Building Permits in Denver

Denver requires a building permit for most construction, alteration, and repair work that affects structural, electrical, plumbing, or mechanical systems. Permits are issued by the City and County of Denver's CPD (Community Planning and Development), which includes Denver Development Services (DDS) and administers plan review, zoning, and field inspections for the consolidated city-county jurisdiction.

Denver has adopted the 2024 Denver Building and Fire Code — locally amended versions of the 2024 International Building Code (IBC), 2024 International Residential Code (IRC), 2024 International Mechanical Code (IMC), 2024 International Plumbing Code (IPC), 2024 International Fuel Gas Code (IFGC), 2024 International Existing Building Code (IEBC), and 2024 International Fire Code (IFC), together with the 2021 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) and the 2023 National Electrical Code (NEC). Colorado does not impose a statewide residential building code, so Denver's locally adopted codes govern all construction in the city.

When You Need a Permit

You generally need a Denver building permit for:

• New construction, additions, and accessory structures including ADUs (Accessory Dwelling Units)
• Structural alterations, load-bearing wall changes, and foundation work
• Electrical, plumbing, and mechanical (HVAC) work
• Reroofing and exterior siding replacement
• Window and door openings in exterior walls
• Swimming pools, spas, and retaining walls above a height threshold
• Demolition of any habitable structure

All new homes and additions specifically require three permits: a zoning permit, a building permit, and a Sewer Use and Drainage Permit (SUDP). Additional permits — for demolition, fire suppression, tree removal, right-of-way work, or conveyance (elevator/escalator) — may also be required depending on the scope.

Minor cosmetic work (painting, floor coverings, cabinetry without plumbing or electrical changes) is typically exempt. When in doubt, contact CPD before starting work.

E-Permits — The Online Portal

E-Permits is the City and County of Denver's unified online permitting system, available at denvergov.org/epermits. It is operated by CPD and consolidates residential and commercial building permits, zoning permits, trade permits, and inspections into a single platform.

Through E-Permits you can:

• Create a personal or business account
• Submit permit applications for development projects (Development Services tab → Apply for a Permit → Building Log)
• Upload plans for electronic plan review
• Add contractors to your project
• Pay fees online (note: credit/debit card payments carry a 2.5% service fee effective December 9, 2025; electronic check has no fee)
• Download approved permits
• Schedule inspections and check your inspector's estimated time of arrival (ETA)
• View inspection results

Permits are no longer issued at the counter. All applications must be submitted electronically. For plan review questions, contact CPD at [email protected] or (720) 865-2720.

Permit Costs

Denver permit fees are established in the CPD Building and Land Development Fee Schedule published by Community Planning and Development. Fees are calculated on a tiered scale based on:

• Building permit fee — scales with project valuation (customer-provided, cross-checked against ICC construction cost data)
• Plan review fee — typically 50% of the building permit fee for residential and commercial projects
• Zoning permit fee — flat fee based on project type
• Trade permit fees — separate fees for electrical, plumbing, mechanical, and roofing/siding permits
• Sewer Use and Drainage Permit (SUDP) — required for new construction and additions
• Reinspection fee — charged per hour if an inspection fails and must be repeated
• Affordable Housing Linkage Fee — applies to certain new construction under the Expanding Housing Affordability ordinance

Do not rely on third-party fee estimates. Always check the current CPD Fee Schedule linked in the sources above for exact amounts.

Typical Timeline

CPD publishes an Average Plan Review Times dashboard (updated daily) showing estimated days to complete first review across project tiers for the preceding 90-day period. The dashboard reports both an average and a 90th-percentile (worst-case) estimate.

Building inspections, once a permit is active, are completed within 2 business days of scheduling through E-Permits.

The Process

1. Pre-submittal: Confirm zoning district, overlays, and applicable codes for your parcel using Denver's zoning map
2. Plans: Prepare drawings meeting CPD submittal requirements; a licensed Colorado architect or engineer stamp is required where specified in the Denver Building and Fire Code
3. Submit via E-Permits: Log in, select Development Services → Apply for a Permit → Building Log; upload all required documents and pay any upfront fees
4. Plan review: CPD reviews for compliance across building, zoning, structural, energy, and fire disciplines; trade reviews may be concurrent
5. Correction notices: Respond to comments in E-Permits and resubmit revised documents; the CPD dashboard tracks review status
6. Permit issuance: Pay remaining fees online; download the approved permit from E-Permits (permits are not issued at the counter)
7. Post permit: Display the permit on-site; begin construction only after permit issuance
8. Inspections: Schedule required inspections through E-Permits at each construction phase
9. Final: Pass all final inspections; receive a Certificate of Occupancy (CO) or Certificate of Completion (CC) where required

Inspections

Typical inspection stages for a residential project include:

• Zoning (site/setbacks)
• Foundation and footings
• Underground plumbing, electrical, and drainage
• Framing
• Rough plumbing, electrical, and mechanical
• Insulation and energy compliance
• Drywall (fire blocking)
• Final building and trade inspections

Schedule inspections through E-Permits (Record Info → Inspections → Schedule or Request an Inspection). Inspections can be scheduled as early as 8 a.m. and are typically completed within 2 business days. A tracking feature in E-Permits shows your inspector's estimated time of arrival (ETA). Reinspection fees apply if work fails inspection.

Common Reasons for Denial or Corrections

• Plans don't meet the Denver Building and Fire Code or Denver's local amendments to the I-Codes
• Missing structural calculations, energy compliance documentation (IECC), or licensed design-professional stamps
• Zoning conflicts (setbacks, height, lot coverage, use under the Denver Zoning Code)
• Missing or incomplete Sewer Use and Drainage Permit (SUDP) documents
• Trade permits submitted before an issued Residential Construction Permit (required as of May 22, 2025 for new construction and addition projects)
• Landmark preservation, historic district, or overlay review not completed
• Incomplete submittal or missing documents in E-Permits

Denied applications may be appealed to the Building Code Board of Appeals.

Official Sources

Always verify current requirements with CPD (Community Planning and Development) and the E-Permits portal before starting your project. See the sources listed in the frontmatter for direct links to E-Permits, the Plan Review Permits and Inspections page, the CPD Fee Schedule, Denver Building and Fire Codes, and the Denver Code of Ordinances on Municode.

Disclaimer: This guide summarizes publicly available information from official City and County of Denver sources and is provided for general orientation only. It does not constitute legal or engineering advice. Building code and permitting requirements change — always confirm current rules with CPD before submitting plans or starting construction.