Denver ADU Zoning Changes

[Rene Hosman]

If anyone in Denver is interested, the city is revising their zoning policies on ADUs - you can see a summary of the changes here or you can read the full changes proposed here
They are taking public comments and questions through Thursday and hosting a virtual town hall tomorrow evening before a recommendation is made to accept or deny the proposed changes to the zoning laws. Zoning laws can seem really boring but ultimately make a huge difference in how our city works and also what you can do on your own property. These current proposed changes are just effecting Denver for now but are meant to realign with the changes the state made recently, and future changes in other districts in the metro area can often be modeled after changes in Denver proper
If you want to make a comment or pose a question it only takes five seconds here

[James Carlson]

Thanks for posting, @Rene Hosman.

The statewide law is such a big  game-changer. Here's what I find most interesting.

Section 29-35-103(2)(b) of the ADU law says Colorado cities can NOT "require an ADU or any other dwelling on the same lot as an ADU, to be owner-occupied."

Cities can require that the primary unit be owner-occupied at the time of permit application. But after that ... hell, move out and you've got a duplex in what otherwise would have been single-family zoning.

As it used to be in Denver and Colorado Springs and most cities in the state, you could rent an ADU separately when you live there, but once you moved out, you legally could only rent the whole property to one party.

This changes everything for house-hackers and investors seeking multi-units. The way I read this, if you meet the setback requirements, you can have essentially a duplex on any lot in Colorado.