Grand Junction Sees Surge in Accessory Dwelling Units

City's $450,000 investment in ADU program leads to over 130% increase in production

Mar. 13, 2026 at 2:22am

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The City of Grand Junction, Colorado has seen a significant increase in the production of accessory dwelling units (ADUs) following a nearly $450,000 investment in the program. Officials held a workshop that drew record attendance from residents interested in building these small-scale homes, which are intended to address the need for more affordable housing options in the community.

Why it matters

ADUs provide a different and more affordable housing type for the Grand Junction area, allowing homeowners to potentially save on expenses by renting out a unit. The surge in ADU production has attracted attention from other municipalities across the state looking to replicate the city's successful program.

The details

The city's ADU program, launched in 2023, utilizes Department of Local Affairs (DOLA) grants and city matching funds to encourage the construction of these units. Prior to the program, the community averaged 17 ADUs per year, but that number has more than doubled since the program's inception. Ashley Chambers, the city's housing manager, noted that almost all of the new ADUs have utilized funds from the production program.

  • The ADU program was launched in 2023.
  • Prior to the program, the community averaged 17 ADUs per year.
  • Since the program launched, the community has more than doubled its ADU production.

The players

Ashley Chambers

City of Grand Junction housing manager.

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What they’re saying

“Since we launched in 2023, on average, our community is building 17 units a year. And we've more than doubled that. And almost all of those units have utilized funds from our ADU production program, which says that program is working.”

— Ashley Chambers, City of Grand Junction housing manager

What’s next

The city plans to continue its ADU workshop series, which has seen record attendance, to further educate and encourage residents to take advantage of the program.

The takeaway

Grand Junction's successful ADU program demonstrates how targeted investment and community engagement can lead to a significant increase in the production of more affordable housing options, attracting attention from other municipalities looking to replicate the city's approach.