Denver zoning and accessory dwelling unit guide
Denver Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU), Zoning, and Historic District Guide
A Denver listing can describe the home today; what you plan to do with it needs the city's records. Before you count on an ADU, an exterior change, an addition, a conversion, or finished space the listing mentions, check the exact address in Denver's zoning, landmark, property, and permit records.
When to Use This Guide
Use this guide when a Denver home looks promising because of a possible ADU, remodel, addition, exterior change, conversion, or older improvement. The neighborhood name will not tell you whether any of that works — the answers sit in the records for the exact address.
Zoning
Use the Denver Zoning Map to see what the exact lot allows before you count on an addition, a garage plan, or any future change to how the home is used.
ADUs
Denver's Citywide ADU page says the measure allows ADUs in all residential areas of the city and went into effect on December 16, 2024. You still need to check the zoning and the property record for the exact address before an ADU plan becomes part of the purchase decision.
Historic review
Check the Historic Landmarks and Districts map before you build the offer around an exterior change. Denver's Landmark Preservation office reviews exterior work on an individual landmark property or a property in a historic district — its design-review page and design guidelines are linked in the sources list at the bottom of this guide.
Permits and records
Use Denver Property Search, Denver Property Information, and Denver Building Permit Status to connect the zoning or historic question to the actual property record and permit history.
Before You Tour
Use the listing for the current status and photos, then check the public records to decide whether the home deserves more of your time. If the value depends on a future plan, check the exact address first.
- Open the Denver Zoning Map and write down the zone district — the code that sets what the lot allows — for the exact address.
- Open Denver Property Search or Denver Property Information and pull the property record.
- Open the Historic Landmarks and Districts map if exterior changes, additions, windows, porches, garages, or facade work matter.
- Open Building Permit Status if a listing mentions recent work, finished space, additions, roof work, electrical work, or mechanical work.
- Have your Kenna Real Estate Group agent gather the homeowners association (HOA) declaration or condo bylaws when the home is attached or managed; those documents can add rules beyond city review.
Before You Write an Offer
Do not let a future-use plan carry the offer unless the records support it. You can like the home and still decide the ADU, remodel, or exterior-change plan is too uncertain for the price.
ADU idea
Read the city's Citywide ADU page for the broad rule change, then confirm the zone district, the lot conditions, the property record, utilities and access, the permits it would need, and any HOA or condo rule before you treat an ADU as part of the value.
Historic exterior work
If the address appears in a landmark or historic district, read the Landmark Preservation design-review page and design guidelines before assuming windows, porches, siding, garages, additions, or facade changes will happen on your timeline.
Past work
Use Building Permit Status to check whether past work has permit history. When the record is unclear, lean on the inspection, title, insurance, lender review, and contractor answers instead of the listing summary.
Current Denver Homes and Search Updates
Open the current Denver homes from the link just below. Create an account or save the search if you want email updates when a matching home appears, changes price, or changes status.
More Denver Guides
Use these guides when zoning, exterior work, or the records raise a broader question.
Questions Buyers Ask
Where should I check the zone district?
Did Denver change ADU rules citywide?
How do I check whether historic review applies?
Where do permits fit into the decision?
Can an HOA or condo rule affect a city-approved idea?
When should I ask Kenna to review a zoning or historic question?
Sources Checked July 9, 2026
Ask Kenna to Review the Home
When you are deciding whether to tour a Denver home again or make an offer, ask Kenna Real Estate Group to go over it with you — the zone district, the permit history, the property record, the landmark or historic-district status, the HOA declaration or condo bylaws, and the inspection questions. This guide does not answer what to offer, how to compete, or when to buy; call, text, or email Brian Burke for those questions about a specific home.