How to Choose an ADU Contractor in Colorado (Questions to Ask)
How to hire an ADU contractor in Colorado, the questions to ask, the red flags to avoid, how licensing works here, and modular versus site-built compared.
Hudson’s real rules, taxes and rents — read from the codified ordinance, every figure sourced and dated. Here: a HUD benchmark rent of $1,238/mo for a 1-bed. Run your own numbers below, free.
Read from the Hudson Municipal Code itself — the operative legal text, not a website summary. Hudson is an HB24-1152 subject jurisdiction: since June 30, 2025, state law requires it to allow an ADU wherever it allows a single-family home, with administrative approval — the local standards below still apply.
| Maximum ADU size | 1,000 sqft (baseline); if converting an existing attic or basement to the ADU, the cap is the larger of 1,000 sqft or the area of that attic/basementverified September 2026Hudson Municipal Code §16-62the ordinance textThe ADU shall not exceed one thousand (1,000) feet in gross floor area, or the area of any attic or basement that is being converted to an ADU, whichever is larger. |
| Owner occupancy | Yesverified September 2026Note: Hudson is an HB24-1152 subject jurisdiction. Since June 30, 2025, state law limits these cities to confirming that the owner lives on the lot when the ADU application is filed (and to regulating short-term rentals). Hudson’s code still lists this requirement — confirm with the planning department how it is applied today.Hudson Municipal Code §16-62the ordinance textEither the ADU or the primary residence shall be permanently occupied by the owner of the lot... If at any time the owner occupies neither the primary residence nor the ADU, the ADU shall not be used or occupied as a dwelling unit and shall not be rented. |
| Setbacks | Rear 5 (minimum, or the principal dwelling's required rear setback if greater); side: whichever is less restrictive of the accessory-structure or principal-dwelling side setback (no fixed ft given)verified September 2026Hudson Municipal Code §16-62the ordinance textEach ADU shall conform to all minimum rear setback dimensional standards applicable to the principal single-household detached dwelling on the lot, or shall have a minimum rear setback of five (5) feet, whichever is greater. |
Source: Hudson Municipal Code, §16-62 · ordinance text retrieved 2026-10-08, re-verified September 2026 · open “the ordinance text” under any figure to read the exact sentence it comes from.
Hudson’s size cap is conditional rather than a single number: 1,000 sqft (baseline); if converting an existing attic or basement to the ADU, the cap is the larger of 1,000 sqft or the area of that attic/basement — worth reading closely before sizing a unit.
Owner occupancy: yes. Note: Hudson is an HB24-1152 subject jurisdiction. Since June 30, 2025, state law limits these cities to confirming that the owner lives on the lot when the ADU application is filed (and to regulating short-term rentals). Hudson’s code still lists this requirement — confirm with the planning department how it is applied today.
What an ADU adds to the tax bill in Hudson, and the federal benchmark for what it rents for.
Levies: Weld County Assessor, 2025 Mill Levy Report (Tax District and Authority Report) — example: Weld County tax area 0307; levies differ between tax areas inside Hudson; check your parcel with the county assessor. Rates: Colorado DOLA, TY2026 — the 10% reduction on the first $700,000 of value applies to the local-government portion, once per property. Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, huduser.gov.
Two ways to build the same unit in Hudson. Both figures are all-in — design, permits, foundation, utility connections and installation.
Published Front Range ranges for a comparable one-off build, 2025–26
≈ $2,100–$2,600 / month fully financed
Fits Hudson’s size rule
≈ $2,800–$3,500 / month fully financed
Fits Hudson’s size rule
Olerra ranges: published all-in project pricing, September 2026 — site preparation, foundation, utility connections and permitting included.
Free and specific to you. Want to go further?
Yes. The Hudson Municipal Code permits accessory dwelling units (§16-62), subject to the size, height, setback and use rules quoted above from the ordinance text. Hudson is also an HB24-1152 subject jurisdiction, so since June 30, 2025 state law requires it to allow an ADU wherever it allows a single-family home, with administrative approval; the local standards above still apply. Zoning district, lot size and setbacks still decide what fits on a specific lot — the free property check confirms yours.
Yes. An ADU is a new dwelling unit, so Hudson requires a building permit (plus any zoning or site-plan review the code calls for) before construction starts. Olerra's all-in price includes permitting, and factory-built units are inspected to the same building code as a site-built home.
Per the Hudson Municipal Code: 1,000 sqft (baseline); if converting an existing attic or basement to the ADU, the cap is the larger of 1,000 sqft or the area of that attic/basement. Both Olerra Flex Flats — the 490 and the 735 — fit under this rule. The free property check confirms what fits on your lot.
Yes — the owner must live in either the main house or the ADU. Note: Hudson is an HB24-1152 subject jurisdiction. Since June 30, 2025, state law limits these cities to confirming that the owner lives on the lot when the ADU application is filed (and to regulating short-term rentals). Hudson's code still lists this requirement, so confirm with the planning department how it is applied today.
A one-off site build with a general contractor typically runs about $500,000–$650,000 for a ~490 sq ft unit. Olerra's factory-built Flex Flats run $300,000–$365,000 (490) and $420,000–$465,000 (735) all-in — site preparation, foundation, utility connections and permitting included.
Roughly $597 per year for every $100,000 of value the ADU adds, in the example tax area shown above: Colorado's TY2026 school (7.05%) and local-government (6.80%) assessment rates on the latest certified (TY2025) levy, a mixed-year estimate. Levies differ between tax areas, so check your parcel with the county assessor.
Same method, each city’s own ordinance. The Colorado hub lists every city, and the statewide ADU calculator covers any Colorado address.
Guides and real Colorado numbers from our team — a fresh pick every couple of weeks, or search for exactly what you need.
How to hire an ADU contractor in Colorado, the questions to ask, the red flags to avoid, how licensing works here, and modular versus site-built compared.
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Planning departments and journalists are welcome to reference this data.
Olerra ADU Cost Calculator — Hudson, CO. Page updated October 9, 2026; rules verified September 2026. https://www.olerra.com/adu-calculator/hudson/ <a href="https://www.olerra.com/adu-calculator/hudson/">Hudson ADU rules & costs</a> Page updated October 9, 2026. The oldest dated figure on the page is from August 25, 2026.
Planning estimates, not quotes or legal advice. Rules, fees, levies and rents change — confirm with the city and your lender before committing. Rules data: codified ordinance as of August 25, 2026, re-verified September 2026. Olerra pricing: published all-in project ranges, September 2026. Corrections: sales@olerra.com.
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