Guide · Neighborhoods

ADU rules by Denver neighborhood (2026)

LAST VERIFIED: SEPTEMBER 2026 · SOURCES: DENVER ZONING CODE, DENVER LANDMARK PRESERVATION, NEIGHBORING CITY PLANNING PAGES

Direct answer: Denver's ADU rules are citywide, the 2026 zoning code allows an ADU on residentially zoned lots across the city, with the same size tiers, height limits, and setbacks everywhere. What changes by neighborhood is lot size (which sets your maximum ADU size), historic-district review (Wash Park, Berkeley, and parts of Five Points and Highlands carry landmark overlays on some blocks), alley access (which decides whether a detached unit is practical), and whether you're actually inside Denver at all, Arvada, Lakewood, Aurora, Englewood, and Wheat Ridge each run their own ADU code.

§1, INSIDE DENVER

Neighborhood by neighborhood: what actually differs

DENVER NEIGHBORHOODS, ADU CONSIDERATIONS, 2026
Neighborhood	Typical lots	What to check
Washington Park	4,700-6,250 sq ft, many alley lots	Some blocks are in a historic district, landmark review adds months. Lot size often lands in the 650 or 864 sq ft ADU tier.
Berkeley / Tennyson	4,700-6,250 sq ft, alley access common	Strong detached-ADU stock already; historic overlay on select blocks. Bulk-plane rules matter on narrow lots.
Highlands / West Highland	Mixed; many under 6,000 sq ft	Smaller lots cap ADU size at 650 sq ft; garage conversions are popular where a detached unit won't fit.
Park Hill	6,000-9,000+ sq ft	Larger lots frequently qualify for the 1,000 sq ft tier; alley access is the norm.
Five Points / Whittier / Cole	3,100-6,250 sq ft, alley lots	Landmark districts cover parts of Five Points; narrow lots make setbacks and bulk plane the binding constraints.
Sloan's Lake / West Colfax	4,700-6,250 sq ft	Active infill area; check whether the lot has alley access before planning a detached unit.
Congress Park / City Park West	4,700-6,250 sq ft, alleys	Historic overlay on some blocks; basement ADUs common in the older housing stock.
Platt Park / Baker	4,700-6,250 sq ft	Alley lots typical; garage-to-ADU conversions are a frequent path here.

Two facts that override any table: your lot size decides your ADU size tier (under 6,000 sq ft → 650 sq ft; 6,000-7,000 → 864; over 7,000 → 1,000), and a landmark or historic-district overlay adds design review that can run two to four months. Both are free to check before you pay anyone, see the permit guide.

§2, OUTSIDE DENVER

Arvada, Lakewood, Aurora, Englewood, Wheat Ridge: different codes

Denver's rules stop at the city line. Neighboring cities each regulate ADUs under their own code, and Colorado's HB24-1152 (effective mid-2025) requires larger Front Range jurisdictions to allow ADUs on single-family lots but leaves size, parking, and design standards local. Practical differences homeowners run into:

NEARBY JURISDICTIONS, VERIFY DIRECTLY BEFORE DESIGNING
City	Where to check	Known differences
Arvada	Arvada Community Development	Own size and lot-coverage limits; historic Olde Town area has separate review
Lakewood	Lakewood Planning	ADUs allowed under the 2025 code update; parking and owner rules differ from Denver
Aurora	Aurora Planning & Development	Zone-dependent; confirm your specific district allows detached units
Englewood	Englewood Community Development	Adopted ADU allowances under state law; check size caps
Wheat Ridge	Wheat Ridge Community Development	ADUs permitted with local design standards; confirm setbacks

Most Denver-metro ADU builders work across these cities, but the permit path is different in each. Ask any builder which jurisdictions they've actually pulled ADU permits in, the answer tells you more than a portfolio. See choosing a builder.

Independent guide. Directory listings are free; no company pays to appear or be removed. One disclosed sponsored placement may appear, labeled "Featured builder, paid sponsorship"; it never changes what we publish. Verify rules and fees with Denver CPD before relying on them.