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NORTHGLENN SERVICES
ADU / Backyard Cottage in Northglenn
Licensed ADU / backyard cottage services for Northglenn and Adams County. Build an income-producing unit in your backyard.
What Northglenn requires
Code reference: Residential remodel permits in Northglenn, CO, are administered by the Building Division (contracted to SAFEbuilt) under the adopted and locally amended 2021 International Residential Code (IRC), per Northglenn Municipal Code Chapter 10, Article 8 (Section 10-8-5 amendments). §10-8-5
See full local requirements ↓- Full Design Lifecycle
- Construction & Tenant Finish
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Build an income-producing unit in your backyard
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Local Service
ADU / Backyard Cottage Services in Northglenn, Colorado
Autotelic provides professional ADU / backyard cottage services throughout Northglenn and the surrounding Adams County area. Accessory dwelling unit construction across the Denver metro — detached new builds, garage conversions, and basement conversions compliant with Colorado HB 24-1152. One veteran-owned design-build team runs the full Denver sequence under a single contract: zoning verification and concept design, municipal zoning and building permit reviews, then construction and inspections through certificate of occupancy. Whether you're in Northglenn (north Denver metro) or nearby communities, our team delivers quality workmanship backed by Colorado licensing and full insurance coverage.
Permit Thresholds
Northglenn permit thresholds
- Code reference
- Residential remodel permits in Northglenn, CO, are administered by the Building Division (contracted to SAFEbuilt) under the adopted and locally amended 2021 International Residential Code (IRC), per Northglenn Municipal Code Chapter 10, Article 8 (Section 10-8-5 amendments).§10-8-5
- Code reference
- Permits are generally required for most residential remodel, alteration, addition, or repair work unless it qualifies for one of the narrow exemptions in the amended IRC Section R105.2.§R105.2.
- Code reference
- ### Key Exemptions (IRC R105.2, as amended)
- Exception 1 (amended)
- Detached accessory structures (as defined in Chapter 11 of the Northglenn Municipal Code) with floor area ≤ 200 square feet.
- Code reference
- (Standard IRC Exception 1 deleted in full and replaced.)
- Exception 2
- Deleted in its entirety.
- Code reference
- Permit and plan-review fees are based on project valuation (determined via square footage applied to the ICC Building Valuation Data Table, currently referencing the Feb 2019 table, or as otherwise established).
- Code reference
- Fees follow the 1997 Uniform Building Code schedule.
Codes are amended regularly — verify current requirements with **The City of Northglenn Building Division (contracted services provided by SAFEbuilt) issues residential building permits.
Zoning & ADU
Northglenn zoning & ADU quick facts
- RS-1 — Minimum Lot Area
- 12500 sfRS-1
- RS-1 — Minimum Lot Width
- 100'RS-1
- RS-1 — Front Setback (min)
- 30'RS-1
- RS-1 — Side Interior Setback (min)
- 10'RS-1
- RS-1 — Rear Setback (min)
- 20'RS-1
- RS-1 — Lot Coverage (max)
- 40%RS-1
- RS-1 — Building Height (max)
- 28'RS-1
- RS1 — Front Setback (min)
- 30'RS1
Codes are amended regularly — verify current requirements with **The City of Northglenn Building Division (contracted services provided by SAFEbuilt) issues residential building permits.
A recent build
Backyard ADU in Denver
Denver · 2026
- Status
- Under construction — 2026
- Managed on
- Buildbot — Autotelic’s own PM platform
- Architecture, site plans, and full MEP design completed in-house
- Permits pulled — electric and plumbing rough-ins permitted and underway
- Spray-foam insulation and exterior work in progress
- First project managed end-to-end on Buildbot, Autotelic’s construction-PM platform
A ground-up backyard ADU in Denver — designed, permitted, and now under construction by Autotelic, and the first project managed end-to-end on Buildbot, Autotelic’s own construction-management platform.
The build sequence for a ADU / Backyard Cottage project
This service is a component of How a ADU project works in Northglenn.
