They’re known as granny flats, mother-in-law suites, and backyard cottages. Now, building an accessory dwelling unit (ADU) in neighborhoods across Denver just got a lot easier.
“I think any opportunity we have to increase access to housing for Denverites, we should take it,” said Darrel Watson, Denver councilman for District 9.
Watson said that, with the city facing a lack of affordable housing options, ADUs are a step in the right direction.
“One of the things that accessory dwelling units do for, let’s say, a parent that lives in Park Hill, they have lived there for two, three generations, and the kids are coming back from college. They can’t afford to buy or own in Denver, but an accessory dwelling unit will allow that family to live on the land they have known their entire lives,” explained Watson.
With the council’s approval Monday night, homeowners will no longer need to go through a rezoning process to get an ADU in their backyard, something that previously Watson said took up to six months.