Plumbing Permit in Boulder, Colorado
Required for plumbing installations, alterations, and repairs in the City of Boulder. The CITY issues and reviews plumbing permits directly (submitted via the CSS Portal) — Boulder requires and verifies State of Colorado plumbing licensure as a prerequisite ('contemporaneous review'), rather than the State DORA/DPO board issuing permits itself. Governed by the 2024 International Plumbing Code (IPC), effective August 1, 2025.
Verified 2026-06-30 · Source
When you need this permit
- Plumbing Contractor license from the City of Boulder required (Section 4-20-15); applicant must be a master plumber currently licensed by the Colorado State Plumbing Examiner's Board
- City verifies State of Colorado plumbing licensure/apprenticeship compliance under the 'Contemporaneous Reviews of Electrical and Plumbing Licenses' program (per Colorado HB19-1086)
- Plumbing permits can be submitted online via the CSS Portal
- Residential new-construction fee is based on the number of bathrooms and/or dwelling units (a roughed-in bathroom counts as a bathroom)
- Nonresidential fee is based on total dollar value of the complete plumbing installation
Required documents
- Req
Plumbing Permit Application (CSS Portal)
Submitted online via the Customer Self-Service Portal
Fee schedule
| Fee type | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| New Construction — 1 dwelling unit (1½ baths or less) | $68.85 | 2026 Schedule of Fees, Plumbing Code Fee (Section 4-20-15(b)) |
| New Construction — 1 dwelling unit (2 to 3½ baths) | $94.00 | — |
| New Construction — 1 dwelling unit (4 or more baths) | $119.15 | — |
| New Construction — 2 dwelling unit structure | $111.75 | — |
| New Construction — 3 to 15 dwelling units | $42.25 per unit | — |
| Remodel and Addition — 1 dwelling unit | $34.20 | — |
| Nonresidential/Commercial, Industrial, Misc. — $100 or less | $13.60 | — |
| Nonresidential/Commercial, Industrial, Misc. — $100.01 to $400 | $16.75 | — |
| Nonresidential/Commercial, Industrial, Misc. — $400.01 to $800 | $19.90 | — |
| Nonresidential/Commercial, Industrial, Misc. — $800.01 or more | $19.90 for the first $800 plus $3.75 for each additional $100 or fraction thereof | — |
| Plumbing Contractor License | $278.95 | 2026 Schedule of Fees, Building Contractor License Fee table (Section 4-20-15); requires current Colorado State Plumbing Examiner's Board master plumber license |
Review timeline
~0–0 business days
Typical estimate — confirm current times with the Boulder building department
Inspection process
- 1
Underground / Under-slab
Before concrete pour — pipe slope, materials, cleanouts
- 2
Rough-In
After pipes installed, before walls closed
- 3
Final
All fixtures connected, no leaks, proper venting verified
Tips
- The City of Boulder — not a statewide DORA/DPO board — issues and reviews plumbing permits inside city limits, but requires proof of a current Colorado State Plumbing Examiner's Board master plumber license and performs contemporaneous/random compliance reviews.
- A project that adds plumbing fixtures may trigger a required water meter upsizing — use the Water and Wastewater PIF Worksheet to check before applying.
Frequently asked questions
- Who issues plumbing permits in Boulder?
- The City of Boulder's Planning & Development Services issues and reviews plumbing permits directly. Plumbing contractors must hold a current Colorado State Plumbing Examiner's Board master plumber license as a prerequisite, and the city conducts 'contemporaneous reviews' (per Colorado HB19-1086) to verify state licensure and apprenticeship compliance — but the permit itself is issued by the city, not the state board.
- What plumbing code does Boulder use?
- The 2024 International Plumbing Code (IPC), adopted as part of Boulder's 2024 ICC code suite (Ordinance 8684, adopted March 20, 2025), effective August 1, 2025, with Boulder amendments in BRC Title 10.
Sources & verification
Verified against official sources. Last reviewed 2026-06-30.
- City of Boulder Planning & Development Services — official building department
- Contemporaneous Reviews of Electrical and Plumbing Licenses — City of Boulder
- Contractor Licensing — City of Boulder
- Planning and Development Services 2026 Schedule of Fees — City of Boulder
- Building Codes and Regulations — City of Boulder (2024 IPC adoption)
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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