Energy Code
Northglenn energy code quick facts
- Code reference
- 2021 IECC (with local amendments), per Northglenn Municipal Code Article 10-11 (adopted by Ord. 1799, 2020; Ord. 1847, 2023).
- Code reference
- Northglenn has not yet adopted the 2024 codes (scheduled for summer 2026).
- Code reference
- mixed-fuel building definitions/credits (e.g., 10 credits for all-electric new buildings or 20 for mixed-fuel from specified tables), and related provisions, but do not alter the base prescriptive insulation/U-factor tables or air-leakage thresholds from the 2021 IECC for Climate Zone 5B.
- Code reference
- Key prescriptive requirements relevant to remodels/additions (drawn from the adopted 2021 IECC provisions for CZ 5B, which apply unless a specific alteration triggers full compliance or exceptions; see IECC Chapter 5 / R5 sections for existing buildings):
- Ceiling/attic insulation
- R-60 (2021 IECC Table R402.1.2 / equivalent commercial table; applicable when accessible during remodels/additions).
- Wood-frame wall insulation
- R-20 + R-5 ci or R-13 + R-10 ci (2021 IECC Table R402.1.2; relevant for additions or wall alterations exposing cavities).
- Air leakage / blower-door testing threshold
- Maximum 3 ACH50 (2021 IECC R402.4.1.2; mandatory for new construction and often triggered or recommended for major remodels/additions meeting certain thresholds).
- Additional electric infrastructure for combustion equipment (amendment to 2021 I
- Junction box, continuous raceway to panel, reserved breaker space, and labeling “For future electric equipment” sized for equivalent electric load (Section C405.13 / equivalent residential; applies to alterations involving combustion equipment).§C405.13
Codes are amended regularly — verify current requirements with **The City of Northglenn Building Division (contracted services provided by SAFEbuilt) issues residential building permits.
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What this covers
Detached or attached accessory dwelling on a Denver lot: foundation or module, envelope, and utility tie-in. Height and massing follow Denver bulk-plane and ADU rules for the zone; confirm with CPD before drawings freeze.
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How the work is coordinated
A municipally licensed Denver general contractor coordinates licensed specialty trades for electrical and plumbing. Denver-metro work is permitted locally. Colorado has no statewide general-contractor license. Cities and counties license general contractors. DORA licenses electrical and plumbing (and similar regulated trades), not general contractors. Autotelic is a municipally licensed Denver general contractor that coordinates licensed specialty trades. Denver building permits run through Community Planning and Development (CPD). Costs are project-specific; no dollar figures.
Service Area
Serving Northglenn and Adams County
We serve Northglenn, CO and all surrounding Denver metro communities. Our team is based in Denver and operates throughout the Front Range, from Castle Rock to Longmont and everywhere in between. Contact us for a free estimate on your Northglenn project.
FAQ
Common questions
Is an ADU allowed on my lot?
It depends on your city’s zoning — lot size, setbacks, and parking rules vary across the metro. We run the zoning check as the first step and tell you what your lot supports before you spend money on design.
Do you handle ADU permits and inspections?
Yes — ADU permitting is municipal, and we manage zoning review, permit application, and every inspection through certificate of occupancy.
Detached, attached, or garage conversion — which is right?
Each has different zoning, cost, and site implications. We design all three and recommend based on your lot, budget, and how you plan to use the unit.
What does an ADU cost?
Getting a real answer costs less than most people expect: an ADU feasibility consultation is $350, and the full ADU feasibility package — zoning check, site analysis, and concept direction — is $950, both listed at fixed prices on our booking page. Construction cost depends on the path: garage and basement conversions reuse existing structure, while a detached backyard cottage is new construction from the foundation up. After feasibility we quote the build itself as a fixed-price proposal, so you know the number before work starts.
How long does an ADU project take?
Three phases run in sequence: design (site measure, concept, construction documents), permitting (zoning and building review, which move on the municipality’s calendar), then construction. Conversions generally move faster than detached new builds because the shell and foundation already exist. We lay out the phase-by-phase schedule in your proposal, and you track progress on our operations platform once work starts.
How small a lot can support an ADU?
