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Pop-Top Addition in Erie
Licensed pop-top addition services for Erie and Boulder/Weld County. Go up, not out — add a full second story.
- Full Design Lifecycle
- Construction & Tenant Finish
- Smart Home · A/V · Edge Compute
Go up, not out — add a full second story
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Local Service
Pop-Top Addition Services in Erie, Colorado
Autotelic provides professional pop-top addition services throughout Erie and the surrounding Boulder/Weld County area. Pop-top second-story additions across the Denver metro — add bedrooms, bathrooms, and living space without expanding your footprint. Structural engineering included. Whether you're in Erie (fast-growing between Denver and Boulder) or nearby communities, our team delivers quality workmanship backed by Colorado licensing and full insurance coverage.
Permit Thresholds
Erie permit thresholds
- Code reference
- The Town of Erie has adopted the 2021 International Residential Code (IRC).
- Code reference
- Roofing (more than 1 square aggregate)
- Code reference
- Retaining walls over 4 feet from the bottom of the trench to the top of the wall
- Code reference
- Detached accessory structures 200 sq. ft. or less (not including patio covers, and provided there is no electrical and/or plumbing work)
- Code reference
- Minor fence repair (3 sections or less)
- Code reference
- Minor roof repairs (1 square or less)
- Code reference
- Decks, platforms, walks, and driveways not more than 30 inches above grade and not over any basement or story below
- Code reference
- Examples of square foot construction costs for valuation (as of January 1, 2026):
Codes are amended regularly — verify current requirements with **Town of Erie Building Division (Town of Erie, Colorado).
Zoning & ADU
Erie zoning & ADU quick facts
- Code reference
- The Town of Erie, Colorado, regulates single-family residential development through its Unified Development Code (UDC), found in Title 10 of the Municipal Code.
- Code reference
- Chapters 3 and 4 of the UDC detail land uses and dimensional standards.
- Code reference
- Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs), which include internal, attached, or detached units with independent living facilities, are generally permitted in single-family residential zones in Erie, Colorado, due to state law (HB 24-1152), which became fully operational by 2026.
- Code reference
- Colorado law prohibits limiting ADUs to less than 500 square feet or disallowing those between 500 and 750 square feet.
- Town of Erie Use Tax
- 3.5% on construction and building materials.
- Basis
- This tax is applied to an estimated taxable materials percentage of 50% of the total contract valuation when a building or planning permit is obtained.
- Code reference
- A reconciliation of estimated and actual costs is required within 90 days of the Certificate of Occupancy or final inspection.
- Boulder County Use Tax
- 1.335% on the estimated material valuation at the time of permit if the project is located in Boulder County.
Codes are amended regularly — verify current requirements with **Town of Erie Building Division (Town of Erie, Colorado).
Energy Code
Erie energy code quick facts
- Code reference
- The Town of Erie, Colorado, has adopted the 2024 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) with local amendments, effective April 24, 2026.
- Code reference
- This adoption was approved by the Erie Town Council via Ordinance No. 12-2026.Ordinance No. 12-2026
- Code reference
- Erie is located in Climate Zone 5B.
- Code reference
- While Erie has adopted the 2024 IECC with local amendments, the specific details of these amendments relevant to prescriptive requirements for remodels and additions were not detailed in the publicly available information.
- Code reference
- Therefore, the following prescriptive requirements are based on the base 2024 IECC for Climate Zone 5B, which Erie adopted, and are subject to any specific local modifications enacted through Ordinance No. 12-2026.Ordinance No. 12-2026
- Wall Insulation (Residential)
- The building thermal envelope for walls shall meet requirements specified in Table R402.1.2.
- Code reference
- A common prescriptive option for framed walls in Climate Zone 5B is R-20 continuous insulation, or R-13 cavity insulation plus R-5 continuous insulation (denoted as "13&5").
- Code reference
- The 2024 IECC also offers additional flexibility for wall insulation in Climate Zones 4 and 5 if additional credits are achieved.
Codes are amended regularly — verify current requirements with **Town of Erie Building Division (Town of Erie, Colorado).
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What a pop-top covers
A pop-top in the Denver metro raises or replaces the roof on the existing footprint to add a story or habitable attic. Walls usually stay; massing and bulk plane control the envelope. The existing foundation still has to take the new loads. A municipally licensed Denver general contractor coordinates the project, design professionals, and licensed specialty trades. Cost is project-specific and depends on roof structure, stairs, and how much of the first floor is opened.
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Bulk plane, height, and landmarks
Zoning height is measured in feet and stories from the front and rear base planes (DZC Sec. 13.1.2). Plans must show allowed versus proposed bulk plane, including roof overhangs. If the existing house already breaks height or bulk rules, elevations should distinguish retained structure from new work. Landmark Preservation lists pop-top/rooftop additions as a review type; designated properties need Landmark approval before zoning or building permits.
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Permits and who coordinates the work
City and County of Denver Community Planning and Development treats pop-tops like other second-story or attic work: structural review and a sealed structural-integrity letter from a design professional who inspected the existing foundation (DBCA 133.3), plus zoning, building, and typically SUDP. 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 plus the design professionals required for the project.
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What buyers should prepare
Target rooms, roof and attic photos, known foundation issues, and landmark or historic-district status.
FAQ
Common questions
Is a pop-top different from a second-story addition?
A pop-top usually stays on the existing footprint and is controlled by bulk plane. A second-story addition may also expand walls. Both need structural review in Denver.
Who handles pop-top permits and licensing?
A municipally licensed Denver general contractor coordinates the project, design professionals, and specialty trades. Colorado has no statewide general contractor license.
Do historic houses need extra review?
Yes. Landmark lists pop-top/rooftop additions. Approval comes before zoning and building permits on designated properties.
Will the existing foundation work?
Only after a design professional inspects it. CPD asks for a sealed structural-integrity letter for second-story and attic work.
What information helps define scope?
Desired rooms, roof photos, landmark status, and city or county.
Service Area
Serving Erie and Boulder/Weld County
We serve Erie, 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 Erie 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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