Skip to main content
PermitBase

Commercial Building Permit (New Building / Core & Shell / Addition) in Louisville, Colorado

Required for new commercial buildings, core-and-shell construction, commercial additions, and commercial footing/foundation work in Louisville. The City runs a distinct commercial track in its CSS portal with four project types — 'Commercial: New Building with Tenant', 'Commercial: Core and Shell', 'Commercial: Addition', and 'Commercial: Footing/Foundation' — each with its own published document checklist. Reviewed under the 2024 IBC (effective 12/6/2025) by the City's in-house Building Safety Division, with a published 4-week first-review-comments timeline.

Verified 2026-08-02 · Source

When you need this permit

  • Reviewed under the 2024 IBC/IECC/IMC/IPC/IFGC/IEBC as adopted (effective 12/6/2025) and the 2023 NEC (effective 1/5/2024)
  • Building plans must be stamped (architect/engineer) per the City's 'Documents Required for Permit Application — COMMERCIAL' checklist
  • General Building Contractor must hold a City of Louisville Contractor License (LMC Sec. 5.12.090) — Class A/B/C requires a passing ICC national test result (G11/G12/G13, 2018 edition or later); license fees $175/$116/$88 by class per Table 2 of the City fee schedule Contractor
  • Valuation = materials + labor + profit; minimum valuation per the City of Louisville Building Valuation Data Table, and where actual contract cost differs the HIGHER of the two governs the fee — the City reserves the right to audit any project (Table 4 note, CC 12/03/24)
  • All permit submittals are electronic-only through the CSS Online Portal
  • Nonresidential Development Impact Fees are charged with the 1st tenant after Core & Shell, or at the time of the New Build when the tenant is known (Impact Fees guide + New Commercial fee guide)
  • Phased building permits are available; plan review for a phased permit costs 100% of the building permit fee after issuance
  • The Louisville Fire Hardening Code applies to commercial buildings too (e.g., fencing within 5 feet of a commercial building must be Class A fire/ignition-resistant)

Required documents

Check off what you have — your progress is saved on this device.

Not ready yet — 0 of 5 required documents checked.

This checker covers one permit. A full project usually triggers several — our paid checklist will assemble all of them, from $29 →

Fee schedule

Building Permit Fee — valuation $0.00 to $500.00Same valuation-based Building Permit Fee Table (Table 4, CC 12/03/24) reproduced in the City's How to Calculate Building Fees for New Commercial Buildings guide
$28.00 (except as provided in Sec. 15.04.060.14(e) LMC for residential permits)
Building Permit Fee — valuation $2,000.01 to $25,000.00
$82.00 for the first $2,000.00 plus $16.00 for each additional $1,000.00 or fraction thereof
Building Permit Fee — valuation $100,000.01 to $500,000.00
$1,000.00 for the first $100,000.00 plus $6.00 for each additional $1,000.00 or fraction thereof
Building Permit Fee — valuation $1,000,000.01 and upCity's own worked example: $2,000,000 valuation → $10,000 building permit fee
$6,000.00 for the first $1,000,000.00 plus $4.00 for each additional $1,000.00 or fraction thereof
In-House Plan Review FeeWorked example: $6,500 on a $2M-valuation project
65% of the building permit fee
Outside Consultant Plan ReviewTable 4 Other Inspections and Fees + Plan Review and Administration Fees, CC 12/03/24
Actual cost, plus 20% of the building permit fee as administrative/overhead
Nonresidential Development Impact Fees (per square foot)Impact Fees guide Table A. Note: the New Commercial guide's worked example uses an older $1.68/sq ft Office rate; Table A in that same guide and the standalone Impact Fees document both list $1.75 — Table A treated as current. Charged with the 1st tenant after Core & Shell or at New Build when the tenant is known.
Commercial $4.03/sq ft; Office $1.75/sq ft; Institutional $2.43/sq ft; Industrial $0.60/sq ft (Transportation component only; Library and Parks & Trails are $0 for nonresidential)
Boulder County Use Tax
1.185% of 50% of Total Valuation
City of Louisville Use Tax
3.775% of 50% of Total Valuation
Fire Department Fees
Set separately by the Fire Department (303-666-8809); City's worked example shows a $1,680 base fee for 1-15,000 sq ft, with additional fees assessed based on fire suppression needs
Water / Irrigation / Sewer Tap Fees
Separate line items via the Tap Fee Calculation Form (Public Works, 303-335-4608); nonresidential sewer taps tiered by meter size from $4,600 (3/4") to $130,900 (4") per Table 3 (effective 12/03/24). City's worked example: $214,000 water tap (1-1/2") + $95,300 irrigation tap (1") + $18,400 sewer tap (1-1/2") on a $2M new commercial project
Site ImprovementsWorked example: $6,200 on a $250,000 site improvement valuation
Use taxes paid on 50% of the Total Site Improvement Valuation
Temporary Certificate of Occupancy
$175.00
Re-Inspection Fee / After-Hours Inspection
$200.00 per hour (after-hours minimum charge 2 hours)

