How much does it cost to build an ADU in Denver? The usual ADU job filed with Denver is $137,144, from 255 priced permits (October 2023 through September 2026); the middle half of firms file between $102,992 and $175,000. A filed value is what the contractor wrote on the permit, not a quote or the final bill.
The usual ADU job filed with Denver is $137,144, from 255 priced permits, October 2023 through September 2026. The middle half of firms usually file between $102,992 and $175,000. Half of jobs were filed for less, half for more. A filed value is what the contractor wrote on the permit, not a quote or the final bill.
Approximately, from each firm's own spread: every firm's range of filed values, weighted by its 255 priced permits across 161 firms, pooled into one. Half of Denver ADU permits were filed between $100,000 and $206,000.
| Percentile | Filed value | Reads as |
|---|---|---|
| 10th | $74,900 | 1 in 10 permits filed below |
| 25th | $100,000 | 1 in 4 filed below |
| 50th | $137,000 | the middle permit |
| 75th | $206,000 | 1 in 4 filed above |
| 90th | $278,000 | 1 in 10 filed above |
Firms split into thirds by the usual value of the homes they work on, with each third's usual filed value weighted by permits. Home values: City and County of Denver parcel values.
| Firms working on | Usual home value | Usual filed value | Firms | Permits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lower third | under $787,400 | $133,866 | 53 | 85 |
| Middle third | $787,400–$1,140,900 | $139,778 | 53 | 95 |
| Upper third | $1,141,600 and up | $127,865 | 53 | 77 |
Top 10 by permits in the last 12 months. Usual is each firm's middle filed value; middle half is the range its middle half of jobs were filed in; both are shown for firms with 5 or more priced permits. Busy is not the same as careful: pick what you value to build a list.
| Firm | Permits | Last 12 mo | Usual | Middle half |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| L & D Enterprises LLC | 9 | 4 | $189,700 | $150,000–$209,000 |
| Revo Renovations LLC | 6 | 4 | $275,000 | $122,500–$275,000 |
| Sustainable Design Build | 5 | 3 | $220,000 | $200,000–$287,000 |
| SF Construction Management | 4 | 3 | — | — |
| Boa Construction Inc | 3 | 3 | — | — |
| Justin and Dylan LLC | 3 | 3 | — | — |
| Vintage Denver Homes LLC | 3 | 3 | — | — |
| Prenvalley Builders | 10 | 2 | $139,778 | $100,000–$300,000 |
| Dovetail Joint Construction Co | 6 | 2 | $57,000 | $52,306–$111,750 |
| Little Home Builders | 5 | 2 | $241,000 | $170,000–$242,326 |
Line your quote up against the file. In Denver, 1 in 10 ADU filed values sit under $74,900, the middle half between $100,000 and $206,000, and 1 in 10 over $278,000.
Denver files the fewest ADU permits in February (68 against an average month of 100) and the most in June (128). If you can choose, ask for quotes in a quiet month. We have no prices by month, so this is about crews' schedules, not a discount. When each trade is busiest in Denver →
Source: City and County of Denver residential construction and demolition permits. The window is October 2023 through September 2026; a permit filed after that isn't here yet.
Usual is the middle permit: half were filed for less, half for more. Only permits with a filed value count; a value of $0 or none is left out.
The spread is approximate: we keep seven points of each firm's own range of filed values, not every permit, and pool them.
Nobody paid to be on this page and nobody can. How the records work in Denver →
ADU cost in other cities: Nashville Raleigh San Diego Honolulu Palo Alto Bellingham San Francisco Anaheim Marin County (unincorporated) Sacramento County (unincorporated)
Other job costs in Denver: Remodel & Alteration · New Home · Demolition · Garage · Foundation & Structural Repair · Addition · Pool, Shed & Outdoor Structure