Best Practices At-a-Glance

The examples below highlight specific elements of various ADU programs and development codes. Inclusion of a jurisdiction does not imply DOLA’s endorsement or approval of its entire ADU program or code, nor should it be interpreted as a comprehensive review of the jurisdiction’s compliance with the requirements of HB24-1152 (C.R.S. § 29-35-402 through 405). For more comprehensive program models and ideas, please refer to the ADU Case Studies.

Jurisdiction: Boulder

ADU Goal Supported: Making ADUs Affordable

• Relevant Strategy: Incentivizing Affordable ADU Rentals
• Policy/Program: Affordable ADU Program
  Allows homeowners to build a larger ADU if they commit to rents that do not exceed 75 percent of the area median income.
• Resource Links: 
  • City of Boulder ADU Webpage
  • City of Boulder ADU Ordinance

ADU Goal Supported: Supporting Homeowners to Build ADUs

• Relevant Strategy: ADU Technical Assistance for Homeowners
• Policy/Program: ADU Webpage
  Includes helpful information for property owners interested in ADUs. Their ADU Guide webpage provides a helpful step-by-step overview of learning the rules for your property and for the application and review process.
• Resource Links: 
  • City of Boulder ADU Webpage

Jurisdiction: Crested Butte

ADU Goal Supported: Making ADUs Affordable

• Relevant Strategy: Waiving or Reducing ADU-related Fees for Low- and Moderate-Income Households
• Policy/Program: ADU Fee Reduction for Deed-Restricted Units
  Funds 2/3 of the cost of water and sewer tap fees for any deed-restricted ADUs. 
• Resource Links: 
  • Town of Crested Butte ADU Fees

Jurisdiction: Durango

ADU Goal Supported: Additional Opportunities to Amend ADU Codes and Increase Development

• Relevant Strategy: Updating Design and Dimensional Standards
• Policy/Program: Side and Rear Setbacks 
• Allows smaller setbacks for some ADUs, especially rear setbacks.
• Resource Links: 
  • City of Durango Land Use and Development Code

ADU Goal Supported: Making ADUs Affordable

• Relevant Strategy: Incentivizing Affordable ADU Rentals
• Policy/Program: ADUs for Locals Program
  Financial incentives for property owners who construct an ADU and commit to renting it to a member of the local workforce.
• Resource Links: 
  • City of Durango ADUs for Locals Program

Jurisdiction: Englewood

ADU Goal Supported: Additional Opportunities to Amend ADU Codes and Increase Development

• Relevant Strategy: Allowing Multiple ADUs on the Same Lot
• Policy/Program: Multiple ADUs on the Same Lot
  Allows more than one ADU per lot.
• Resource Links: 
  • City of Englewood Unified Development Code

Jurisdiction: Fort Collins

ADU Goal Supported: Additional Opportunities to Amend ADU Codes and Increase Development

• Relevant Strategy: Further Waiving Parking Requirements
• Policy/Program: Further Waiving Parking Requirements
  Waives additional parking with some exceptions.
• Resource Links: 
  • City of Fort Collins ADU Ordinance

ADU Goal Supported: Supporting Homeowners to Build ADUs

• Relevant Strategy: ADU Technical Assistance for Homeowners
• Policy/Program: Development Review Webpage
  Provides a detailed overview of what various departments and agencies might review in an ADU project application.
• Resource Links: 
  • City of Fort Collins ADU Basic Development Review

Jurisdiction: Glenwood Springs

ADU Goal Supported: Additional Opportunities to Amend ADU Codes and Increase Development

• Relevant Strategy: Updating Design and Dimensional Standards
• Policy/Program: Height
  Allows ADUs to be the same height as the primary home, including two-story ADUs.
• Resource Links: 
  • City of Glenwood Springs ADU Webpage

Jurisdiction: Grand Junction

ADU Goal Supported: Making ADUs Affordable

• Relevant Strategy: Waiving or Reducing ADU-related Fees for Low- and Moderate-Income Households
• Policy/Program: ADU Fee Waivers for Low- and Mod-Income Households
  Offers fee waivers and incentives up to $15,000 if the owner agrees to not use the ADU for short term rentals for seven years. Extra incentive if they are <140% AMI.
• Resource Links: 
  • City of Grand Junction ADU Production Program

