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CENTENNIAL SERVICES

Centennial ADU / backyard cottage — local feasibility & estimate

ADU Feasibility Consultation, $350

Compare both studies

Exploring a backyard ADU in Centennial? 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 Centennial requires

Code reference: In Centennial, Colorado, building permits for residential remodel work are governed by the 2021 International Residential Code (IRC) Section R105 (adopted via Centennial Municipal Code Chapter 18 – Building Regulations, per Ordinance 2023-O-06 and related adoptions of the 2021 I-Codes). §R105

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ADU / Backyard Cottage

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.

Studies for additions, custom homes and commercial space

FREE PLANNING TOOLS

Both tools are free and take a couple of minutes — start in either one.

Local Service

ADU / Backyard Cottage Services in Centennial, Colorado

Autotelic provides professional ADU / backyard cottage services throughout Centennial and the surrounding Arapahoe 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 Centennial (south Denver metro) or nearby communities, our team delivers quality workmanship backed by Colorado licensing and full insurance coverage.

Permits & Licensing

Permits in Centennial

Centennial building permits, inspections, and contractor license approvals are handled by the city's Building Division. Permits and contractor licenses must be applied for online through the city's Self-Service Portal, and we handle that process as part of every project. Authority: City of Centennial — Building Division.

Permit Thresholds

Centennial permit thresholds

Code reference
In Centennial, Colorado, building permits for residential remodel work are governed by the 2021 International Residential Code (IRC) Section R105 (adopted via Centennial Municipal Code Chapter 18 – Building Regulations, per Ordinance 2023-O-06 and related adoptions of the 2021 I-Codes).§R105
Code reference
Typically exempt work (aligning with IRC R105.2 exemptions, with local application) includes:
Code reference
One-story detached accessory structures (e.g., sheds) ≤200 sq ft.
Code reference
Fences ≤7 ft high; retaining walls ≤4 ft high (measured from bottom of footing).
Code reference
Prefabricated swimming pools <24 inches deep.
Code reference
Window awnings projecting ≤54 inches.
Code reference
Decks ≤200 sq ft, ≤30 inches above grade, and not attached to the dwelling.
Use tax (not collapsed into a single rate)
City of Centennial Use Tax of 2.5% applied to the actual cost of materials, plus Arapahoe County Use Tax of 0.25% applied to the actual cost of materials.

Codes are amended regularly — verify current requirements with City of Centennial — Building Division.

Zoning & ADU

Centennial zoning & ADU quick facts

NC5 — Minimum Lot Area
5000 sfNC5
NC5 — Minimum Lot Width
50 ftNC5
NC5 — Front Setback (min)
15'NC5
NC5 — Side Interior Setback (min)
5'NC5
NC5 — Side Setback Abutting Street (min)
10'NC5
NC5 — Rear Setback (min)
15'NC5
NC5 — Lot Coverage (max)
42%NC5
NC5 — Building Height (max)
30'NC5
City of Centennial Land Development Code / official Zoning District Descriptions (2011 LDC summaries as published by the City) NC5 setback standards (Centennial Zoning District Descriptions (city website; verify against Chapter 12 LDC)) — effective 2011-01-01Source: centennialco.gov

Codes are amended regularly — verify current requirements with City of Centennial — Building Division.

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.

Energy Code

Centennial energy code quick facts

Code reference
Centennial, Colorado, has adopted the 2018 IECC (with the 2021 I-Codes package) as its energy code, with no mention of Denver-specific overlays such as the Denver Green Code or Energize Denver.
Code reference
This is enforced by the City’s Building Division under Ordinance No. 2023-O-06 (adopting the referenced codes by reference, effective as part of the 2021/2023 code update package).Ord. No. 2023-O-06
Code reference
Centennial is in Climate Zone 5B.
Code reference
The code applies to alterations, additions, and remodels per IECC Chapter 5 (existing buildings), with the prescriptive requirements of Chapter 4 (or equivalent U-factor/UA paths) generally applying to new or modified portions of the thermal envelope.
Code reference
Key prescriptive requirements relevant to remodels/additions (drawn from 2018 IECC Table R402.1.2 and related sections for CZ 5; these are the base code values with no local amendments identified that alter them):
Ceiling/attic insulation
Minimum R-49 (or equivalent U-factor ≤ 0.026).
Adopting reference
2018 IECC R402.1.2 (Table R402.1.2).
Wood-frame wall insulation
R-20 cavity or R-13 cavity + R-5 continuous insulation (or equivalent U-factor ≤ 0.060).
Ord. No. 2023-O-06Source: centennialco.gov

Codes are amended regularly — verify current requirements with City of Centennial — Building Division.

Service Area

Serving Centennial and Arapahoe County

We serve Centennial, 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 Centennial project.

FAQ

ADU feasibility FAQ

How much does ADU Feasibility Consultation cost in Centennial?

$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 Centennial’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 Centennial 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.

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.

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?

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.

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

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Survey

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Design

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Build

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Verify

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Let's design your perfect ADU / Backyard Cottage together

Get a personalized estimate in about 2 minutes — no pressure, no obligation.

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How This Works (2 minutes)

  1. 1Tell us about your project (30 seconds)
  2. 2Answer a few quick questions for an accurate estimate (60 seconds)
  3. 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.