Home projects in Northglenn

Northglenn began as one of the metro area's first master-planned suburbs, laid out in the late 1950s north of Denver along I-25. The bulk of its housing went up in the 1960s and 1970s: brick and frame ranches, bi-levels and tri-levels on curving streets, with parks and schools built into each neighborhood. Many of these homes are now on their second or third owner, and the remodeling need is consistent from street to street: windows, siding, roofs, kitchens and mechanical systems.

The city's Building Division makes one thing easy: it publishes a plain list of what needs a permit and what doesn't.

Northglenn's permit list, simplified

Here is how Northglenn's guidance sorts common residential projects.

Permit required (exterior):

• Decks, and decks with patio covers
• Patio covers, awnings and carports
• Fences
• Retaining walls 4 feet or more, measured from the bottom of the footing to the top of the wall
• Re-roofing or a roof re-cover
• Siding and stucco replacement or new siding
• Outside water or sewer line replacement or repair
• Additions and pop-tops, garages, and sheds or other accessory structures over 200 square feet
• Lawn sprinklers where a backflow device is installed or replaced
• Air conditioners, mini-splits, heat pump units and evaporative coolers
• Screened porches, sunrooms, patio enclosures and solar panels

Permit required (inside): furnace, boiler and water heater installation or replacement, basement finishes, remodeling, electrical, plumbing and structural modifications, electric-to-gas conversions, sump pumps, window or door replacement (with a required U-factor of 0.30 or less) and changes to window or door sizes.

No permit required: general landscaping, private concrete sidewalks and driveways, soffit, fascia and gutter replacement, concrete or stone patio slabs without roofs, painting, minor fence picket repair, kitchen cabinets and countertops, flooring, and one-story detached accessory structures under 200 square feet with no utilities.

When in doubt, the city asks you to contact it. SAFEbuilt provides building division services for the city, and you can pull a permit online.

The window rule matters

Northglenn's permit list sets a required U-factor of 0.30 or less for replacement windows and doors. That's a useful benchmark. When you compare window quotes, look for the NFRC label's U-factor and confirm each product meets it. Lower is better for heat loss through the glass. For Northglenn's typical bi-level, with a large picture window and a stack of bedroom windows, the comfort difference can be significant.

Housing by type

Ranches. One story over a basement. Common projects include opening the kitchen to the living room, adding a basement bathroom, and replacing original windows.

Bi-levels. The split entry with a half-buried lower level. Lower-level rooms tend to be cold and dark. Bigger egress windows, insulation and better heating distribution help most.

Tri-levels. Three short levels, often with the family room over a crawl space. Air sealing the crawl space and rebalancing ducts can fix the temperature swings between levels.

Contractor licensing

Northglenn requires contractors to hold a city contractor license; the city's contractor license page lists the current requirements. Electricians and plumbers also need Colorado state licenses. Ask any contractor for their Northglenn license and check trade licenses on Colorado's DORA lookup. In pre-1978 homes, which covers most of Northglenn, paid contractors who disturb painted surfaces must follow the EPA's lead-safe renovation rules.

Projects that fit

• Windows meeting the city's U-0.30 limit, often paired with new exterior trim.
• Siding replacement on 1970s hardboard or aluminum siding, with a permit.
• Roofing after hail, permitted as a re-roof.
• Heat pumps to replace aging furnaces and AC units. Under Colorado's heat pump tax credit, registered contractors claim the credit and must pass a minimum discount to you; for 2026 air-source installations that minimum is $333. Check the Colorado Energy Office's current terms, and ask your utility about any rebates.
• Kitchen remodels, where cabinets and countertops alone don't need a permit but new circuits, plumbing or wall removal do.
• Decks for rear yards, which need permits and inspections.

Planning the order of work

In a 1970s house, the best sequence usually starts on the outside. Fix the roof and any drainage problems first, then replace windows and siding together so flashing and trim are integrated properly. Mechanical upgrades come next, and a smaller, more efficient heat pump may be possible once the envelope is tighter. Interior remodels go last, so new finishes aren't damaged by exterior work.