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Solar Permit in Federal Heights, Colorado

Required for solar installations in Federal Heights ('Solar' category, item 10, on the Building Permit Application). The electrical interconnection portion of any solar installation is administered by the State of Colorado DORA Electrical Board, not the City, consistent with the jurisdiction's general electrical-permitting posture.

Verified 2026-07-20 · Source

When you need this permit

  • Classification of Work category '10. Solar' on the City's Building Permit Application, for the structural/roof-mounting portion issued by the City
  • Electrical interconnection and PV wiring must be separately permitted through the Colorado State Electrical Board (DORA), since the City does not administer any electrical permits
  • Contractor Registration required for the installing contractor Contractor

Required documents

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Fee schedule

Building Permit Fee (valuation-based, structural/mounting scope)Covers the City-administered structural/roof-mounting portion only
$23.50 minimum, scaling per the valuation tiers in the City's Building Fees schedule
Plan Review FeeNot explicitly listed among the City's plan-review fee waivers (water heaters/furnaces/AC/roofing); treated as standard unless the Building Department indicates otherwise at application
65% of Permit Fee
State Electrical Permit Fee (DORA)Covers the electrical/PV interconnection portion, filed separately with DORA
Set by the Colorado State Electrical Board, not the City
Statewide aggregate fee cap on active solar energy system installs
Statutory cap on the aggregate of ALL governmental fees/charges related to installing an active solar energy system under 2 megawatts DC — the statute's own text applies to 'the state or any agency,… Show full citationStatutory cap on the aggregate of ALL governmental fees/charges related to installing an active solar energy system under 2 megawatts DC — the statute's own text applies to 'the state or any agency, institution, authority, or political subdivision of the state,' which reaches both the City's building/plan-review fees AND the State DORA electrical fee combined, not just one or the other. Repealed effective December 31, 2029 unless renewed.
$500.00 maximum (residential) / $1,000.00 maximum (commercial), per Colorado C.R.S. 24-48.5-113 (enacted by HB21-1284)

Review timeline

Plan review
Not published — contact the department

How long did your Solar Permit permit actually take in Federal Heights?

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

Inspection process

  1. 1

    Final Inspection (structural/mounting, City)

    Roof penetrations, racking, and mounting hardware verified by City Building Department

  2. 2

    State Electrical Inspection (DORA)

    PV wiring and interconnection inspected under the separate State Electrical Board process

See the full Federal Heights inspection guide — scheduling & re-inspection fees →

Tips

  • A solar project in Federal Heights requires TWO separate permits from two separate agencies: the City (structural/mounting, via Category 10 on the standard Building Permit Application) and the State of Colorado DORA Electrical Board (wiring/interconnection) — budget time and fees for both.
  • Unlike Vail or other mountain-corridor Colorado jurisdictions with a combined 'Expedited Permit' track for solar, Federal Heights' Building Permit Application treats Solar as one line-item category alongside Re-roof and Fence, with no stated expedited process.

Frequently asked questions

Federal Heights requires a solar permit for: Classification of Work category '10. Solar' on the City's Building Permit Application, for the structural/roof-mounting portion issued by the City; Electrical interconnection and PV wiring must be separately permitted through the Colorado State Electrical Board (DORA), since the City does not administer any electrical permits; Contractor Registration required for the installing contractor. If your project isn't listed, confirm with City of Federal Heights Building Department at 303-412-3526 before starting work.

In Federal Heights, the published Building Permit Fee (valuation-based, structural/mounting scope) is: $23.50 minimum, scaling per the valuation tiers in the City's Building Fees schedule. Additional published fees: Plan Review Fee — 65% of Permit Fee; State Electrical Permit Fee (DORA) — Set by the Colorado State Electrical Board, not the City; Statewide aggregate fee cap on active solar energy system installs — $500.00 maximum (residential) / $1,000.00 maximum (commercial), per Colorado C.R.S. 24-48.5-113 (enacted by HB21-1284). These are the jurisdiction's own published figures — see the fee schedule table and source citations on this page.

Federal Heights does not publish a plan-review timeline for this permit. Contact City of Federal Heights Building Department at 303-412-3526 for current turnaround.

