (R409/C410 in MLECC, with local amendment)
Conduit/raceway, panel capacity, wiring, and overcurrent protection for future EV charging; local amendment adjusts thresholds (e.g., for smaller lots) and requires at least 20% or a minimum of 2 spaces EV-ready in certain commercial contexts.
Energy efficiency credits (R408/C406 in MLECC)
Additional credits required based on conditioned floor area, occupancy, climate zone (5B), and combustion vs.

Codes are amended regularly — verify current requirements with **The City and County of Broomfield (specifically its Building Division in the Community Development Department) issues residential building permits.

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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.

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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.

Service Area

Serving Broomfield and Broomfield County

We serve Broomfield, CO and all surrounding Denver metro communities. Our team is based in Denver and operates throughout the Front Range, from Castle Rock to Longmont and everywhere in between. Contact us for a free estimate on your Broomfield project.

FAQ

Common questions

Is an ADU allowed on my lot?

It depends on your city’s zoning — lot size, setbacks, and parking rules vary across the metro. We run the zoning check as the first step and tell you what your lot supports before you spend money on design.

Do you handle ADU permits and inspections?

Yes — ADU permitting is municipal, and we manage zoning review, permit application, and every inspection through certificate of occupancy.

Detached, attached, or garage conversion — which is right?

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.

What does an ADU cost?

Getting a real answer costs less than most people expect: an ADU feasibility consultation is $350, and the full ADU feasibility package — zoning check, site analysis, and concept direction — is $950, both listed at fixed prices on our booking page. Construction cost depends on the path: garage and basement conversions reuse existing structure, while a detached backyard cottage is new construction from the foundation up. After feasibility we quote the build itself as a fixed-price proposal, so you know the number before work starts.

How long does an ADU project take?

Three phases run in sequence: design (site measure, concept, construction documents), permitting (zoning and building review, which move on the municipality’s calendar), then construction. Conversions generally move faster than detached new builds because the shell and foundation already exist. We lay out the phase-by-phase schedule in your proposal, and you track progress on our operations platform once work starts.

How small a lot can support an ADU?

Smaller than most people assume — many Front Range single-unit lots that owners write off can carry a detached unit, and each city sets its own minimum lot size, setbacks, and building coverage. Whether your district’s standards leave room for a backyard cottage — or point you toward a garage or basement conversion instead — is exactly what the feasibility check answers for your address.

What is the ADU permit process?

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. Colorado HB 24-1152 now requires most Front Range municipalities to allow ADUs on single-unit lots, and we confirm how your city implements it as the first step of feasibility.

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