Smaller than most people assume — many Front Range single-unit lots that owners write off can carry a detached unit, and each city sets its own minimum lot size, setbacks, and building coverage. Whether your district’s standards leave room for a backyard cottage — or point you toward a garage or basement conversion instead — is exactly what the feasibility check answers for your address.
What is the ADU permit process?
Two municipal reviews run in order: a zoning review confirming the unit fits your district’s standards, then a building permit review of the construction documents, with inspections during the build and a certificate of occupancy at the end. Colorado HB 24-1152 now requires most Front Range municipalities to allow ADUs on single-unit lots, and we confirm how your city implements it as the first step of feasibility.
How It Runs
01
Survey
02
Design
03
Build
04
Verify
DESIGN SERVICES
Discovery & Site Analysis
Needs + preference programming, site survey, as-built documentation, feasibility.
We walk, measure, and photograph your property — existing conditions, utilities, structure, and constraints. You get the as-built documentation and feasibility read that every later decision rests on.
Learn more →Concept Design & Space Planning
Schematic design, floor plan studies, layout options.
Your scope becomes schematic floor plans you can compare side by side — circulation, daylight, adjacencies, and what each option does to the budget. Layout decisions happen on paper, where changes are cheap.
Learn more →Architectural Design & 3D Renderings
Design development, materials + finishes, photorealistic visualization.
The chosen concept resolves into materials, finishes, fixtures, and lighting — with the automation layer drawn in. Photorealistic renderings let you walk the space and adjust before anything is priced.
Learn more →Construction Documents & Permitting
Full CD sets, structural + MEP engineering coordination, permit-ready drawings.
Approved designs become coordinated architectural, structural, and MEP sheets — the set your jurisdiction permits from and trades build from. We submit, track, and answer review comments.
Learn more →CONSTRUCTION
New Construction & Custom Homes
Ground-up homes and light commercial, dirt to keys.
Ground-up residential and light commercial builds — foundations through finishes, including modular and steel construction. One accountable builder from dirt to keys.
Learn more →Remodels & Additions
Kitchens, baths, basements, pop-tops, whole-home.
Kitchens, baths, basements, pop-tops, and whole-home renovations that respect the house you already have. We handle structure, permits, and the dust.
Learn more →Commercial Tenant Finish & Build-Outs
Shells to working spaces — retail, office, restaurant, school.
Raw shells become working spaces — showrooms, offices, restaurants, schools. Dealer-spec finishes, code compliance, and opening dates held.
Learn more →ADUs & Modular Construction
Backyard cottages, garage conversions, factory-built homes.
Backyard cottages, garage conversions, and factory-built homes — zoning, design, permits, and set. Denver’s ADU rules are a specialty, not a surprise.
Learn more →Outdoor Living & Patio Structures
Decks, pergolas, and dining patios built for Colorado weather.
Decks, pergolas, and dining patios engineered for Colorado sun, snow, and hail — structure, shade, and drainage done right the first time.
Learn more →TECHNOLOGY
Smart Home Automation
Lighting, shades, climate, audio, security — one interface.
Whole-home control of lighting, shades, climate, audio, and security from a single interface — Crestron, Lutron, Savant, and Control4 designed in, not bolted on.
Learn more →A/V Systems
Theaters, distributed audio, video walls, commercial sound.
Theaters, distributed audio, video walls, and commercial sound — designed, installed, and tuned by the same team for over 20 years.
Learn more →Control Systems
Custom programming — scenes and schedules that fit the space.
Every subsystem brought into one elegant interface — custom programming for homes and venues, with scenes and schedules that match how the space is actually used.
Learn more →Networking & Edge Compute
Enterprise Wi-Fi, structured cabling, racks, on-prem compute.
Enterprise-grade Wi-Fi, structured cabling, racks, and on-premise compute — the backbone that makes everything else reliable, including our own Barbot platform.
Learn more →Solar & Energy Storage
Solar arrays, Tesla Powerwall, EV charging — certified install.
Solar arrays, Tesla Powerwall, and EV charging designed and installed by a Tesla Energy Certified team — roof, electrical, and app in one scope.
Learn more →Let's design your perfect ADU / Backyard Cottage together
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