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Commercial Tenant Improvement Permit (Commercial Alteration / CALT) in Commerce City, Colorado

Commerce City runs tenant improvements through the distinct Commercial Alteration (CALT) permit type, backed by its own dedicated Tenant Improvements design guide with a lighter submission list than new commercial construction. CALT covers tenant improvements, systems furniture installations, condo remodels, asbestos remediation, commercial reroofs, foundation repairs, changes of occupancy, metal stud work, common area improvements and other alterations to existing commercial buildings. Fees and review timelines follow the same commercial schedule as new construction (Table 1-A valuation-based fees; 21-day initial commercial review).

Verified 2026-08-02 · Source

When you need this permit

  • Commercial Alteration (CALT) permit type in eTRAKiT covers tenant improvements, systems furniture installations, condo remodels, asbestos remediation, reroofs, foundation repairs, changes of occupancy, metal stud work, common area improvements and other alterations to existing commercial buildings
  • Minimum submission documents per the Tenant Improvements design guide are lighter than new construction: building plans, evaluation report for unique materials/products (when applicable), and a construction cost breakdown including materials and labor — no geotechnical report, SITA or development-plan letter appears on the TI minimum list
  • Plans must state the occupancy group(s) and construction type(s) of the EXISTING building and include occupant load analysis, exits/means of egress analysis, fire-resistance design numbers where rated assemblies are required, and accessibility requirements
  • Structural sheets are required only when applicable (design loads, existing and proposed framing plans, connection/reinforcement details for RTUs or hoods)
  • Electrical plans must distinguish new construction (bold) from construction to be removed (dashed), with revised load calculations when loads are added or removed
  • All submissions electronic via eTRAKiT (ePlans); fire-protection systems go through South Adams County Fire District; food establishments must contact the health department (listed as Tri-County Health on the city page) for plan submission requirements; elevator installations require a separate submission to the Colorado Division of Oil and Public Safety
  • A tenant space cannot be occupied after alteration until a Certificate of Occupancy or TCO is issued via a separate CO permit linked to the parent CALT permit

Required documents

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Fee schedule

Building Permit Fee (Table 1-A, valuation-based)Same Table 1-A schedule as all Commerce City permits (Directory of City Fees Section 2, effective 12/16/2024) — e.g., a $150,000 tenant finish = $1,285.10 + $7.25 per $1,000 over $100,000 = $1,647.60. No separate TI-specific fee schedule is published.
$30.41 to $7,257.12+ depending on valuation
Plan Review Fee$150 flat per identical plan if identical plans are resubmitted
65% of the Building Permit Fee
Commercial TCO / TCO ExtensionApplies if the tenant needs to occupy before all CO prerequisites are complete
$512 each

Review timeline

Plan reviewCommerce City’s published plan-review target
21–21 business days

How long did your Commercial Tenant Improvement Permit (Commercial Alteration / CALT) permit actually take in Commerce City?

Anonymous — one question, no email. Answers are combined and only shown once at least 5 people have reported.

Inspection process

  1. 1

    Building Safety Stage Inspections

    Scheduled via eTRAKiT by 4 p.m. the business day before the desired date; city-approved plans must be on the jobsite and accessible to the inspector

  2. 2

    Outside-Agency Inspections

    South Adams County Fire Department (fire-protection systems), health department (food establishments) and other applicable agencies inspect separately; all applicable agency finals must be approved before a CO

  3. 3

    Final Inspection and Certificate of Occupancy

    A commercial tenant space cannot be occupied until a CO or TCO is issued after the Building Safety Division final inspection, via a separate CO permit in eTRAKiT linked to the parent CALT permit; linked permits (fire sprinklers, alarms) must be finaled first

See the full Commerce City inspection guide — scheduling & re-inspection fees →

Tips

  • TI is a genuinely distinct process in Commerce City: its own eTRAKiT permit type (CALT), its own Tenant Improvements design guide, and a lighter minimum submission list (no geotechnical report, SITA or development-plan letter) — but it shares the commercial fee schedule and the 21/14/7-day commercial review timeline with new construction
  • Changes of occupancy run through CALT too — expect the plans to be reviewed against the requirements of the new occupancy classification, including heating/cooling load calculations for existing equipment being reused in a change of occupancy
  • Remodels of existing condo units are commercial CALT projects in Commerce City, not residential alterations
  • The city's TI page still directs food establishments to 'Tri-County Health' for plan submission requirements — Tri-County Health Department was dissolved into county health departments; budget time to confirm the correct current health authority (the city's own outside-agency list names Adams County Health) before a restaurant TI
  • Systems furniture installations and metal stud work require a CALT permit — scopes that some jurisdictions treat as permit-exempt