ADU Goal Supported: Supporting Homeowners to Build ADUs

• Relevant Strategy: ADU Technical Assistance for Homeowners
• Policy/Program: ADU Production Program
  Offers many helpful and bilingual English/Spanish resources, including an ADU Toolkit and cost estimator. As part of their program, the property owner agrees to not use the ADU for short term rentals for seven years.
• Resource Links: 
  • City of Grand Junction ADU Resources

ADU Goal Supported: Supporting Homeowners to Build ADUs

• Relevant Strategy: Providing an ADU Cost Estimator Tool
• Policy/Program: ADU Accelerator Calculator
  Tool to help homeowners calculate the costs of developing an ADU.
• Resource Links: 
  • City of Grand Junction ADU Cost Estimator
  • ADU Accelerator Calculator

ADU Goal Supported: Connecting ADUs to Local Housing Goals

• Relevant Strategy: Regulating the Use of ADUs for Short-Term Rentals
• Policy/Program: ADU Production Program
  Property owners agree to not use the ADU for short term rentals for seven years to participate in the Program.
• Resource Links: 
  • City of Grand Junction ADU Resources

ADU Goal Supported: Additional Opportunities to Amend ADU Codes and Increase Development

• Relevant Strategy: Allowing Multiple ADUs on the Same Lot
• Policy/Program: Multiple ADUs on the Same Lot
  Allows more than one ADU per lot.
• Resource Links: 
  • City of Grand Junction ADU Webpage

Jurisdiction: Jefferson County

ADU Goal Supported: Supporting Homeowners to Build ADUs

• Relevant Strategy: ADU Technical Assistance for Homeowners
• Policy/Program: ADU FAQs
  Provides extensive FAQs online and as a one-page handout with key details about building an ADU.
• Resource Links: 
  • Jefferson County ADU FAQs

Jurisdiction: Montrose

ADU Goal Supported: Making ADUs Affordable

• Relevant Strategy: Special Opportunity: Waiving or Reducing ADU-Related Fees for All Applicants
• Policy/Program: Utility Connection Fee Discount
  Offers a discounted utility connection fee for ADUs at just $300, providing a savings of approximately $6,800 compared to the standard water and sewer tap and investment charges.
• Resource Links: 
  • City of Montrose Utility Connection Fees for ADUs

Multiple Jurisdictions: Lakewood, Littleton

ADU Goal Supported: Additional Opportunities to Amend ADU Codes and Increase Development

• Relevant Strategy: Updating Design and Dimensional Standards
• Policy/Program: Height
  Allows ADUs to be the same height as the primary home, including two-story ADU, particularly if two-story additions are allowed.
• Resource Links: 
  • City of Lakewood ADU Webpage
  • City of Littleton ADU Code and Charter

Jurisdiction: State of Colorado

ADU Goal Supported: Connecting ADUs to Local Housing Goals

• Relevant Strategy: Incentivizing Climate-Resilient ADUs
• Policy/Program: Wildfire Resilient Homes Grant Program
  Provided owners with grants to retrofit their properties and enhance wildfire resilience, including ADUs.
• Resource Links: 
  • Colorado Wildfire Resilient Homes Grant Program

Jurisdiction: Superior

ADU Goal Supported: Amending ADU Codes to Increase Development

• Relevant Strategy: Encouraging Factory-Built ADUs
• Policy/Program: Factory-Built ADUs
  Prohibits mobile homes for use as an ADU, but allows manufactured homes to be used.
• Resource Links: 
  • City of Superior Land Use Code

Jurisdiction: Wheat Ridge

ADU Goal Supported: Supporting Homeowners to Build ADUs

• Relevant Strategy: Supporting Homeowners to Bring Pre-existing ADUs into Compliance
• Policy/Program: Existing ADU Program
  Property owners can seek legal status for their existing, unpermitted ADUs through the Existing ADU Program.
• Resource Links: 
  • City of Wheat Ridge Existing ADU Program

ADU Goal Supported: Connecting ADUs to Local Housing Goals

• Relevant Strategy: Regulating the Use of ADUs for Short-Term Rentals
• Policy/Program: Short-Term Rental Regulation
  ADUs cannot be used as "whole home" STRs but may be operated as "partial home" STRs, as long as the property owner lives onsite.
• Resource Links: 
  • City of Wheat Ridge ADU Webpage