Ace Electric is an ADU electrician serving homeowners, GCs, and builders throughout Denver. We handle the electrical from rough-in to final inspection so your ADU passes and gets its certificate of occupancy.
Whether it's a detached unit in the backyard, a garage conversion, or a basement apartment, the electrical is one of the biggest pieces of the project. ADUs need their own electrical service or subpanel, full wiring throughout, and usually exterior lighting too
ADUs have the same electrical requirements as a small house: panel, circuits, outlets, switches, lighting, smoke detectors, and often dedicated circuits for HVAC and appliances. As an ADU installation electrician, we handle all of it. We work with your GC or can coordinate directly with you if you're owner-building.
Denver's ADU rules vary by zone, but the electrical requirements are consistent for Colorado. You need permitted work done by a licensed electrician. We pull permits, schedule inspections, and make sure everything is code compliant. Neighborhoods like Park Hill, Berkeley, Sunnyside, and Congress Park are seeing tons of ADU construction right now, and we absolutely serve all of these communities.
New ADU electrical wiring starts with a subpanel, usually 60-100 amps depending on the size of the unit and what appliances it will have. From there we run circuits for outlets, lighting, kitchen appliances, bathroom fans, HVAC, and anything else the unit needs. We plan the layout with your builder so outlets end up where they're actually useful.
Garage conversions and basement ADUs are a little different than detached new builds. The wiring might already exist but probably doesn't meet current code or have enough capacity. We evaluate what's there and figure out what needs to be added or upgraded.
Good lighting makes a small ADU feel bigger and more livable. We do LED lighting installation for ADUs including recessed lights, under-cabinet lighting in kitchens, vanity lighting in bathrooms, and exterior lights at entries. LED is the standard now, it uses less power and lasts way longer than old incandescent bulbs.
If you want smart lighting or dimmers, we can wire for that too. A lot of ADU owners want the unit to feel modern and finished, and lighting is a big part of that. We can help you plan a lighting layout that works for the space without going overboard on fixtures.
Does my ADU need its own electrical panel?
Usually yes. Most ADUs get a subpanel fed from your main house panel. The size depends on the ADU. A small studio might only need 60 amps, while a larger unit with full kitchen and HVAC might need 100 amps. We evaluate your main panel to make sure it can handle the additional load.
How much does ADU electrical cost in Denver?
It varies a lot depending on size and complexity. A small garage conversion might be $4,000-$6,000 for electrical. A full detached ADU with separate service could be $8,000-$15,000+. We give you a detailed quote after we see the plans.
Do you work with my general contractor?
Yes. We coordinate with GCs on ADU projects all the time. We show up when scheduled, communicate about timeline, and don't hold up the project. If you're owner-building, we can work directly with you too.
What areas of Denver do you serve for ADU work?
All of Denver including: Park Hill, Berkeley, Sunnyside, Congress Park, Highlands, RiNo, Green Valley Ranch, Montbello, and everywhere in between. We also serve surrounding cities including Brighton, Thornton, Westminster, and Arvada.