Boulder County BuildSmart follows new conditioned floor area

BuildSmart energy and indoor-air rules are part of residential permits in unincorporated Boulder County. They are not optional upgrades added after the design. The trigger is a phrase that appears throughout the program: conditioned floor area.

Conditioned floor area means living space that is heated or cooled. A residential project that creates, adds, or remodels that space must show how it meets BuildSmart’s energy requirements. A new house, addition, finished basement, or major remodel can cross that line.

The permit package can then cover more than framing and footprint. Insulation, energy performance, indoor air quality, water conservation, and other BuildSmart details may be reviewed together.

The budget consequence begins during design, not at the final inspection. A bid that covers only walls and finishes can miss the work needed for BuildSmart compliance. Decide early whether the project creates conditioned floor area, then use the current BuildSmart guide to align the design, bid, and permit submittal.