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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

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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 $25,000.00How to Calculate Building Fees for New Commercial Buildings, Section A
$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 $500,000.00How to Calculate Building Fees for New Commercial Buildings, Section A
$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; Show full citationImpact 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 TaxHow to Calculate Building Fees for New Commercial Buildings, Section F
1.185% of 50% of Total Valuation
City of Louisville Use TaxHow to Calculate Building Fees for New Commercial Buildings, Section G
3.775% of 50% of Total Valuation
Fire Department FeesHow to Calculate Building Fees for New Commercial Buildings, Section H and the Example: New Commercial Permit Fees table
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 FeesHow to Calculate Building Fees for New Commercial Buildings, Example: New Commercial Permit Fees table; meter-size tiers from Table 3, Sewer Tap Fees, CC 12/03/24
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 OccupancyCity of Louisville Building Permit Fee Table, Table 4, Other Inspections and Fees, item 6, CC 12/03/24
$175.00
Re-Inspection Fee / After-Hours InspectionCity of Louisville Building Permit Fee Table, Table 4, Other Inspections and Fees, items 1 and 2, CC 12/03/24
$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.

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Property Access

Louisville's permit history is searchable by address

22,416 permits in our copy of Louisville's register — searchable by street address, with permit type, status, issued date and valuation where the city publishes them. This is what we hold, not a statement of everything Louisville has issued.

All 22,416 carry an issued date, running from 2014 to 2026.

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