You'll need: Building Permit Application — Solar scope; Colorado State Electrical Permit (DORA). See the required-documents checklist on this page for details on each.

No. The City only reviews and inspects the structural/roof-mounting portion of a solar permit. The electrical/PV interconnection wiring must be separately permitted and inspected through the Colorado State Electrical Board (DORA), which administers all electrical permits and inspections for Federal Heights.

Apply through City of Federal Heights Building Department at 2380 W. 90th Ave., Federal Heights, CO 80260. Phone: 303-412-3526, email: building@fedheights.org. Office hours: 7:00 a.m.-5:30 p.m., Tuesday-Friday, excluding holidays (closed Mondays). After-hours non-emergency line: 303-428-8833. Fax: 303-412-3598. Key staff: Director Tim Williams (303-412-3558); Building Official Drew Leckman (303-412-3562); Permit Technician Karen Jackson (303-412-3527, also the inspection-scheduling line at 303-412-3534).. Official information: https://www.fedheights.org/building.

Federal Heights, Colorado has adopted: 2021 International Building Code (IBC), amended — adopted by City Council via Ordinance 23-02 (March 7, 2023), effective April 15, 2023 based on permit application date; 2021 International Residential Code (IRC), amended — Ordinance 23-02; 2021 International Fire Code (IFC), amended — Ordinance 23-02; 2021 International Mechanical Code (IMC) — Ordinance 23-02; 2021 International Plumbing Code (IPC), amended — Ordinance 23-02; 2018 International Fuel Gas Code (IFGC), including appendices A, B and C. Both the text of Ordinance 23-02 §1(6) and the current Municode codification (Sec. 10-16(6), Supp. 42, online content updated May 28, 2026) read 'International Fuel Gas Code, 2018 Edition' — Federal Heights retained the 2018 IFGC alongside the 2018 IECC rather than elevating it to 2021 with the rest of the 2021-cycle codes in Ordinance 23-02; 2021 International Existing Building Code (IEBC) — Ordinance 23-02; 2021 International Property Maintenance Code (IPMC) — Ordinance 23-02; 2021 International Swimming Pool and Spa Code (ISPSC) — Ordinance 23-02; 2021 International Green Construction Code (IgCC) — Ordinance 23-02; 2021 ICC Performance Code (ICCPC) — Ordinance 23-02; 2021 NFPA 101 Life Safety Code — Ordinance 23-02; 2018 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC), amended — City's Adopted Technical Codes page states explicitly this edition 'will remain adopted as the 2018 edition' rather than upgrading to 2021 alongside the other 2021-cycle codes in Ordinance 23-02; Prior code cycle for reference: 2018 ICC Codes were adopted January 19, 2021 via Ordinance 21-01, effective February 1, 2021 (superseded by Ordinance 23-02 for all codes except IECC); NEC (National Electrical Code) edition not separately confirmed on the City's own pages: electrical permitting and inspection in Federal Heights is administered entirely by the State of Colorado (DORA State Electrical Board), not adopted/enforced locally as a city code — see localAmendments for detail. Local amendments apply — see the Federal Heights overview page for the full list.

Sources & verification

Verified against official sources. Last reviewed 2026-07-20.

Fee schedules

Applications & forms

Department & other records

Fees, timelines, and adopted codes are researched from each jurisdiction's published records — see how we verify. Requirements change and vary by project, so always confirm the current details with the Federal Heights building department before you submit. PermitBase is an independent reference and is not affiliated with any government agency.

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Other permits in Federal Heights

Residential Building Permit (New Construction)Residential Addition / Alteration / Tenant Finish PermitElectrical Permit (State-Administered)Plumbing PermitMechanical / HVAC PermitRe-Roof PermitDemolition Permit (Wrecking and Moving)Commercial Alteration / Tenant Finish PermitDeck / Patio Cover / Carport PermitEV Charger / Electric Vehicle Charging Station Permit (State-Administered)Sign Permit (Permanent and Temporary)Fire Sprinkler and Fire Alarm System PermitChange of Use / Change of Occupancy Permit

Solar Permit in other cities

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