Bennett building permits

Requirements

• Plans must comply with the 2024 IRC/IBC as adopted (2018 cycle only for the 8 named grandfathered master-plan developments through July 1, 2028)
• New Residential Checklist and New Residential Master Plan Checklist (both now published in 2024-code-cycle versions) define required plan-set contents
• Valuation calculated from ICC Square Footage Building Valuation Data (Town uses the February 2022 table until July 1, 2026, then the February 2026 table) unless the applicant's provided valuation is higher
• Application submitted via the Town's SmartGov online portal; PDF format required for plan review uploads
• All contractors must hold current Town of Bennett Contractor Licensing (Class A, B, or C depending on scope) plus any equivalent license from another Colorado jurisdiction or valid ICC certification

Required documents

• RequiredBuilding Permit ApplicationSubmitted via the Town of Bennett SmartGov portal (twn-bennett-co.smartgovcommunity.com)
• RequiredNew Residential Checklist (2024 Code Cycle)Town-published checklist of required plan-set contents for new single-family residential construction
• RequiredSite/Plot Plan and Floor PlansDrawn to scale showing dimensions, setbacks, and relationship to existing structures

Fee schedule

Requirements

• Additions reviewed per the Town's 'Addition' Building Guide (2024 code cycle version published)
• Interior remodels (kitchen, bathroom, basement finish) use published per-square-foot minimum valuations rather than a full new-construction valuation calculation
• Residential Interior Remodel Permit Submittal Checklist defines required plan-set contents for remodel-scope projects
• A Licensed Engineer report may be required if any walls proposed for removal are structural (standard IRC/IBC requirement, consistent with the Town's own major-kitchen-remodel valuation category which explicitly includes 'removing/relocate walls')
• All contractors must hold current Town of Bennett Contractor Licensing (Class C for 1-2 family remodels) or a Homeowner Affidavit if owner-performed

Required documents

• RequiredBuilding Permit ApplicationSubmitted via the Town of Bennett SmartGov portal
• RequiredResidential Interior Remodel Permit Submittal ChecklistTown-published checklist for interior remodel scope
• OptionalHomeowner AffidavitRequired in lieu of a licensed contractor if the homeowner is performing the work

Fee schedule

Requirements

• Governed by the 2023 National Electrical Code (NEC) as in effect
• Fee is 'Set by State' per the Town's fee schedule — billed under the Colorado State Electrical Board's own statewide fee schedule, not a Town-set valuation table
• Contractors must hold a current Colorado State Master Electric License and Colorado State Electrical Contractor License
• Contractors must additionally hold a Town of Bennett Electrical Registration (No Fee per the fee schedule — a registration, not a licensed class, per the Contractors page's explicit note that 'ELECTRICAL AND PLUMBING ARE REGISTRATIONS NOT LICENSES')
• Residential electrical fees are based on square footage of the installation; commercial electrical fees are based on electrical valuation, per the State's own fee schedule structure (Town of Bennett Permit Valuations guide)

Required documents

• RequiredElectrical Permit ApplicationSubmitted via the Town of Bennett SmartGov portal
• RequiredTown of Bennett Electrical RegistrationNo fee; required in addition to Colorado State Master Electric License and Electrical Contractor License

Fee schedule

Requirements

• Governed by the 2023 National Electrical Code (NEC) as in effect in Bennett
• Electrical permit fee itself is 'Set by State' per the Town's June 2026 Schedule of Fees — billed under the Colorado State Electrical Board's own statewide fee schedule
• Town of Bennett publishes a dedicated 'EV Charger' minimum valuation of $1,100 in its Permit Valuations (Quick Permit) guide — used as the minimum installation valuation for quick-permit processing; valuation increases if a panel/service upgrade is also needed (see the Town's separate Electrical service upgrade minimum valuations: $1,500 for 100-125 AMP, $2,500 for 150-200 AMP)
• Contractors must hold a current Colorado State Master Electric License and Colorado State Electrical Contractor License, plus a Town of Bennett Electrical Registration (no fee)
• The Town's 2026 code update adopts the Colorado Model Electric and Solar Ready Code effective July 1, 2026, the state's model EV-charging/solar-readiness code — new construction and major electrical work in Bennett going forward will be reviewed for EV-ready circuit provisions under this code
• Apply via the Town of Bennett SmartGov portal

Required documents

• RequiredElectrical Permit ApplicationSubmitted via the Town of Bennett SmartGov portal
• RequiredTown of Bennett Electrical RegistrationNo fee; required in addition to Colorado State Master Electric License and Electrical Contractor License

