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NORTHGLENN SERVICES
Second-Story Addition in Northglenn
Licensed second-story addition services for Northglenn and Adams County. Double your living space without moving.
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
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Local Service
Second-Story Addition Services in Northglenn, Colorado
Autotelic provides professional second-story addition services throughout Northglenn and the surrounding Adams 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 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.
The build sequence for a Second-Story Addition project
This service is a component of How a Home remodel 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 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 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.
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 Second-Story Addition together
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