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FEDERAL HEIGHTS SERVICES
Pop-Top Addition in Federal Heights
Licensed pop-top addition services for Federal Heights and Adams County. Go up, not out — add a full second story.
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- Construction & Tenant Finish
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Go up, not out — add a full second story
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Local Service
Pop-Top Addition Services in Federal Heights, Colorado
Autotelic provides professional pop-top addition services throughout Federal Heights and the surrounding Adams 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 Federal Heights (north central Denver metro) or nearby communities, our team delivers quality workmanship backed by Colorado licensing and full insurance coverage.
Permit Thresholds
Federal Heights permit thresholds
- Code reference
- Federal Heights, CO (Municipal Code Chapter 10, Article II, as amended by Ordinance No. 21-01, adopting the 2018 International Codes with local amendments) requires building permits for most residential remodel/alteration work, with limited exemptions.Ordinance No. 21-01
- Code reference
- The city adopts the 2018 IBC, IRC (for residential), IEBC, and related codes (with amendments in Sec. 10-16 and 10-18).Sec. 10-16
- Exempt work list (amended Sec. 105.2 of the codes)
- Standard IRC/IBC exemptions are significantly restricted.Sec. 105.2
- Code reference
- The exemption for fences less than 7 feet high.
- Code reference
- The city uses the 2018 codes’ general framework for when work requires permitting.
- Code reference
- Fees (per city Building Permit Fees page and Municipal Code Sec. 10-17):Sec. 10-17
- Building permit fee
- Based on total project valuation (labor + materials); tiered schedule applies (examples): $1–$500 = $23.50; $501–$2,000 = $23.50 + $3.05 per additional $100 (or fraction) up to $2,000; higher tiers up to $1M+ with decreasing per-$1,000 rates.
- Plan review fee
- 65% of the building permit fee (waived for certain simple projects like water heaters/furnaces/roofing without plan review; collected upfront for valuations > $25,000).
Codes are amended regularly — verify current requirements with **The City of Federal Heights Building Department issues residential building permits.
Zoning & ADU
Federal Heights zoning & ADU quick facts
- Code reference
- R-1 (Single Family Residential District) and R-5 (Single Family Mobile Home District) are the primary single-family residential districts.
- Code reference
- Specific numeric standards for maximum lot coverage percentage, maximum building height, or principal structure setbacks in R-1 or R-5 are not detailed in the publicly extractable portions of the municipal code or related documents reviewed.
- Code reference
- Combined lot coverage (principal dwelling + accessory buildings + ADU) is limited to the underlying district maximum (Sec. 70-923(b)).Sec. 70-923
- Code reference
- ADUs are permitted in R-1 and R-5 districts (and approved single-family PUD districts), but only in conjunction with a single-family dwelling unit (one per lot; not on lots with duplexes or multifamily). This is per Sec. 70-922(a)–(d), as enacted by Ord. No. 25-07 (effective ~July 2025).Sec. 70-922
- ADU maximum size
- 800 square feet (all types: interior, attached, detached) per Sec. 70-926(a)(2), (b)(2), (c)(5). Minimum floor area is 150 square feet (Sec. 70-927(b)).Sec. 70-926
- Minimum side and rear setbacks
- 5 feet to lot line, plus an additional 6 inches of side/rear setback for every foot of height over 15 feet (Sec. 70-926(c)(2)).Sec. 70-926
- Minimum internal setback between detached ADU and principal dwelling
- 5 feet (Sec. 70-926(c)(3)).Sec. 70-926
- Maximum height
- 25 feet or the height of the principal structure, whichever is less (Sec. 70-926(c)(4)).Sec. 70-926
Codes are amended regularly — verify current requirements with **The City of Federal Heights Building Department issues residential building permits.
Energy Code
Federal Heights energy code quick facts
- Code reference
- 2018 IECC (no local amendments noted; kept as the 2018 edition when the city adopted the 2021 ICC codes effective April 15, 2023).
- Code reference
- Federal Heights explicitly retained the 2018 International Energy Conservation Code for energy requirements rather than updating it alongside other 2021 ICC codes (per city website and related ordinances such as those referenced in the 2023 adoption process, e.g., Ordinance No. 23-02 context).Ordinance No. 23-02
- Code reference
- Federal Heights is in Climate Zone 5B.
- Code reference
- Key prescriptive requirements (from 2018 IECC, applicable to remodels/additions/alterations where triggered; no local amendments identified):
- Ceiling/attic insulation
- R-49 (Table R402.1.2).
- Wood-frame wall insulation
- R-20 cavity or R-13 cavity + R-5 continuous insulation (Table R402.1.2).
- Floors over unconditioned space
- R-30 (Table R402.1.2).
- Air leakage
- Building or dwelling unit tested and verified to ≤ 3 ACH50 (or per applicable table/zone provision in R402.4.1.2; exact threshold follows 2018 base code for CZ 3–8).
Codes are amended regularly — verify current requirements with **The City of Federal Heights Building Department issues residential building permits.
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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 Federal Heights and Adams County
We serve Federal Heights, 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 Federal Heights 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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