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LONGMONT SERVICES
Excavation in Longmont
Licensed excavation services for Longmont and Boulder County. Groundwork done right.
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Groundwork done right
EVERY PROJECT STARTS WITH DESIGN
Local Service
Excavation Services in Longmont, Colorado
Autotelic provides professional excavation services throughout Longmont and the surrounding Boulder County area. Foundation excavation, utility trenching, grading, and backfill services for residential and commercial construction. Whether you're in Longmont (north Boulder County) or nearby communities, our team delivers quality workmanship backed by Colorado licensing and full insurance coverage.
Permit Thresholds
Longmont permit thresholds
- Code reference
- The City of Longmont has adopted the 2024 International Codes, including the International Residential Code, effective July 1, 2026.
- Code reference
- Retaining walls over 48 inches.
- Code reference
- Accessory buildings over 120 square feet.
- Code reference
- Accessory buildings 120 square feet or less in floor area, though it is recommended to secure them against wind damage, and they must still meet setback requirements.
- Code reference
- Fencing below certain heights (commonly 6 feet).
- Foundations
- For one-story accessory structures greater than 120 square feet, foundations must be designed by a Colorado-licensed engineer, and the drawings must be stamped and sealed by that engineer.
- Code reference
- The City of Longmont enforces the 2024 International Codes, which became effective on July 1, 2026, along with the Metro Cohort Model Code.
- Code reference
- The Longmont Municipal Code incorporates by reference the International Residential Code for One and Two-Family Dwellings, 2021 Edition, including various appendix chapters.
Codes are amended regularly — verify current requirements with **The City of Longmont Building Services (Building Inspection division) issues residential building permits.
Energy Code
Longmont energy code quick facts
- Code reference
- 2024 IECC (Metro Cohort Model Code based on the 2024 International Energy Conservation Code, with local/regional amendments), effective July 1, 2026.
- Code reference
- Longmont adopted the 2024 International Codes (including the energy code) along with the Metro Cohort Model Code (MCMC, based on the 2024 IECC with regionally aligned amendments) via Ordinance O-2026-29 (adopted ~June 9, 2026; see Municode Chapter 16.22 for the energy conservation code adoption).Ordinance O-2026-29
- Code reference
- This aligns with Colorado state requirements for jurisdictions updating codes around this period (must meet or exceed 2021 IECC + electric/solar-ready provisions, with amendments not reducing stringency).
- Code reference
- Longmont follows its policy of adopting each new IECC version; it is not the Denver Green Code or Energize Denver program.
- Code reference
- Longmont is in IECC Climate Zone 5B.
- Key prescriptive requirements (from the adopted 2024 IECC/MCMC base provisions,
- Key prescriptive requirements (from the adopted 2024 IECC/MCMC base provisions, applicable to additions and alterations per the IECC scope for new construction elements in remodels/additions) relevant to remodels/additions in CZ 5B include (specific MCMC amendments may modify details; always verify
- Ceiling/attic insulation
- R-49 (or equivalent U-factor per Table R402.1.2/R402.1.3).
- Adopting ordinance/reference
- MCMC/2024 IECC Table R402.1.2 (or R402.1.3 component performance alternative) as adopted in Longmont Municipal Code Chapter 16.22.
Codes are amended regularly — verify current requirements with **The City of Longmont Building Services (Building Inspection division) issues residential building permits.
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What excavation work covers
Excavation in the Denver metro includes foundation cut, site grading, utility trenches, benching, sloping, and shoring when soils or lot-line conditions require it. Neighboring structures, utilities, and the public right-of-way often drive method. A municipally licensed Denver general contractor coordinates earthwork and licensed specialty trades. Cost is project-specific and depends on depth, soils, and protection of adjacent property.
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When shoring and extra permits show up
Denver CPD commonly treats excavation, benching, or shoring as a separate permit when the cut is more than 4 feet deep, closer than 4 feet to a lot line, or steeper than 1.5 horizontal to 1 vertical. IRC houses follow building-code policy ADMIN 130/131 and DCBC 3307; those details often ride with the residential construction permit, with excavation issued first. Shoring and soils packages are typically sealed by design professionals. Work that abuts the public ROW may need a DOTI excavation bond; shoring that enters the ROW needs a temporary shoring ROW permit.
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Permits and who coordinates the work
City and County of Denver Community Planning and Development reviews excavation and shoring. Denver DOTI reviews Sewer Use and Drainage (SUDP) for excavations, grading, floodplain, groundwater, and ROW impacts. The residential permitting guide also calls for DDPHE review on excavations. Check floodplain status at denvergov.org/flood before drawing. Cities and counties license general contractors. Colorado has no statewide general contractor license. Autotelic acts as a municipally licensed Denver general contractor and coordinates licensed specialty trades for excavation scopes.
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What buyers should prepare
Proposed depth, distance to lot lines, any soils report, photos of neighboring structures, and whether the dig will touch the alley or street.
FAQ
Common questions
Do I need a separate excavation permit in Denver?
Often yes when the cut is over 4 feet deep, close to a lot line, or steeper than 1.5 to 1. Houses may include excavation details with the building permit, with excavation issued before construction.
Who handles excavation permits and licensing?
A municipally licensed Denver general contractor coordinates the project and licensed specialty trades. Colorado has no statewide general contractor license.
What is SUDP doing on a dig?
DOTI reviews sewer, storm grading, floodplain, groundwater, and ROW impacts for excavations. It is a separate review that typically runs with the building package.
When is shoring required?
When slopes cannot be laid back to the allowed ratio, when the cut is near a lot line or structure, or when the soils report requires it. Design professionals seal those packages.
What information helps define scope?
Depth, lot-line clearance, floodplain status, existing utilities, and city or county.
Service Area
Serving Longmont and Boulder County
We serve Longmont, 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 Longmont project.
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 →TRUSTED TO BUILD FOR
- Punch Bowl SocialFirst four locations
- Spectrum RetirementSenior living communities
- Denver HighlandsFirst modular custom home
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