Fee schedule

Requirements

• Governed by the 2024 International Plumbing Code (IPC) as adopted effective July 1, 2026 (2018 IPC for permits issued/grandfathered before that date)
• Fee billed on the Town's own Building Permit valuation table ('See Building Permit' per the fee schedule), NOT the state schedule used for electrical
• Contractors must hold a current Colorado State Master Plumber License and Colorado State Plumbing Contractor License
• Contractors must additionally hold a Town of Bennett Plumbing Registration ($75.00 per the June 2026 Schedule of Fees)

Required documents

• RequiredBuilding Permit Application (Plumbing scope)Submitted via the Town of Bennett SmartGov portal
• RequiredTown of Bennett Plumbing Registration$75.00 fee; required in addition to Colorado State Master Plumber License and Plumbing Contractor License

Fee schedule

Requirements

• Governed by the 2024 International Mechanical Code (IMC) and 2024 International Fuel Gas Code (IFGC) as adopted effective July 1, 2026 (2018 IMC/IFGC for pre-transition permits)
• Fee billed on the Town's own Building Permit valuation table
• Contractors performing mechanical work fall under Town of Bennett Contractor Licensing Class D (mechanical, among other sub-contractor trades) unless otherwise licensed
• Published minimum valuations exist for common quick-permit HVAC scopes (furnace, A/C, evaporative cooler)

Required documents

• RequiredBuilding Permit Application (Mechanical scope) or Quick PermitSubmitted via the Town of Bennett SmartGov portal
• RequiredTown of Bennett Contractor License (Class D)Required for mechanical sub-contractor trades not separately classed

Fee schedule

Requirements

• Governed by the 2024 IRC/IBC as adopted (2018 cycle for pre-transition permits)
• Minimum valuation calculated per '1 square = 100 square feet' of roof area, varying by material type
• Roof re-decking, when associated with a re-roof, carries its own additional per-square minimum valuation
• Quick Permit application path available via the SmartGov portal

Required documents

• RequiredQuick Permit Application — Re-Roof scopeSubmitted via the Town of Bennett SmartGov portal
• OptionalRoof Building GuideTown-published guide for re-roof permit submittals

Fee schedule

Requirements

• SolarAPP+ registration (https://gosolarapp.org/) required for contractors seeking the automated review path for qualifying residential roof-mounted systems
• After SolarAPP+ approval, the permit itself, fees, and inspections are still processed and paid through the Town's own SmartGov portal
• Non-SolarAPP+ submittals reviewed under the Town's standard Solar Panel Plan Review process using the Solar Photovoltaic System Requirements Checklist
• Additional fees may be collected by third-party plan reviewers per the Town's fee schedule footnote

Required documents

• OptionalSolarAPP+ Approval (if applicable)Obtained via https://gosolarapp.org/ prior to applying for the Town permit
• RequiredSolar Photovoltaic System Requirements ChecklistTown-published checklist for non-SolarAPP+ solar permit submittals
• RequiredSolar Permit ApplicationSubmitted via the Town of Bennett SmartGov portal

Fee schedule

Requirements

• Reviewed per IRC Appendix AQ (ADU-specific provisions) under the 2024 IRC as adopted
• Attached ADUs: must be physically separated from the principal unit by a wall or lockable door; minimum 5-foot rear yard setback; maximum height 35 feet (same as principal buildings) subject to IRC R301.3 wood-frame story-height limits
• Detached ADUs: maximum height 20 feet, or up to 25 feet with a roof pitch of 8:12 or steeper; minimum 6 feet of separation from any other building on the property (IRC Table R302.1(1))
• Complete independent living facilities required: permanent provisions for living, sleeping, cooking, eating, and sanitation
• Plot plan and floor plans required as part of the submittal, per the ADU Building Guide
• Zoning-level requirements (size limits, lot coverage, parking, owner-occupancy, utility metering) are locally determined; the published guide is a generic Colorado Chapter ICC template, not a Bennett-specific zoning excerpt — confirm current Bennett zoning-code ADU standards directly with the Planning Department before finalizing design, since this guide's zoning-considerations section is explicitly generic ('while specific regulations are local')

Required documents

• RequiredAccessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) Building GuideColorado Chapter ICC-produced guide, Town of Bennett-published version dated 12-2-2025, referencing the 2024 IRC
• RequiredPlot Plan and Floor PlansDrawn to scale, showing dimensions and relationship to existing structures
• RequiredBuilding Permit ApplicationSubmitted via the Town of Bennett SmartGov portal

