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How to Find Your Home’s Zoning district
Step 1
See if your lot is zoned for an accessory dwelling unit. Start by clicking on this link here! This will take you to the City of Denver’s Zoning Map.
Step 2
Enter your address in the search bar to find out what your current district is!
Step 3
Come back to the SDB website and confirm the property is zoned for ADU construction.
Zoning Codes that Allow ADU Construction
Here is the list of Denver Zoning Codes which allow for ADU construction in the neighborhoods. Match your home’s zoning with these, if it’s not there don’t worry we have solutions for you!
S-SU-F1
S-RH-2.5
S-MU-3
S-MU-5
S-MU-8
S-MU-12
S-MU-20
E-SU-B1
E-SU-D1
E-SU-G1
E-SU-D1x
E-TU-B
E-TU-C
E-RH-2.5
E-MU-2.5
U-SU-A1
U-SU-B1
U-SU-C1
U-SU-E1
U-SU-H1
U-SU-A2*
U-SU-B2*
U-SU-C2*
*= Some Limitations Apply
U-TU-B
U-TU-C
U-TU-B2
U-RH-2.5
U-RH-3A
G-RH-3
G-MU-3
G-MU-5
G-MU-8
G-MU-12
G-MU-20
G-RO-3
G-RO-5
M-RH-3
M-RX-3
M-RX-5
M-RX-5a
M-GMX
What to do now?
Sustainable Design Build has different services to help you as a homeowner reach your goal for an ADU build. Depending on what you have answered from the above exercise, SDB offer services for feasibility, rezoning ,and design-build construction.
If your Zone District is Listed
If your zone district is listed, you will most likely be able to build and ADU on your property! Next up, determining how big your ADU can be. To better understand exactly what you can build on your lot for your ADU, the next step is a feasibility study.
If your Zone District is not listed
If your zone district is not listed and you still want to build an ADU, your next step is to get a feasibility study done on your lot. This study can help you determine what you could build on the lot and if you’d like to go through the rezoning process. Want to rezone your property and don’t know where to start? SDB can help with that!
Other Considerations About Building an ADU
ADUs Need More Than Zoning
Denver Homeowners should be warned that even if their homes meet all the criteria for zoning codes to allow ADU construction, there may be other factors that can bar them from actually pursuing the project. Some items that can withhold a project can be:
- Encroaching setbacks (a home is too close to the property line to allow additional construction).
- Neighborhood design requirements.
- The overall cost of a project, ADU construction projects can range from $350k – $425k minimally.
Garage Conversions Are Rare
With the newest trend in ADUs, Denver homeowners have been seeking for ways to get a head start on the projects. One way envisioned is through a garage conversion, where an old garage is remodeled into an ADU. Unfortunately, pre-existing conditions needed for a garage to be a good candidate for an ADU conversion are very rare. The possible reasons for that may be:
- Denver’s homes are older and traditionally their detached garages are under-engineered and missing structural requirements to support an ADU.
- Most detached garages in Denver are built on a concrete slab and habitable spaces like an ADU require a foundation.
- Existing garages may be encroaching on property lines and setbacks – performing construction on them would result in a code violation.
Connect With Us
Planning your next renovation, or maybe you are looking to do a complete remodel for your home? Whatever the task, it can’t hurt to ask. Reach out to our team through this form.
We can schedule a free consultation and discuss everything you need to get your project moving in the right direction. Did we mention, it’s absolutely free?
No time like the present to get started on turning your house into the home of your dreams.