Residential Building Permit (New Construction) in Aurora, Colorado
Required for construction of new single-family homes and other R-3/R-4 occupancy residential structures in Aurora. Reviewed against the 2021 IRC with City of Aurora Amendments. Billed per square foot using the 2026 New Building Construction Fee Table rather than a valuation-based formula.
Verified 2026-06-30 · Source
When you need this permit
- Application submitted via the Building Division (Aurora4Biz.org online portal or in person at the Permit Center)
- Plans must comply with the 2021 IRC with City of Aurora Amendments (Aurora City Code Chapter 22) and 2021 IECC
- Table R301.2(1) climatic and geographic design criteria must be shown on plans: 40 psf ground snow load, wind speed per Aurora's wind map/ASCE Hazard Tool, Seismic Design Category B, 36-inch minimum frost depth, 1°F winter design temperature
- Site-specific geotechnical report required for new homes (soil lateral/bearing design)
- Fee is calculated per square foot by occupancy group: R-3 (Single Family Homes) = $1.30/sq ft, plus a minimum state-mandated fee at the $5,000 valuation tier
- R-3 Master Plans (repeat single-family plan sets within a subdivision) are billed a flat $2,655 fee instead of the per-square-foot rate
Required documents
- Req
Building Permit Application (Aurora4Biz.org)
Online application through the City of Aurora's Aurora4Biz permitting portal
- Req
Site Plan
Property lines, setbacks, existing/proposed structures, utilities, drainage
- Req
Construction Drawings
Full plan set: foundation, floor, framing, roof, mechanical, plumbing, electrical, drawn to scale
- Req
Geotechnical Soils Report
Site-specific report establishing soil lateral/bearing values for new home foundation design
- Opt
Engineering Design Criteria Reference (Form #A200)
Aurora's published climatic and geographic design criteria for the 2021 I-Codes
Fee schedule
| Fee type | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| New Building Construction Fee — R-3 Single Family Homes | $1.30 per square foot | City of Aurora 2026 New Building Construction Fee Table (Form #A176, Revised 01/2026); minimum fee applies at the $5,000 State Fees tier |
| R-3 Master Plans (flat fee) | $2,655.00 flat fee | Form #A176 — for repeat single-family plan sets within a subdivision |
| State Surcharge / Minimum Fee | Applied at the $5,000 valuation tier per Form #A176 | City will separately collect use tax based on materials cost; some projects may have additional parks/capital impact fees |
Review timeline
~10–30 business days
Typical estimate — confirm current times with the Aurora building department
Inspection process
- 1
Foundation / Footings
Before concrete pour — footings must extend below 36-inch minimum frost depth
- 2
Framing
After framing complete, before insulation or wall cover
- 3
MEP Rough-In
Mechanical, electrical, and plumbing rough-in before walls closed
- 4
Insulation / Energy
Insulation and 2021 IECC compliance verification before drywall
- 5
Final
All work complete, ready for Certificate of Occupancy
Tips
- Aurora bills new single-family construction per square foot ($1.30/sq ft for R-3) rather than using a project-valuation formula like Denver or Reno — request the 2026 New Building Construction Fee Table (Form #A176) to estimate cost.
- Aurora's 36-inch minimum frost depth is deeper than Denver's typical requirement — verify footing depth on plans.
- Ground snow load (40 psf) and Seismic Design Category B are fixed city-published values (Form #A200) — no need to consult the ASCE Hazard Tool for those two criteria, only for site-specific wind speed interpolation.
- Builders working on subdivision-wide single-family plans should ask about the R-3 Master Plan flat fee ($2,655), which can be more economical than per-square-foot billing across repeat plan sets.
Frequently asked questions
- What building code edition does Aurora use?
- Aurora has adopted the 2021 International Residential Code (IRC) and 2021 International Building Code (IBC) family, with City of Aurora amendments (Aurora City Code Chapter 22), per the city's own Adopted Building Codes form (Form #A245, Revised 02/2026). As of this writing Aurora has not adopted the 2024 I-Codes.
- How is a new home permit fee calculated in Aurora?
- Aurora uses a per-square-foot fee table by occupancy group rather than a valuation-based formula. Single-family homes (R-3) are billed $1.30 per square foot per the 2026 New Building Construction Fee Table (Form #A176). The city separately collects use tax based on material costs.
Sources & verification
Verified against official sources. Last reviewed 2026-06-30.
- City of Aurora Development Services Department — Building Division — official building department
- Permits — City of Aurora Building Division
- Adopted Building Codes — City of Aurora (Form #A245, Revised 02/2026)
- Engineering Design Criteria — City of Aurora (Form #A200, Revised 02/2026)
- 2026 New Building Construction Fees — City of Aurora (Form #A176, Revised 01/2026)
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 Aurora building department before you submit. PermitBase is an independent reference and is not affiliated with any government agency.
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