Fee schedule

Requirements

• Primary Structure and Secondary/Accessory Structure demolitions are billed at different flat fees
• Asbestos inspection required per Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) regulations — the Town publishes CDPHE's 'Is an Asbestos Inspection Required?' guidance and a dedicated 'Asbestos - Renovation and Demolition' resource directly on the Building Permits page
• A Town of Bennett 'Demolition and Renovation' guide defines submittal requirements
• A 'Demolition' Building Guide is also published on the Building Guides and Checklists page

Required documents

• RequiredDemolition Permit ApplicationSubmitted via the Town of Bennett SmartGov portal
• RequiredAsbestos Inspection Report / CDPHE DeterminationPer CDPHE 'Is an Asbestos Inspection Required?' guidance, published on the Building Permits page
• OptionalTown of Bennett Demolition and Renovation GuideTown-published submittal guide

Fee schedule

Requirements

• Core and Shell valuations may be reduced to 70% of the calculated new-construction square-footage valuation
• Tenant Improvement valuations may be reduced to 30% of the calculated new-construction square-footage valuation
• New Commercial Development Checklist and New Commercial Inspection Process guide define required submittal contents and inspection sequencing
• Governed by the 2024 IBC (2018 IBC for pre-transition permits)

Required documents

• RequiredBuilding Permit Application — Commercial scopeSubmitted via the Town of Bennett SmartGov portal
• RequiredNew Commercial Development ChecklistTown-published checklist (2025 version) for commercial submittals
• OptionalNew Commercial Inspection Process guideTown-published guide describing the commercial inspection sequence

Fee schedule

Requirements

• Minimum valuation for decks varies by material: pressure-treated wood vs. redwood/trex
• Patio covers and pergolas are valued separately and at lower per-square-foot rates than decks
• Dedicated Building Guides ('Uncovered Decks and Porches,' 'Patio Cover & Carport') define required plan-set contents
• Structural requirements (footings, guardrails, stair geometry) follow the 2024 IRC as adopted

Required documents

• RequiredBuilding Permit Application — Deck/Patio Cover scopeSubmitted via the Town of Bennett SmartGov portal
• OptionalUncovered Decks and Porches Building GuideTown-published guide
• OptionalPatio Cover & Carport Building GuideTown-published guide

Fee schedule

Requirements

• Filed as a Quick Permit through the SmartGov portal rather than a full plan-review Building Permit application
• Minimum valuations published directly by equipment type (furnace, water heater, A/C) rather than requiring a contractor-submitted valuation for these routine replacement scopes
• If the actual replacement cost exceeds the Town's minimum valuation, the higher actual cost applies

Required documents

• RequiredQuick Permit ApplicationSubmitted via the Town of Bennett SmartGov portal, Quick Permits category

Fee schedule

Requirements

• A sign permit is required prior to the erection or installation of any permitted permanent or temporary sign, except signs exempt under Sec. 16-3-350 (Sec. 16-3-310(a))
• Applications are submitted per the Town's Applicant Guide; the Zoning Administrator reviews the application against the approval criteria in Article III and either approves, approves with conditions, or denies it (Sec. 16-3-320(a)-(c))
• A sign permit lapses and has no further effect unless the sign is erected in compliance with its terms within six (6) months of permit approval (Sec. 16-3-320(e))
• A building permit is additionally required where needed to verify the structural integrity of the sign type requested (Sec. 16-3-310(e))
• A separate revocable permit (with its own approval criteria, including a revocable-permit agreement and Town Engineer sign-off) is required whenever a sign is proposed on public property or within a public right-of-way (Sec. 16-3-310(c), 16-3-320(d))
• Sign number, maximum area, and maximum height are capped by zoning district under Sec. 16-3-410: Table 3.1 for the RE, R-1, R-2, R-3, and MH residential districts (e.g., monument signs 32 sq ft/6 ft, site signs 16 sq ft/6 ft, wall signs on a home-based business 2 sq ft/8 ft), and Table 3.2 for the C, EC, I-1, I-2, and P nonresidential districts (e.g., monument signs 75-150 sq ft depending on frontage/development type, roof signs up to 100 sq ft, wall signs up to 100 sq ft per building facade)
• Pole signs are the most tightly restricted nonresidential sign type: permitted only on a lot proximate to the I-70/State Highway 79 interchange, within a corridor no wider than 1,500 feet north/south or 3,000 feet east/west of that intersection, up to 380 sq ft and 60 ft in height, and no closer than 1,000 lineal feet to an existing pole sign (Sec. 16-3-420(7))
• Numerous common sign types are exempt from needing a sign permit entirely under Sec. 16-3-350, subject to the conditions stated there — including flags meeting height/setback limits, one building-wall banner per business (up to 100 sq ft) plus two freestanding wave banners, government/utility warning signs, most window signs, address signs (up to 2 per building, 6 sq ft each), temporary holiday decorations, one portable A-frame sign per business (max 6 sq ft/4 ft tall), yard/site/swing/notification signs, works of art, one inflatable sign per nonresidential property, external accessory-use signs up to 40 sq ft aggregate, and vehicular signs meeting specific conditions
• Certain sign types are prohibited outright under Sec. 16-3-360 regardless of permit status, including off-premises signs/billboards not otherwise expressly permitted, roof-projecting signs unless approved as a roof sign, revolving/rotating signs, flashing or intermittent lighting, and signs attached to trees or other plant material

