A long range of building eras

Littleton's older core near Main Street includes homes built well before modern moisture details, with stone or brick foundations, limited insulation and basements that were never meant to be living space. Farther out, postwar ranches and the split-levels and bi-levels common from the 1960s and 1970s make up much of the housing, many with lower levels set partly below grade.

Split-level and bi-level homes have a lower floor that sits a few feet into the ground, often finished as a family room with carpet laid over a concrete slab. That combination, a cool slab and a soft floor covering, holds moisture from minor seepage or summer humidity and is a frequent spot for musty odors. Neighborhoods near the South Platte River or along drainage channels may also deal with wetter soils, so look closely at grading on the low side of the lot.

Which jurisdiction to ask about permits

Littleton ZIP codes extend well beyond the city's boundaries.

  • IfYour property is inside the City of LittletonThenAsk the City of Littleton's building services about permits for repairs after remediation.
  • IfYour address says Littleton but the property is in unincorporated Arapahoe CountyThenArapahoe County's building division is usually the right contact.
  • IfYour address says Littleton but the property is in Jefferson or Douglas CountyThenCheck with that county or with the city or town that actually governs the parcel.
  • IfYou are unsureThenLook up the parcel on the county assessor's website, which typically shows the taxing jurisdiction.

Typical trouble spots by era

Early homes near downtown
Damp stone or brick basements, limited drainage, old plumbing
Postwar ranches
Basement walls behind later finishes, original windows that sweat
1960s and 1970s split-levels
Lower-level family rooms over slabs, carpet and pad holding moisture
Homes near the river or channels
Wetter soils and seasonal groundwater in places
Map of Littleton. It shows an area, not an office or a job site.

Common questions

Is a dehumidifier enough for a split-level lower floor?
It helps with general humidity, but if water is entering through the foundation or slab, a dehumidifier only slows the problem. Find and correct the entry point, and replace wet carpet pad.

General information for Cherry Hills Village, not a quote or professional advice. In an emergency, call 911.