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CHERRY HILLS VILLAGE SERVICES
Garage Conversion in Cherry Hills Village
Licensed garage conversion services for Cherry Hills Village and Arapahoe County. Turn your garage into livable space.
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- Construction & Tenant Finish
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Local Service
Garage Conversion Services in Cherry Hills Village, Colorado
Autotelic provides professional garage conversion services throughout Cherry Hills Village and the surrounding Arapahoe County area. Garage to living space conversions across the Denver metro — studios, offices, guest suites, and ADUs with full HVAC, insulation, and code-compliant egress. Whether you're in Cherry Hills Village (affluent south Denver) or nearby communities, our team delivers quality workmanship backed by Colorado licensing and full insurance coverage.
Permit Thresholds
Cherry Hills Village permit thresholds
- Code reference
- The Village adopted the 2024 International Codes (I-Codes) at the beginning of 2026, including the 2024 International Residential Code (IRC), and adheres to Chapter 18 of the Cherry Hills Village Municipal Code for building regulations.
- Code reference
- If an addition is more than 50% of the existing square footage, or if the aggregate floor area is demolished or reconstructed by more than 50%, or increased by 50% or more, the project is considered "redevelopment" and may have additional submittal and drainage requirements per Chapter 9 of the zoni
- Code reference
- Any electrical work on 400 amps (320 continuous) or greater requires a separate plan review.
- Impervious Surface
- If more than 2,500 square feet of impervious surface is added cumulatively (e.g., house addition, driveway, patio), a Phase III Drainage Plan is required.
- Code Reference
- Cherry Hills Village Municipal Code, Chapter 18, and the adopted 2024 International Residential Code.
- Code reference
- ### Exempt Work (Cherry Hills Village Municipal Code Section 105.2, referencing adopted I-Codes)Section 105.2
- Code reference
- One-story detached, prefabricated storage sheds that do not exceed 120 square feet.
- Code Reference
- Cherry Hills Village Municipal Code, Section 105.2, referencing adopted I-Codes.Section 105.2
Codes are amended regularly — verify current requirements with **The City of Cherry Hills Village (specifically its Building Division under Community Development) issues residential building permits.
Zoning & ADU
Cherry Hills Village zoning & ADU quick facts
- Code reference
- Cherry Hills Village, Colorado's zoning regulations for single-family residential districts (R-1, R-2, R-3, R-3A, R-4, and R-5) include specific numeric development standards for additions, Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs), and garages.
- R-1, R-2, R-3, R-3A Residential Districts
- 35 feet
- R-4, R-5 Residential Districts
- 30 feet
- Permitted
- ADUs are permitted in any part of the City where single-family homes are allowed, via an administrative approval process, effective after June 30, 2025.
- Code reference
- Arapahoe County, which includes Cherry Hills Village, also permits both attached and detached ADUs in all agricultural and most residential zoning districts on lots that are at least 5,000 square feet.
- Max Size
- Between 500 and 800 square feet.
- Code reference
- For lots under 19 acres in urban areas, Arapahoe County regulations allow ADUs with up to two bedrooms, with square footage limitations based on lot size and/or the size of the principal dwelling.
- Off-Street Parking Areas (including garages)
- Shall be set back 20 feet from residential lot lines.
Codes are amended regularly — verify current requirements with **The City of Cherry Hills Village (specifically its Building Division under Community Development) issues residential building permits.
Energy Code
Cherry Hills Village energy code quick facts
- Code reference
- Cherry Hills Village, Colorado, has adopted the 2024 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC).
- Code reference
- However, state law requires local jurisdictions to adopt and enforce the 2021 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) and the Colorado Model Electric Ready and Solar Ready Code when updating any other building code, with amendments not permitted to decrease effectiveness or energy efficiency.
- Code reference
- An ordinance (Ordinance No. 2023, Series 1) also indicates the adoption of the 2021 International Energy Conservation Code.Ordinance No. 2023
- Code reference
- Cherry Hills Village is located in IECC Climate Zone 5B.
- Code reference
- The following are key prescriptive requirements for residential remodels and additions, based on the 2021 IECC for Climate Zone 5B, which serve as minimum standards under the adopted energy code:
- Code reference
- ### Key Prescriptive Requirements for Remodels/Additions (2021 IECC, Climate Zone 5B)
- Requirement
- R-49 minimum, with an R-60 retrofit recommended.
- Code reference
- The 2021 IECC raised the prescriptive ceiling to R-60, with R-49 acceptable only with a raised-heel truss (per IECC R402.2.1).
Codes are amended regularly — verify current requirements with **The City of Cherry Hills Village (specifically its Building Division under Community Development) issues residential building permits.
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What garage conversion covers
Garage conversions in the Denver metro turn an attached or detached garage into conditioned living space or, where zoning allows, an accessory dwelling unit. Work typically includes insulation, new openings, electrical, HVAC, and often a bath or kitchen. Parking on the lot still has to satisfy zoning. A municipally licensed Denver general contractor coordinates the project and licensed specialty trades. Cost is project-specific and depends on attached versus detached, ADU versus extra rooms, and how much of the envelope changes.
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Occupancy, energy code, and ADUs
Turning an unconditioned garage into a bedroom is a change of space conditioning. Denver Energy Code Chapter 5 [RE] treats that as a change of occupancy or use and applies addition/new-construction energy rules to the newly conditioned space. Creating a separate ADU is a different zoning path: the district must allow an accessory dwelling unit, and plans must clearly label the ADU and the primary structure. Transportation review is listed for ADUs, garages, and increases in dwelling units.
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Permits and who coordinates the work
City and County of Denver Community Planning and Development requires architectural and structural review for occupancy or use changes, plus zoning, building, and typically SUDP. Exterior changes on landmarks or in historic districts need Landmark review. Cities and counties license general contractors. Colorado has no statewide general contractor license. Autotelic acts as a municipally licensed Denver general contractor and coordinates licensed specialty trades plus the design professionals required for the project.
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What buyers should prepare
Attached versus detached, living space versus ADU, whether a bath or kitchen is included, and how parking will be handled.
FAQ
Common questions
Does converting a garage need a Denver permit?
Yes. It is a change of occupancy or use. CPD requires building and zoning review, and typically SUDP.
Who handles garage conversion permits and licensing?
A municipally licensed Denver general contractor coordinates the project, design professionals, and specialty trades. Colorado has no statewide general contractor license.
Is extra living space the same as an ADU?
No. Extra rooms for the main house stay one dwelling. An ADU is a separate dwelling and is only allowed in districts that permit it.
Does energy code apply to a cold garage?
Yes once it becomes conditioned. Denver Energy Code uses turning an unconditioned garage into a bedroom as an example of a change of space conditioning.
What information helps define scope?
Attached vs detached, ADU vs extra rooms, parking plan, and city or county.
Service Area
Serving Cherry Hills Village and Arapahoe County
We serve Cherry Hills Village, 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 Cherry Hills Village project.
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 →TRUSTED TO BUILD FOR
- Punch Bowl SocialFirst four locations
- Spectrum RetirementSenior living communities
- Denver HighlandsFirst modular custom home
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