Required documents

• RequiredSign Permit ApplicationSubmitted per the Town's Applicant Guide; reviewed by the Zoning Administrator against Article III's approval criteria
• RequiredSign Plan / DrawingShowing sign type, dimensions, area, height, and site location, sufficient to evaluate compliance with the Table 3.1/3.2 dimensional standards
• OptionalRevocable Permit AgreementRequired only when the sign is proposed on public property or within a public right-of-way (Sec. 16-3-310(c))

Fee schedule

Requirements

• Fire and EMS services for the Town of Bennett are provided by Bennett-Watkins Fire Rescue (BWFD), a distinct special fire protection district that also serves Watkins, unincorporated Adams County, and unincorporated Arapahoe County — confirmed on BWFD's own live website (bennettfirerescue.org)
• BWFD's own live 'Codes and Reference Standards for Development' page states the Town of Bennett portion of its service area operates under the 2018 International Fire Code as amended (Municipal Ordinance 18-5-10/18-5-20); the unincorporated-Adams-County portion separately uses the 2018 IFC (County Ordinance 4), and the unincorporated-Arapahoe-County portion uses the 2012 IFC (Bennett Fire Protection District #7 Resolution 2016-05) — the 2018 IFC figure for the Town itself is consistent with, and confirms, the code-edition note already carried in the codesAdopted section
• Sprinkler and fire-alarm reference standards for the Town of Bennett/Adams County portion of BWFD's service area: NFPA 13 (2016 Edition, Standard for the Installation of Sprinkler Systems), NFPA 13D (2016 Edition, One- and Two-Family Dwellings), NFPA 13R (2016 Edition, Low-Rise Residential Occupancies), and NFPA 72 (2016 Edition, National Fire Alarm and Signaling Code)
• All development projects must submit a Fire Service Application, pay the applicable fee, and provide a detailed site plan (dimensions, measurements, road base content, and gates) to BWFD directly — separate from, and in addition to, the Town's own SAFEbuilt-equivalent Building Department submittal (Bennett runs its own CAA-staffed Building Department, not SAFEbuilt; see the department section)
• Adams County road-access standards follow IFC Appendix D; Arapahoe County road-access standards follow Appendix R (adopted in lieu of standard IFC provisions for residential) — which standard applies depends on which county the specific parcel sits in, consistent with the jurisdiction-level note that Bennett straddles both counties
• Commercial projects may require additional documents based on building type, use, and scope, on top of the general Fire Service Application
• For residential projects, BWFD verifies that a required residential sprinkler system was installed and properly inspected as part of its final inspection, not as a separate standalone sprinkler-only permit step
• No fire-sprinkler- or fire-alarm-specific permit application, checklist, or itemized fee schedule distinct from BWFD's general development and plan-review process is published. BWFD's 'Development Documents' page lists a 'Fee Schedule - 2026' document covering plan reviews, inspections, development, and special events — read that document directly for its dollar figures. BWFD's process-overview page states only that 'fees vary by project type' and lists check, cash, e-check, and credit card as accepted payment methods through its online portal
• Contact Bennett-Watkins Fire Rescue directly to begin any fire sprinkler or fire alarm system plan review: Fire Marshal Victoria Flamini, (303) 815-8350, VictoriaFlamini@BennettFireRescue.org; Fire Inspector/Life Safety Educator Olivia Kuhns, (303) 644-3572, OliviaKuhns@BennettFireRescue.org; office at 355 4th Street, Bennett, CO 80102. Contact the Town Building Department separately (bennettbuilding@bennett.co.us, 303-644-3249 ext. 1032) for the accompanying Town Building Permit if the sprinkler/alarm work is part of new construction or a remodel

