The City of Grand Junction is hosting workshop events for community members to attend and learn more about the process of building an Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU). The first workshop will be held on April 10, 2025, at 5:30 p.m. in the Fire Station Administration training room at 625 Ute Ave.
ADUs are smaller independent living spaces on the same lot as a single-family home and can be attached to the home itself or be separate structures on the property. The city allows a single-family home to have up to two ADUs on a property. The two-hour ADU workshops are structured to review a “tool kit” which covers information about design, permitting, and construction of an ADU. Quarterly workshop dates are available on a first come first served basis. All workshops are free but participants must register online.
“The workshops were created as one of the City’s housing strategies and encourages the development of ADUs in Grand Junction,” said Ashley Chambers, Housing Division manager. “By educating community members on the benefits of ADUs and assisting them with resources to construct ADUs, more ADUs are being built increasing the number of housing alternatives available in Grand Junction,” continued Chambers.
Along with offering these free workshops and toolkits, in March of 2023, the City adopted an ordinance, which established an ADU Production Program to incentivize and support the construction of ADUs. The program offers two tiers of incentives to ADU Developers who commit to providing a long-term rental for at least five years. Applicants who are approved for the ADU Production Program are eligible for impact fees to be paid for by the City (tier one) as well as tier two applicants who have a household income of less than 140% Area Median Income (AMI) and who live on-site, are eligible for additional cash incentives.
In 2018, the city began reducing zoning and development code regulations on ADUs to encourage their construction and expand housing options in a competitive market. As part of the housing strategies adopted in 2024, the City is continuing to prioritize ADU development and providing education and incentives to increase these types of units. One of the housing strategies specifically focuses on the development of ADUs within city limits, outlining a clear framework for the regulations, benefits, and opportunities for building an ADU. Since the launch of these programs, ADU production has increased by 130% since 2023.
For information about ADU workshops or to register, call the Housing Division at 970-256-4081, email housing@gjcity.org, or visit gjcity.org/housing.