Commercial Building Permit (New Construction & Additions) in Littleton, Colorado

Littleton requires a commercial building permit (new construction & additions) for: Plans must comply with the 2024 I-codes as adopted by the City of Littleton, and the applicable code versions must be notated on the plans; Seal of a Colorado Registered Architect required on architectural plans; a Colorado Professional Engineer seal required on structural, mechanical, electrical, and plumbing components — size/span/spacing of structural and framing members must be sealed by a Colorado PE only (an architect seal is not accepted for structural framing); Full code analysis required on the plans: sheet index on the title sheet, statement of code versions used, Use and Occupancy Classification, Construction Type, occupant load with calculations, number of stories and building height, allowable area calculations (with justification for any area increases), plumbing fixture counts with spacing diagrams, identification of new and existing fire suppression systems, plan of exiting conditions, and a Life Safety Plan showing exit routes, lengths, exits, exit discharges, stairs, ramps, and elevators; Intended energy compliance path per IECC Chapter 4 must be identified: Prescriptive R-Value/U-Factor, Prescriptive Component Performance Alternative, Simulated Building Performance, or Energy Rating Index; IECC C406 additional efficiency requirements must be identified; Electrical plans (PE-sealed) must include a one-line diagram with load and fault current calculations, service panel location and load calcs, emergency/exit lighting layout, photometric study and cut sheets for exterior fixtures, and service entrance details for new construction; Mechanical and plumbing plans (PE-sealed) must include isometric drawings for plumbing and gas piping, equipment schedules with performance data, Manuals J, S, and D, and — for rooftop units — structural details confirming load and screening compliance with Municipal Code Title 10; Plans must be submitted separately to South Metro Fire Rescue for fire review; Projects including restaurants/grocery/food service, childcare facilities or schools, swimming pools, or body art facilities must also be submitted to the appropriate county health department (Arapahoe, Jefferson, or Douglas County depending on parcel location); Site Plan (with north arrow) required for changes in use, exterior changes, street access modifications, or curb cuts; Community Development Engineering Division (303-795-3868) handles grading, right-of-way, sewer, traffic, and floodplain; for a new sewer tap, the Sanitation District is paid first, then the City of Littleton; Denver Water fees/application: 303-893-2444; All documents must be submitted electronically via the eTRAKiT portal; 'preliminary' or 'Not for Construction' plan sets are not accepted; General contractor must hold a current City of Littleton Contractor's License with $1,000,000/$2,000,000 Commercial General Liability insurance naming the City as Certificate Holder; electrical and plumbing subcontractors additionally need active Colorado DORA licenses; Permit must be commenced within 180 days of issuance and expires 365 days after issuance unless extended by the Building Official. If your project isn't listed, confirm with City of Littleton Building and Code Compliance Division (Community Development Department, Permit Center) at 303-795-3751 before starting work.

Fees are valuation-based per Resolution 2025-105. Example: a $1,000,000 project pays a $6,172.12 permit fee, plus a 65% plan review fee (~$4,012), a City use tax deposit of 1.969% of valuation (~$19,690), an Arapahoe County Open Space Tax of 0.125% (~$1,250), and — for new development — Land Development Impact Fees of $3.44-$6.51 per square foot depending on use category.

The City does not publish a fixed commercial plan-review turnaround. After submitting through eTRAKiT you can view the anticipated permit-issuance date on your project record; confirm current review timing with the Permit Center (303-795-3751, permits@littletonco.gov) before committing to a construction schedule.

You'll need: Commercial Building Permit Application (eTRAKiT Online System); Architectural Plans (sealed by Colorado Registered Architect); Structural Plans (sealed by Colorado PE); Code Analysis & Life Safety Plan; Electrical Plans (sealed by Colorado PE); Mechanical & Plumbing Plans (sealed by Colorado PE); IECC Energy Compliance Documentation; South Metro Fire Rescue Plan Submittal. Depending on your project, Littleton may also ask for: Site Plan; County Health Department Submittal. See the required-documents checklist on this page for details on each.

Littleton requires 5 inspection(s) for a commercial building permit (new construction & additions), in order: Rough Plumbing, Rough Electrical, Rough Heating / Mechanical, Rough Framing, Final Inspections / Certificate of Occupancy. Schedule each through City of Littleton Building and Code Compliance Division (Community Development Department, Permit Center) (303-795-3751).

Apply through City of Littleton Building and Code Compliance Division (Community Development Department, Permit Center) at Littleton Center, 2255 W. Berry Avenue, Littleton, CO 80120. Phone: 303-795-3751, email: permits@littletonco.gov. Office hours: Permit Center: Monday-Thursday 8:00 a.m.-4:30 p.m., Fridays closed; in-person walk-in hours limited to Monday 1:00-4:30 p.m. (no walk-ins after 4:15 p.m.) and Thursday 8:00-11:30 a.m.; Building Inspections staff hours 7:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Monday-Friday. FAX 720-741-0210, eFax 720-384-0601.. Official information: https://www.littletonco.gov/Building-Development.

Littleton, Colorado has adopted: 2024 International Building Code (IBC) — City of Littleton Building Codes and Amendments page; 2024 International Residential Code (IRC); 2024 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC); 2024 International Existing Building Code (IEBC); 2024 International Fuel Gas Code (IFGC); 2024 International Mechanical Code (IMC); 2024 International Plumbing Code (IPC) — Littleton uses the International Plumbing Code, not the Uniform Plumbing Code; 2024 International Property Maintenance Code (IPMC); 2024 International Swimming Pool and Spa Code (ISPSC); 2024 International Wildland-Urban Interface Code (IWUIC); 2024 International Fire Code (IFC); ICC A117.1-2017 Standard with Supplement 1 — Accessible and Usable Buildings and Facilities; NFPA 70 National Electrical Code, 2026 Edition ("2026 NEC"); 1997 Uniform Code for the Abatement of Dangerous Buildings (International Conference of Building Officials); Colorado Model Electric Ready and Solar Ready Code, adopted by the Colorado Department of Local Affairs and Colorado Energy Office effective June 1, 2023; Littleton City Code Title 4, Chapter 1 — local IRC amendments including adopted Climatic and Geographic Design Criteria (Table R301.2): Ground Snow Load 40 psf (non-reducible), Ultimate Design Wind Speed 136 mph; Littleton City Code Title 3, Chapter 16 — Contractor Licensing (license/registration required to obtain permits within city limits, effective July 1, 1985). Local amendments apply — see the Littleton overview page for the full list.

The City of Littleton's own Building and Code Compliance Division issues all building permits within city limits, regardless of whether the parcel sits in Arapahoe, Douglas, or Jefferson County. Fire review is handled separately by South Metro Fire Rescue, and health-regulated uses (food service, childcare, pools, body art) are reviewed by the relevant county health department.