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CHERRY HILLS VILLAGE SERVICES
Second-Story Addition in Cherry Hills Village
Licensed second-story addition services for Cherry Hills Village and Arapahoe County. Double your living space without moving.
What Cherry Hills Village requires
Code reference: ### Exempt Work (Cherry Hills Village Municipal Code Section 105.2, referencing adopted I-Codes) §105.2
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Local Service
Second-Story Addition Services in Cherry Hills Village, Colorado
Autotelic provides professional second-story addition services throughout Cherry Hills Village and the surrounding Arapahoe County area. Full second-story additions across the Denver metro with structural engineering, framing, roofing, and complete interior build-out. Commercially licensed and insured. Whether you're in Cherry Hills Village (affluent south Denver) or nearby communities, our team delivers quality workmanship backed by Colorado licensing and full insurance coverage.
Permit Thresholds
Cherry Hills Village permit thresholds
- Code reference
- The Village adopted the 2024 International Codes (I-Codes) at the beginning of 2026, including the 2024 International Residential Code (IRC), and adheres to Chapter 18 of the Cherry Hills Village Municipal Code for building regulations.
- Code reference
- If an addition is more than 50% of the existing square footage, or if the aggregate floor area is demolished or reconstructed by more than 50%, or increased by 50% or more, the project is considered "redevelopment" and may have additional submittal and drainage requirements per Chapter 9 of the zoni
- Code reference
- Any electrical work on 400 amps (320 continuous) or greater requires a separate plan review.
- Impervious Surface
- If more than 2,500 square feet of impervious surface is added cumulatively (e.g., house addition, driveway, patio), a Phase III Drainage Plan is required.
- Code Reference
- Cherry Hills Village Municipal Code, Chapter 18, and the adopted 2024 International Residential Code.
- Code reference
- ### Exempt Work (Cherry Hills Village Municipal Code Section 105.2, referencing adopted I-Codes)§105.2
- Code reference
- One-story detached, prefabricated storage sheds that do not exceed 120 square feet.
- Code Reference
- Cherry Hills Village Municipal Code, Section 105.2, referencing adopted I-Codes.§105.2
Codes are amended regularly — verify current requirements with **The City of Cherry Hills Village (specifically its Building Division under Community Development) issues residential building permits.
Zoning & ADU
Cherry Hills Village zoning & ADU quick facts
- Code reference
- Cherry Hills Village, Colorado's zoning regulations for single-family residential districts (R-1, R-2, R-3, R-3A, R-4, and R-5) include specific numeric development standards for additions, Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs), and garages.
- R-1, R-2, R-3, R-3A Residential Districts
- 35 feet
- R-4, R-5 Residential Districts
- 30 feet
- Permitted
- ADUs are permitted in any part of the City where single-family homes are allowed, via an administrative approval process, effective after June 30, 2025.
- Code reference
- Arapahoe County, which includes Cherry Hills Village, also permits both attached and detached ADUs in all agricultural and most residential zoning districts on lots that are at least 5,000 square feet.
- Max Size
- Between 500 and 800 square feet.
- Code reference
- For lots under 19 acres in urban areas, Arapahoe County regulations allow ADUs with up to two bedrooms, with square footage limitations based on lot size and/or the size of the principal dwelling.
- Off-Street Parking Areas (including garages)
- Shall be set back 20 feet from residential lot lines.
Codes are amended regularly — verify current requirements with **The City of Cherry Hills Village (specifically its Building Division under Community Development) issues residential building permits.
The build sequence for a Second-Story Addition project
This service is a component of How a Home remodel project works in Cherry Hills Village.
Energy Code
Cherry Hills Village energy code quick facts
- Code reference
- Cherry Hills Village, Colorado, has adopted the 2024 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC).
- Code reference
- However, state law requires local jurisdictions to adopt and enforce the 2021 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) and the Colorado Model Electric Ready and Solar Ready Code when updating any other building code, with amendments not permitted to decrease effectiveness or energy efficiency.
- Code reference
- An ordinance (Ordinance No. 2023, Series 1) also indicates the adoption of the 2021 International Energy Conservation Code.Ord. No. 2023
- Code reference
- Cherry Hills Village is located in IECC Climate Zone 5B.
- Code reference
- The following are key prescriptive requirements for residential remodels and additions, based on the 2021 IECC for Climate Zone 5B, which serve as minimum standards under the adopted energy code:
- Code reference
- ### Key Prescriptive Requirements for Remodels/Additions (2021 IECC, Climate Zone 5B)
- Requirement
- R-49 minimum, with an R-60 retrofit recommended.
- Code reference
- The 2021 IECC raised the prescriptive ceiling to R-60, with R-49 acceptable only with a raised-heel truss (per IECC R402.2.1).
Codes are amended regularly — verify current requirements with **The City of Cherry Hills Village (specifically its Building Division under Community Development) issues residential building permits.
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What a second-story addition covers
A second-story addition in the Denver metro adds habitable floor over an existing house: new floor structure, stairs, roof, windows, and usually electrical, mechanical, and plumbing. The existing foundation and walls have to carry the extra load. A municipally licensed Denver general contractor coordinates the project, design professionals, and licensed specialty trades. Cost is project-specific and depends on structure, roof, and how much of the first floor is opened.
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Structure and zoning height
City and County of Denver Community Planning and Development treats second-story additions as structural review items that exceed IRC prescriptive limits. The residential permitting guide asks for a letter of structural integrity sealed by a design professional who personally inspected the existing foundation and building (DBCA 133.3). Zoning height is measured in feet and stories from the front and rear base planes (Denver Zoning Code Sec. 13.1.2). Plans should show allowed versus proposed height.
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Permits and who coordinates the work
Additions typically need zoning, building, and Sewer Use and Drainage (SUDP) reviews, plus electrical, mechanical, and plumbing when those systems change. Denver Energy Code Chapter 5 [RE] applies to additions. 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, existing drawings if any, roof and attic photos, and known foundation concerns.
FAQ
Common questions
Do second-story additions need a Denver permit?
Yes. CPD requires building, zoning, and typically SUDP, with structural review because the work exceeds IRC prescriptive limits.
Who handles second-story permits and licensing?
A municipally licensed Denver general contractor coordinates the project, design professionals, and specialty trades. Colorado has no statewide general contractor license.
Can the existing foundation take a second story?
Only after a design professional inspects it. CPD asks for a sealed structural-integrity letter for second-story additions.
How is height measured?
In feet and stories from the zoning front and rear base planes, not just from the sidewalk.
What information helps define scope?
Desired rooms, existing drawings, foundation notes, landmark status, and city or county.
Service Area
Serving Cherry Hills Village and Arapahoe County
We serve Cherry Hills Village, 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 Cherry Hills Village project.
How It Runs
01
Survey
02
Design
03
Build
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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 Second-Story Addition together
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