DESIGN · BUILD · AUTOMATE
CASTLE ROCK SERVICES
Castle Rock ADU / backyard cottage — local feasibility & estimate
ADU Feasibility Consultation, $350
Compare both studiesExploring a backyard ADU in Castle Rock? Autotelic helps assess feasibility against lot, setbacks, HOA, and local rules—then provides a clear estimate and build path with one team. No fake zoning envelopes. No invented prices or license claims.
What Castle Rock requires
Code reference: Exempt work follows the Town’s adopted amendments to the 2024 International Residential Code (IRC) and International Building Code (IBC), per Ordinance No. 2026-017 (effective around June 30, 2026). Ord. No. 2026-017
See full local requirements ↓- 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
Local Service
ADU / Backyard Cottage Services in Castle Rock, Colorado
Autotelic provides professional ADU / backyard cottage services throughout Castle Rock and the surrounding Douglas 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 Castle Rock (Douglas County seat) or nearby communities, our team delivers quality workmanship, licensed and insured.
Permit Thresholds
Castle Rock permit thresholds
- Code reference
- Exempt work follows the Town’s adopted amendments to the 2024 International Residential Code (IRC) and International Building Code (IBC), per Ordinance No. 2026-017 (effective around June 30, 2026).Ord. No. 2026-017
- Code reference
- One-story detached accessory non-habitable structures (tool sheds, playhouses, etc.) ≤ 120 sq ft, ≥ 10 ft from the nearest occupiable structure.
- Code reference
- Fences ≤ 6 ft high (swimming pool barriers of any height are *not* exempt).
- Code reference
- Shingle repair or replacement not exceeding one square (100 sq ft) of covering per building.
- Code reference
- The adopted codes (2024 IRC/IBC and related) govern when alterations trigger permitting.
- Code reference
- See Title 15 of the Castle Rock Municipal Code (and amendments in Ordinance 2026-017) for the full adopted code language on work exempt from permit (primarily amending IRC R105.2 and equivalent IBC sections).Ord. 2026-017
- Building use tax
- 5.2% applied to 50% of the project’s valuation (materials estimated at half the valuation).
- Code reference
- This comprises the Town’s 4.2% use tax rate + Douglas County’s 1% use tax rate.
Codes are amended regularly — verify current requirements with **The Town of Castle Rock Building Division (part of Development Services) issues residential building permits within the town limits.
Zoning & ADU
Castle Rock zoning & ADU quick facts
- R-1 — Minimum Lot Area
- 9000 sfR-1
- R-1 — Minimum Lot Width
- 75'R-1
- R-1 — Front Setback (min)
- 25'R-1
- R-1 — Side Interior Setback (min)
- 7'R-1
- R-1 — Side Setback Abutting Street (min)
- 25'R-1
- R-1 — Rear Setback (min)
- 25'R-1
- R-1 — Building Height (max)
- 35'R-1
- R1 — Front Setback (min)
- 25'R1
Codes are amended regularly — verify current requirements with **The Town of Castle Rock Building Division (part of Development Services) issues residential building permits within the town limits.
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 in Castle Rock.
- First contact for a ADU / Backyard Cottage project
- ADU / Backyard Cottage feasibility in Castle Rock
- How a ADU / Backyard Cottage project is estimated
- Designing a ADU / Backyard Cottage project
- Booking a ADU / Backyard Cottage service
- Managing a ADU / Backyard Cottage job in the client portal
- On site: the crew app
Energy Code
Castle Rock energy code quick facts
- Code reference
- 2021 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC), with local amendments, as adopted by Ordinance No. 2026-017 (adopted June 2, 2026; effective June 30, 2026), along with the Colorado Model Electric-Ready and Solar-Ready Code.Ord. No. 2026-017
- Code reference
- This applies to Castle Rock (Douglas County, Climate Zone 5B).
- Code reference
- The adoption aligns with state requirements for jurisdictions updating other building codes by the June 30, 2026 deadline.
- Code reference
- Specific local numeric amendments to prescriptive requirements (e.g., R-values, U-factors, or air-sealing thresholds for remodels/additions) are not detailed in publicly available sources beyond references to the base 2021 IECC tables/sections (such as Table R402.1.2 for insulation/fenestration and
- Code reference
- The adopting ordinance incorporates the 2021 IECC by reference with amendments thereto but does not appear to alter the core prescriptive values in available excerpts.
Codes are amended regularly — verify current requirements with **The Town of Castle Rock Building Division (part of Development Services) issues residential building permits within the town limits.
Service Area
Serving Castle Rock and Douglas County
We serve Castle Rock, 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 Castle Rock project.
FAQ
ADU feasibility FAQ
How much does ADU Feasibility Consultation cost in Castle Rock?
$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.
Can I build an ADU on my lot?
It depends on lot size, setbacks, HOA rules, and Castle Rock’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.
What will an ADU cost?
The lot lookup is free. Our ADU cost page shows planning ranges for a detached backyard cottage; your lot, utility connections and finishes affect the price. Start an estimate for your project, or call (720) 287-7958 to talk it through. A fixed-price build proposal comes after feasibility.
How long does an ADU project take?
First we check your lot and agree on the scope. Then come design and drawings, city permit review, and construction with inspections. Your lot, utility connections, design changes and the city’s review schedule affect the timing. Your proposal includes a project-specific schedule before you commit to the build. A consultation booking is the first planning conversation, not a construction start date.
Who builds the ADU?
Autotelic’s local design-build team takes your project from the first concept through an estimate, permits and construction. You have one team to talk to along the way.
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.
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.
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 →Explore