Review timeline

Plan reviewLouisville’s published plan-review target
20–20 business days

How long did your Commercial Building Permit (New Building / Core & Shell / Addition) permit actually take in Louisville?

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

Inspection process

  1. 1

    Footing / Foundation

    Before concrete pour; 'Commercial: Footing/Foundation' is also available as its own early-start permit type

  2. 2

    Rough Frame / Rough Electrical / Rough Mechanical / Rough Plumbing

    Trade rough-ins before concealment; each permit's required inspection list is published under the Required Inspections section of that permit in the CSS portal, and inspections are requested there (4PM cutoff for next-business-day scheduling)

  3. 3

    Building Final

    All work complete per approved plans; the Certificate of Occupancy/Completion is reviewed by staff within 3 business days of a passed Building Final

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

Tips

  • Louisville splits commercial work into four distinct portal project types — New Building with Tenant, Core and Shell, Addition, and Footing/Foundation — each with its own document checklist; tenant finish work is a separate fifth type covered by its own PermitBase entry.
  • Nonresidential impact fees are NOT charged at core-and-shell permit issuance — they hit with the first tenant after Core & Shell (or at new-build permitting if the tenant is already known), so a spec developer's fee exposure lands later than the permit date.
  • Tap fees dwarf permit fees on new commercial work: the City's own worked example on a $2M building shows about $327,700 in water/irrigation/sewer tap fees versus $10,000 in building permit fees — get the Tap Fee Calculation Form to Public Works (303-335-4608) early.
  • Fire Department fees are assessed separately by the Louisville Fire Department (303-666-8809) on top of City building fees.
  • A phased building permit path exists, but the plan review fee for a phased permit is 100% of the building permit fee after issuance (versus 65% for standard in-house review).

Frequently asked questions

Louisville requires a commercial building permit (new building / core & shell / addition) for: Reviewed under the 2024 IBC/IECC/IMC/IPC/IFGC/IEBC as adopted (effective 12/6/2025) and the 2023 NEC (effective 1/5/2024); Building plans must be stamped (architect/engineer) per the City's 'Documents Required for Permit Application — COMMERCIAL' checklist; General Building Contractor must hold a City of Louisville Contractor License (LMC Sec. 5.12.090) — Class A/B/C requires a passing ICC national test result (G11/G12/G13, 2018 edition or later); license fees $175/$116/$88 by class per Table 2 of the City fee schedule; Valuation = materials + labor + profit; minimum valuation per the City of Louisville Building Valuation Data Table, and where actual contract cost differs the HIGHER of the two governs the fee — the City reserves the right to audit any project (Table 4 note, CC 12/03/24); All permit submittals are electronic-only through the CSS Online Portal; Nonresidential Development Impact Fees are charged with the 1st tenant after Core & Shell, or at the time of the New Build when the tenant is known (Impact Fees guide + New Commercial fee guide); Phased building permits are available; plan review for a phased permit costs 100% of the building permit fee after issuance; The Louisville Fire Hardening Code applies to commercial buildings too (e.g., fencing within 5 feet of a commercial building must be Class A fire/ignition-resistant). If your project isn't listed, confirm with City of Louisville Building Safety Division at (303) 335-4584 before starting work.

Nonresidential impact fees are per square foot and consist of a Transportation component only: $4.03/sq ft for Commercial, $1.75 for Office, $2.43 for Institutional, and $0.60 for Industrial use categories. They are charged with the first tenant after Core & Shell, or at the time of the new build when the tenant is known.

Louisville's published plan-review target for a commercial building permit (new building / core & shell / addition) is 20–20 business days.

You'll need: Building Plans (stamped); Commercial Checklist (2024 IBC Plan Review Checklist Commercial); Soils Report; Fixture Count Form — Commercial (stamped); Site Improvement Worksheet. Depending on your project, Louisville may also ask for: Wastewater Classification Survey — Commercial; Water & Sewer Tap Application. See the required-documents checklist on this page for details on each.

