Colorado ADU Law: HB 24-1152
67 cities must allow ADUs by right — no public hearings, no HOA bans, plus $13M in state grants and financing.
67
Cities affected
$5M
DOLA grant fund
$8M
CHFA financing
June 2025
Compliance deadline
What HB 24-1152 Does
Signed May 13, 2024, this law requires “subject jurisdictions” (municipalities with 1,000+ residents in designated metropolitan planning organizations) to allow ADUs by right. Here's what it prohibits local governments from doing:
HOA Restrictions Overridden
HOAs and PUDs cannot prohibit ADU construction or impose stricter rules than the municipality. They may set “reasonable restrictions” (e.g., exterior appearance) but cannot ban ADUs outright.
Which Cities Are Affected?
Approximately 67 “subject jurisdictions” across 5 Metropolitan Planning Organizations (MPOs):
Denver Regional COG (DRCOG)
Denver, Aurora, Lakewood, Westminster, Arvada, Boulder, Broomfield, Thornton, Centennial, Parker, Castle Rock
North Front Range MPO
Fort Collins, Loveland, Greeley, Windsor
Pikes Peak COG
Colorado Springs, Fountain, Manitou Springs
Grand Valley MPO
Grand Junction, Fruita, Palisade
Pueblo COG
Pueblo
Unincorporated county areas in Census Designated Places with 40,000+ population (e.g., Highlands Ranch in Douglas County) are also included. Non-subject jurisdictions can opt in as “supportive” to access grants.
Size Limits & Local Standards
HB 24-1152 sets no statewide maximum ADU size. Instead, it requires cities to use “objective standards” that cannot be more restrictive than those for the primary dwelling. Current local limits:
| City | Max ADU Size | Approval Type |
|---|---|---|
| Denver | 864 sq ft | Administrative (expanded Dec 2024) |
| Boulder | 800 sq ft (detached) | Administrative |
| Fort Collins | Varies by zone | Administrative |
| Colorado Springs | Per zone standards | Administrative |
State Grants & Financing ($13M)
DOLA Grants — $5M Fund
“Supportive jurisdictions” that comply with the law AND adopt at least one additional strategy (fee waivers, pre-approved plans, technical assistance) can apply for grants from the Department of Local Affairs.
Grants fund fee waivers/reductions, pre-approved plan development, and technical assistance for homeowners — especially for low and moderate-income households.
CHFA Financing — $8M Fund
The Colorado Housing and Finance Authority provides affordable loans, interest rate buydowns, and down payment assistance for ADU construction.
Targeted at low and moderate-income homeowners. Programs include principal reduction and rate buydowns to make ADU financing more accessible.
ADU Permitting Process
Under HB 24-1152, ADU permits must use administrative (staff-level) approval with objective standards only. No public hearings, no subjective “neighborhood character” reviews.
Submit plans meeting building code, setbacks, and utility requirements
Staff reviews using objective criteria (no discretionary judgment)
Typical approval timeline: 2-8 weeks in compliant cities
No owner-occupancy declaration required
No additional parking requirements (with limited exceptions)
Denver: Leading Implementation
Denver expanded ADU eligibility to 70% of residential land on December 16, 2024 — ahead of the June 2025 statewide deadline. The city now allows ADUs up to 864 sq ft in most single-family zones, with administrative approval typically taking 2-4 weeks.
Other Front Range cities including Fort Collins, Boulder, and Parker have also updated their ordinances to comply with the law.
Track Every Dollar of Your ADU Build
TerraLine is the construction finance cockpit that shows your loan balance, budget burn, and forecast at completion — all on one screen. No more spreadsheets.
Your Next Steps
Keep planning your ADU project