Required documents

• RequiredFire Service Application (Bennett-Watkins Fire Rescue)Required for all BWFD development plan review submissions, including fire sprinkler and fire alarm system work
• RequiredDetailed Site PlanDimensions, measurements, road base content, and gates, per BWFD's development plan review requirements; county-specific road-access standard (IFC Appendix D for Adams County, Appendix R for Arapahoe County) applies depending on parcel location
• RequiredBuilding Permit Application (fire protection plans as applicable)Town of Bennett Building Department submittal; stamped fire protection plans are required whenever a sprinkler system is part of the project's design, already documented in the residential-building-permit entry — separate from, and in addition to, BWFD's own review

Fee schedule

Requirements

• Municipal Code Sec. 16-2-20(f): 'Prior to issuance of a building permit, conditional use permit, site plan approval or granting of a change in use, the applicant shall demonstrate that the property will comply with all applicable provisions of this Chapter' (Ord. 646-14 §1(Exh. A), 12-9-2014; Ord. 742-22, §11, 6-14-2022) — this is the only place in the Town's Zoning Code where 'change in use' appears as its own named triggering action, and it folds the change-of-use scenario into the same up-front zoning-compliance-demonstration requirement used for building permits, conditional use permits, and site plan approvals, rather than creating its own separate permit type or fee
• A Certificate of Occupancy (CO) is required before any new residential or commercial building in Bennett can be legally used, per the Town's own live Certificate of Occupancy page (bennettco.gov/community-development/page/certificate-occupancy) — the CO confirms construction was completed per approved plans, all required inspections passed, and the structure meets zoning, building, safety, and health standards; the property may not be occupied until the CO is approved and issued
• To request a CO, applicants must submit the final Improvement Location Certificate (with grading and drainage), an inspection card with all final inspections signed off, and payment of any outstanding fees
• Commercial CO requests additionally require approvals from the Fire Department (Bennett-Watkins Fire Rescue — see the fire-sprinkler-alarm-permit entry), Engineering, and Planning, plus confirmation of a valid business license
• Residential CO requests may take up to 48 business hours to process once submitted; commercial CO requests may take up to 72 business hours — both figures are the Town's own published processing-time statements, not the usual reviewTimelineDays convention (see reviewTimelineNote)
• A separate Temporary Certificate of Occupancy (TCO) process exists for occupancy before all final conditions are met, with its own published flat fee ($500.00, $100.00 renewal — already documented in the residential-building-permit entry) and its own request form and procedures document
• Certain use changes may separately require a Conditional Use Permit under the Division 3 framework if the new use is classified as a conditional use (rather than a use by right) in the applicable zoning district — this is a distinct process from both the Sec. 16-2-20(f) compliance-demonstration trigger and the CO process, and is not itself documented as a standalone entry in this record
• If a change of use involves construction, remodeling, alteration, or a change in occupancy classification, the ordinary Town Building Permit process applies (see the residential-addition-remodel and commercial-tenant-improvement entries)
• Contact the Community Development/Building Department directly (bennettbuilding@bennett.co.us, 303-644-3249 ext. 1032) to confirm current practice for a specific change-of-use scenario, since no standalone process or fee for that exact scenario (independent of the CO and Sec. 16-2-20(f) mechanisms above) is published

Required documents

• RequiredCertificate of Occupancy Request FormTown of Bennett, 2025 version (171.76 KB); submitted once final inspections are signed off and outstanding fees are paid
• RequiredFinal Improvement Location CertificateShowing grading and drainage; required as part of the CO submittal
• OptionalTemporary Certificate of Occupancy Request FormUsed only if occupancy is needed before all final conditions for a standard CO are met (424.36 KB)
• OptionalStock and Train and Temporary Certificate of Occupancy ProceduresTown-published procedures document covering Temporary Certificate of Occupancy handling (739.62 KB)
• OptionalNone published specifically for a standalone change-of-use permitNo such application, checklist, or fee schedule distinct from the Sec. 16-2-20(f) compliance-demonstration requirement and the Certificate of Occupancy process above is published in Chapter 16 Article II Division 3 or on the Town's Community Development pages. Contact the Building Department directly.

Fee schedule