Louisville requires 3 inspection(s) for a commercial building permit (new building / core & shell / addition), in order: Footing / Foundation, Rough Frame / Rough Electrical / Rough Mechanical / Rough Plumbing, Building Final. Schedule each through City of Louisville Building Safety Division ((303) 335-4584).

Apply through City of Louisville Building Safety Division at City Hall, 749 Main St, Louisville, CO 80027. Phone: (303) 335-4584, email: building@louisvilleco.gov. Office hours: Monday-Thursday 8AM-4PM (in-person; remote 4PM-5PM); Friday 8AM-5PM remote/by appointment only; Tuesday 11AM-12PM limited staff availability (staff meeting). Inspection hours Monday-Friday 6:30AM-5PM.. Official information: https://www.louisvilleco.gov/local-government/government/departments/building-safety.

Louisville, Colorado has adopted: 2024 International Building Code (IBC), effective 12/6/2025 — City of Louisville Building Codes page; 2024 International Residential Code (IRC), effective 12/6/2025; 2024 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC), effective 12/6/2025; 2024 International Fire Code (IFC), effective 12/6/2025; 2024 International Plumbing Code (IPC), effective 12/6/2025; 2024 International Fuel Gas Code (IFGC), effective 12/6/2025; 2024 International Mechanical Code (IMC), effective 12/6/2025; 2024 International Existing Building Code (IEBC), effective 12/6/2025; 2024 International Property Maintenance Code (IPMC), effective 12/6/2025; 2023 National Electrical Code (NEC), effective 1/5/2024; local amendment NEC 210.8(F) Exception #2 takes effect 9/1/2026 requiring GFCI protection on all new outdoor A/C units; 1997 Uniform Code for the Abatement of Dangerous Buildings, effective 12/6/2025; 1997 Uniform Housing Code, effective 12/6/2025; Colorado Model Electric Ready and Solar Ready Code, effective 12/6/2025; Louisville Fire Hardening Code — Ordinance 1884 (series 2024), updated by Ordinance 1891 (series 2025) and Emergency Ordinance 1913 (series 2026, effective 1/21/2026) — sets minimum fire-resistant construction standards for new construction, accessory structures, and repair/replacement of specific home systems (roofing, siding, decks, fencing, vents, gutters) to reduce wildfire spread risk; applies citywide, not limited to a mapped WUI zone; Louisville Municipal Code Chapter 15 — Buildings and Construction (local amendments and adoption-by-reference); Louisville Municipal Code Chapter 5.12 (Section 5.12.090) — Contractor Licensing: any contractor employed on a building project must be licensed with the City of Louisville and listed on the permit; Prior to 12/6/2025 the City operated under the 2018 ICC codes; the 2024 ICC code adoption ordinance and effective date are confirmed on the City's Building Codes page. Local amendments apply — see the Louisville overview page for the full list.

Yes. The City's CSS portal has dedicated commercial project types (New Building with Tenant, Core and Shell, Addition, Footing/Foundation), a commercial-specific document checklist requiring stamped plans and a soils report, its own 'How to Calculate Building Fees for New Commercial Buildings' guide, and a published 4-week first-review-comments timeline — distinct from the 3-4 week residential track.

Sources & verification

Verified against official sources. Last reviewed 2026-08-02.

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

This one’s complicated · Get an expediter

Tell us about your project and we’ll connect you with a permit expediter who works in Louisville.

PermitBase may receive a referral fee from the expediter. This is a service introduction, not verified permit data or legal advice.

Other permits in Louisville

Residential Building Permit (New Construction)Residential Addition / Remodel PermitElectrical PermitPlumbing PermitMechanical / HVAC PermitRoofing Permit (Re-Roof)Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) PermitDemolition PermitFence / Retaining Wall PermitSolar PV Permit (Roof Top Unit/Solar/Telecommunication)EV Charger / Electric Vehicle Charging Station PermitCommercial Tenant Improvement / Tenant Finish Permit

Commercial Building Permit (New Building / Core & Shell / Addition) in other cities

Akron, ColoradoAlamosa, ColoradoAspen, ColoradoAvon, ColoradoBasalt, ColoradoBreckenridge, ColoradoBroomfield, ColoradoCalhan, Colorado

Compare commercial building permit (new building / core & shell / addition) fees across Colorado →

Look up this fee in a different city →

Embed this data card →

Now live

Build your Louisville project checklist

Describe your project once and get every permit, document, and fee it triggers in Louisville — in one checklist. Sign up and pay once to generate it, or go unlimited with Pro.

Get started →