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Deck / Covered Patio Permit in Boulder, Colorado

Required for construction of attached or free-standing decks on one- and two-family dwellings and townhomes in the City of Boulder. Reviewed against the 2024 IRC and Boulder Revised Code Title 9 zoning (setbacks, building coverage exemptions for low decks).

Verified 2026-06-30 · Source

When you need this permit

  • Uncovered decks, stoops, patios, terraces, and stairways under 30 inches high are excluded from the Building Coverage calculation (BRC 9-16 definition) — but may still need to meet zoning setback requirements
  • Attached or free-standing decks use the 'Residential - Decks Requirements Checklist'
  • Site Survey (stamped by a Colorado Licensed Land Surveyor) required in the application package
  • Distances to property lines from existing and proposed structures must be shown, with setback requirements identified for the applicable zoning district
  • No structure or portion of a structure may encroach into a recorded easement
  • Stormwater & Flood Management Plant Investment Fee Calculation Form required
  • Covered decks/patios use the Residential Additions and Alterations Checklist instead of the deck-specific checklist

Required documents

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Fee schedule

Building Permit Fee — Utility (misc.) use group, Deck / Patio Cover / Porch, Type V-A2026 Schedule of Fees, City of Boulder Valuation Table — 'U Utility (misc.) — Carport-Attached, Carport-Detached, Deck, Patio Cover, Porch' listed under Group U; not permitted (N.P.) for construction types I-A through IV
$36.44 per sq ft (Type V-A) or $34.82 per sq ft (Type V-B) under the ICC Valuation Table, applied through the standard Building Permit Fee tiers
Plan Check Fee — single-family residential, initial application2026 Schedule of Fees, Plan Check Fee (Section 4-20-4(f)7)
25% of the Building Permit Fee

Review timeline

Plan reviewTypical estimate — confirm current times with the Boulder building department
~1–1 business days

How long did your Deck / Covered Patio Permit permit actually take in Boulder?

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

Inspection process

  1. 1

    Footing (if applicable)

    Before concrete pour for structural post footings — must clear the 32-inch frost line

  2. 2

    Framing

    Structural framing before decking/cover installed

  3. 3

    Final

    Structure complete per approved plans

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

Tips

  • Decks, patio covers, and porches fall under Group U (Utility, misc.) on the City of Boulder Valuation Table and are only permitted (rated) for Type V-A/V-B wood-frame construction — confirm your deck's construction type before estimating fees.
  • Uncovered decks/stoops/patios/stairways under 30 inches high don't count toward Building Coverage limits, but zoning setbacks still apply regardless of height — a permit may still be required even for a low deck depending on scope.
  • Covered decks and patio covers use the Residential Additions and Alterations Checklist rather than the deck-specific checklist, since they are treated as an addition.

Frequently asked questions

In most cases yes — use the Residential - Decks Requirements Checklist for an attached or free-standing, uncovered deck on a one- or two-family dwelling or townhome. Covered decks and patio covers are treated as an addition and use the Residential Additions and Alterations Checklist instead.

In Boulder, the published Building Permit Fee — Utility (misc.) use group, Deck / Patio Cover / Porch, Type V-A is: $36.44 per sq ft (Type V-A) or $34.82 per sq ft (Type V-B) under the ICC Valuation Table, applied through the standard Building Permit Fee tiers. Additional published fees: Plan Check Fee — single-family residential, initial application — 25% of the Building Permit Fee. These are the jurisdiction's own published figures — see the fee schedule table and source citations on this page.

Plan review for a deck / covered patio permit in Boulder typically runs 1–1 business days. This is an estimate, not a published figure — confirm current review times with City of Boulder Planning & Development Services at 303-441-1880.

You'll need: Residential - Decks Requirements Checklist; Site Survey (Colorado Licensed Land Surveyor stamp); Stormwater & Flood Management Plant Investment Fee Calculation Form. See the required-documents checklist on this page for details on each.

Boulder requires 3 inspection(s) for a deck / covered patio permit, in order: Footing (if applicable), Framing, Final. Schedule each through City of Boulder Planning & Development Services (303-441-1880).

Apply through City of Boulder Planning & Development Services at 1101 Arapahoe Avenue, Boulder, CO 80302. Phone: 303-441-1880, email: PDSpermitadmin@bouldercolorado.gov. Office hours: Tuesday–Friday, 10:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.. Official information: https://bouldercolorado.gov/services/building-permits-and-inspections.

Boulder, Colorado has adopted: 2024 International Building Code (IBC) family — City Council adopted the 2024 International Code Council (ICC) suite of codes with local amendments on March 20, 2025 (Ordinance 8684); effective August 1, 2025; local amendments codified in Title 10 of the Boulder Revised Code; 2024 International Residential Code (IRC) — part of the 2024 ICC suite adopted March 20, 2025, effective August 1, 2025, with Boulder amendments in BRC Title 10; 2024 International Mechanical Code (IMC) — part of the 2024 ICC suite, effective August 1, 2025; 2024 International Plumbing Code (IPC) — part of the 2024 ICC suite, effective August 1, 2025; 2024 International Fuel Gas Code (IFGC) — part of the 2024 ICC suite, effective August 1, 2025; 2024 International Fire Code (IFC) — part of the 2024 ICC suite, effective August 1, 2025; 2024 City of Boulder Energy Conservation Code (CoBECC) — Boulder's own locally-amended energy code (not a straight IECC adoption), effective December 1, 2024; published on ICC Digital Codes as COBECC2024P1; mandatory-measures checklist now required to be integrated into commercial/multifamily plan sets; 2023 NFPA 70 National Electrical Code (NEC), as amended by the City of Boulder — effective August 1, 2023; amendments in BRC Title 10; 2021 International Wildland-Urban Interface Code (IWUIC) — applies to properties in Boulder's designated wildland urban interface zone per the city's Structure Protection Plan / Wildland Fire program (edition as referenced in Boulder's Zoning and Permitting FAQ, Oct. 2020; confirm current edition at time of application). Local amendments apply — see the Boulder overview page for the full list.

Sources & verification

Verified against official sources. Last reviewed 2026-06-30.

Fee schedules

Checklists & handouts

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 Boulder building department before you submit. PermitBase is an independent reference and is not affiliated with any government agency.

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