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Commerce City ADU / backyard cottage — local feasibility & estimate
ADU Feasibility Consultation, $350
Compare both studiesExploring a backyard ADU in Commerce City? 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 Commerce City requires
Code reference: These rules are in Commerce City Revised Municipal Code Chapter 5 (Buildings and Building Regulations), Article I, particularly Sec. 5-5 (scope of the City of Commerce City Building Code and work exempt from code provisions) and the referenced Sec. 5-8 (work exempt from permit requirements). §5-5
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 Commerce City, Colorado
Autotelic provides professional ADU / backyard cottage services throughout Commerce City and the surrounding Adams 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 Commerce City (northeast Denver metro) or nearby communities, our team delivers quality workmanship, licensed and insured.
Permit Thresholds
Commerce City permit thresholds
- Code reference
- Residential roof sheathing replacements of 256 square feet and under (unless required to be fire-retardant).
- Code reference
- Gutters, kitchen cabinets, on-grade patios, driveways, and certain other minor items (e.g., fences meeting height limits, playground equipment, retaining walls 4 feet and under without surcharge).
- Code reference
- These rules are in Commerce City Revised Municipal Code Chapter 5 (Buildings and Building Regulations), Article I, particularly Sec. 5-5 (scope of the City of Commerce City Building Code and work exempt from code provisions) and the referenced Sec. 5-8 (work exempt from permit requirements).§5-5
- Code reference
- The city adopts the 2021 IBC/IRC and related codes with local amendments.
- Code reference
- Use tax is collected at 4.5% applied to the dollar cost and/or value of all building and construction materials intended to be used and/or consumed as part of the project (not collapsed into a single rate; confirmed for small projects valued at $500 or less, where the permit fee is $23.50 and th
Codes are amended regularly — verify current requirements with **The Building Safety Division (part of the City of Commerce City’s Community Development Department) issues residential building permits.
Zoning & ADU
Commerce City zoning & ADU quick facts
- Code reference
- ADUs are permitted in single-family residential districts (e.g., R-1 Single-Family Detached Residential District and similar zones) under the 2025 Land Development Code updates. Only one ADU is allowed per single-family lot.
- ADU size limits (applicable across qualifying single-family districts)
- Cannot exceed 75% of the floor area of the principal unit or 1,000 sf, whichever is less; a minimum of 750 sf is permitted regardless of principal unit size.
- ADU height limits
- Must be less than the height of the principal building or 22 ft maximum, whichever is less.
- Code reference
- No specific numeric standards for maximum lot coverage %, primary building height, or district-specific setbacks for additions/garages/primary structures in the most common single-family districts (such as R-1) were located with direct code citations in available sources.
- Code reference
- For full district tables (e.g., R-1 standards in Article IV or equivalent sections of the Land Development Code), consult the official code on Municode or enCodePlus, or contact Commerce City Planning (Planner of the Day).
Codes are amended regularly — verify current requirements with **The Building Safety Division (part of the City of Commerce City’s Community Development Department) issues residential building permits.
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 Commerce City.
- First contact for a ADU / Backyard Cottage project
- ADU / Backyard Cottage feasibility in Commerce City
- 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
Commerce City energy code quick facts
- Code reference
- 2021 IECC (as the City of Commerce City Energy Conservation Code), with local amendments.
- Code reference
- Commerce City adopts the 2021 edition of the International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) as its Energy Conservation Code (both commercial and residential provisions apply, per the city’s Building Code).
- Code reference
- This is incorporated by reference in the Commerce City Revised Municipal Code (C3BC), primarily via Sec. 5-2 (Incorporation by reference), which lists the 2021 IECC among the adopted codes.§5-2
- Code reference
- It is further detailed and locally amended on the city’s official page for the 2021 IECC.
- Code reference
- The city’s amendments (detailed on the official 2021 IECC adoption page) are primarily administrative/procedural and do not alter the core prescriptive tables or performance requirements of the 2021 IECC itself.
- Code reference
- Amending C101.1 (Title) to reference the City of Commerce City Commercial Energy Conservation Code.
- Code reference
- Requiring digital submission of construction documents with specific energy-related details (e.g., insulation R-values, fenestration U-factors/SHGC, air barrier details).
- Code reference
- Deleting/replacing the fees section (C104) to tie into the city’s municipal code Article VI, Chapter 5.
Codes are amended regularly — verify current requirements with **The Building Safety Division (part of the City of Commerce City’s Community Development Department) issues residential building permits.
Service Area
Serving Commerce City and Adams County
We serve Commerce City, 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 Commerce City project.
FAQ
ADU feasibility FAQ
How much does ADU Feasibility Consultation cost in Commerce City?
$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 Commerce 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.
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