Home Additions in Westport, CT

Halston Builders plans and builds home additions across Westport, from a family room off the back of a postwar house to a second story on a lot near the water. We are an owner-led design-build firm, and one team carries the addition from the first meeting to the final walkthrough. Our Westport town page covers the town in general and our Westport permits guide covers the permit steps.

Additions that suit Westport houses

Westport's 2017 Plan of Conservation and Development notes that more than half of the town's housing stock is at least 60 years old, with a large wave of building in the 1950s and 1960s. That shapes what fits:

• Mid-century and postwar houses. A low roofline is hard to build on top of, so a side or rear wing that keeps the roof low often sits better than a second floor. Our mid-century renovation guide covers the related decisions.
• Older houses in traditional neighborhoods. The town plan names Old Hill and Greens Farms among Westport's traditional residential neighborhoods. On an older colonial or farmhouse, a rear ell or a wing set back from the front keeps the original house in charge.
• Houses near the beaches. Around Compo Beach and Saugatuck Shores, the flood zone can set the floor height of an addition before the room layout does.

What shapes an addition in Westport

The town's zoning permit application instructions ask for a proposed survey or site plan and building plans with floor plans and elevations. What we check with the design team:

• Conservation comes first. Planning and Zoning's permit requirements say every project needs Conservation approval before the zoning permit application. Near a wetland, a brook or the shore, the inland wetlands regulations or the Waterway Protection Line Ordinance may call for more than a staff sign-off.
• Nonconforming lots. The town plan notes that about half of Westport's residential lots do not meet current lot-size rules. As a rule, the zoning regulations do not let a nonconforming building be expanded in a way that increases its nonconformity, which can decide whether the addition goes up or out.
• Drainage. A larger addition that adds coverage may need a site plan and drainage calculations from a licensed civil engineer, reviewed by the Engineering Department.
• Septic and wells. When the property is on a septic system or a well, the town's permit requirements call for Aspetuck Health District approval. The state health code requires a finding that the lot still has room for a code-complying system, even for an addition without a bedroom, and it also covers changes that let more people occupy the house.
• Historic districts. In Westport's seven local historic districts and on designated historic properties, the Historic District Commission reviews exterior work visible from a public street, place or way. The Certificate of Appropriateness is decided after a public hearing, and the Building Department requires it before issuing a building permit.

Flood zones and coastal review

On a low-lying lot near Long Island Sound, the Saugatuck River, Sherwood Mill Pond or Sasco Creek, check the flood zone before sizing the addition. Work large enough to count as a substantial improvement under the National Flood Insurance Program has to meet the flood rules for new construction. FEMA's guidance treats an addition that extends the footprint differently from one built on top, and whether the new wing alone or the whole house must comply depends on the flood zone and how the two connect. FEMA has issued preliminary maps for the area, so use the current map on the FEMA Flood Map Service Center.

State law lets a town exempt minor additions to existing buildings from coastal site plan review, while a larger addition within the coastal boundary may need it. Under Public Act 25-33, Westport removed its review exemption for single-family dwellings, and coastal site plans for work in mapped coastal flood zones now go to the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection for comment. Ask Planning and Zoning which review your addition needs. Our waterfront and coastal construction page covers building near the water.

Building up or out in Westport

Our guide to building up or building out sets out the general trade-offs. Locally, a few factors often tip the decision:

• On a nonconforming lot, going up may add no footprint, but it is still a zoning question.
• On a septic property, a ground-floor wing competes with the septic area for space, while a second story may add bedrooms.
• On a mid-century house, a second story can overwhelm the roofline that gives the house its character.

Matching the existing house

We study the roof pitch, eaves, window proportions, siding and trim, and decide early whether the new work matches them exactly or steps back as a quieter wing. Floor levels and ceiling heights where old meets new are drawn and priced before construction.

Living at home during the work

Much of an addition is built outside the rooms you live in, so staying at home is often possible. The disruptive stretch comes when the existing wall or roof is opened and the systems are tied in, and we plan that phase with you. Our guide to living in your house during a renovation covers the trade-offs.

How we approach the budget

We price the addition as the design develops, through pre-construction budgeting, so the size and finishes can change before construction starts. Site work, drainage, septic or flood requirements, structural reinforcement and the junction with the old house all count alongside the new floor area. Our design-build process keeps design, approvals and pricing with one team, and our guide to what drives renovation cost explains the main factors.

Questions about home additions in Westport

Do we need a new survey for an addition?

Usually, yes. Westport's zoning permit requirements call for a signed and sealed proposed survey by a Connecticut licensed surveyor for any project that changes the footprint, coverage or square footage.

Our lot is nonconforming. Can we still add on?

Often, but the shape and placement of the addition matter, because a nonconforming building generally cannot be expanded in a way that increases its nonconformity. Ask Planning and Zoning before the design goes far, since some plans may need the Zoning Board of Appeals.

We are on septic. Can we add a bedroom?

It depends on the lot. The Aspetuck Health District reviews construction on septic properties, and the state code asks whether there is room for a code-complying system. Soil testing may be needed if there is no soil data on file, so we raise it at the first meeting.

Our house is in a flood zone. Should we build up or out?

Check the current flood map first. A project large enough to be a substantial improvement has to meet the flood rules for new construction, and FEMA treats footprint additions and additions built on top differently. We compare both options with the design team before the size is fixed.

Can we stay in the house while the addition is built?

Often, yes. The new wing can usually be framed and closed in before the existing house is opened, so the household keeps the use of the other rooms for most of the work.

Can you build an addition from our architect's drawings?

Yes. We can build to your architect's drawings, with responsibilities for drawings, approvals and site decisions agreed at the start. Bring the plans, the survey and any septic or wetland records to the first meeting.

Start with a free consultation

Tell us about the house, the lot and the rooms you need. We can meet at the house or at our Bridgeport design center, 46 Beatrice St, Unit 2, by appointment. Request a free consultation.