Frequently asked questions

Commerce City requires a commercial tenant improvement permit (commercial alteration / calt) for: Commercial Alteration (CALT) permit type in eTRAKiT covers tenant improvements, systems furniture installations, condo remodels, asbestos remediation, reroofs, foundation repairs, changes of occupancy, metal stud work, common area improvements and other alterations to existing commercial buildings; Minimum submission documents per the Tenant Improvements design guide are lighter than new construction: building plans, evaluation report for unique materials/products (when applicable), and a construction cost breakdown including materials and labor — no geotechnical report, SITA or development-plan letter appears on the TI minimum list; Plans must state the occupancy group(s) and construction type(s) of the EXISTING building and include occupant load analysis, exits/means of egress analysis, fire-resistance design numbers where rated assemblies are required, and accessibility requirements; Structural sheets are required only when applicable (design loads, existing and proposed framing plans, connection/reinforcement details for RTUs or hoods); Electrical plans must distinguish new construction (bold) from construction to be removed (dashed), with revised load calculations when loads are added or removed; All submissions electronic via eTRAKiT (ePlans); fire-protection systems go through South Adams County Fire District; food establishments must contact the health department (listed as Tri-County Health on the city page) for plan submission requirements; elevator installations require a separate submission to the Colorado Division of Oil and Public Safety; A tenant space cannot be occupied after alteration until a Certificate of Occupancy or TCO is issued via a separate CO permit linked to the parent CALT permit. If your project isn't listed, confirm with Commerce City Building Safety Division (Community Development Department) at 303-289-3790 before starting work.

In Commerce City, the published Building Permit Fee (Table 1-A, valuation-based) is: $30.41 to $7,257.12+ depending on valuation. Additional published fees: Plan Review Fee — 65% of the Building Permit Fee; Commercial TCO / TCO Extension — $512 each. These are the jurisdiction's own published figures — see the fee schedule table and source citations on this page.

Commerce City's published plan-review target for a commercial tenant improvement permit (commercial alteration / calt) is 21–21 business days.

You'll need: Building Plans; Construction Cost Breakdown. Depending on your project, Commerce City may also ask for: Evaluation Report for Unique Materials or Products. See the required-documents checklist on this page for details on each.

No — a commercial tenant space cannot be occupied until a Certificate of Occupancy (or Temporary Certificate of Occupancy, $512) is issued. The CO is a separate permit application in eTRAKiT linked to the parent CALT permit, and requires all applicable agency finals and any linked fire sprinkler/alarm permits to be completed first.

Apply through Commerce City Building Safety Division (Community Development Department) at South Platte Crossing Building, 7190 Colorado Blvd. Ste 600 (6th Floor), Commerce City, CO 80022. Phone: 303-289-3790, email: cdpermits@c3gov.com. Office hours: Monday - Friday, 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.. Official information: https://www.c3gov.com/Business-Development/Building-Permits-Inspections.

Yes. Tenant improvements use the Commercial Alteration (CALT) permit type in eTRAKiT, distinct from Commercial New Construction (CNEW), and have their own published design guide with a lighter submission list — building plans, a construction cost breakdown, and an evaluation report for unique products when applicable. Fees (valuation-based Table 1-A plus 65% plan review) and the 21-day initial commercial review timeline are the same as new construction.

Yes. Changes of occupancy are explicitly listed under the Commercial Alteration (CALT) permit type, and the mechanical checklist requires heating and cooling load calculations for existing equipment reused in a change of occupancy.

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Other permits in Commerce City

Residential Building Permit (New Construction / RNEW)Residential Addition / Alteration Permit (RADD / RALT)Electrical Permit (RELEC / CELEC)Plumbing/Gas Permit (RPLMB / CPLMB)Mechanical/Gas (HVAC) Permit (RMECH / CMECH)Roofing Permit (Commercial / Multi-Family Reroofs Only)Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) PermitDemolition Permit (RDEMO / CDEMO)Fence and Retaining Wall PermitSolar PV PermitElectric Vehicle Charging Station PermitCommercial Building Permit (New Construction / CNEW)

Commercial Tenant Improvement Permit (Commercial Alteration / CALT) in other cities

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