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Change of Use / Change of Occupancy in Superior, Colorado

The Town of Superior Municipal Code does not establish a standalone, dedicated 'Change of Use Permit' with its own application, fee schedule, or SLA. Instead, two distinct provisions govern changes of use/occupancy: (1) Land Use Code Chapter 16, Article III (Nonconforming Situations), Sec. 16-3-30, a one-sentence rule stating 'A change in use in a nonconforming situation may only be made to a conforming situation'; and (2) Building Regulations Chapter 18, Article X, Sec. 18-10-10, which adopts the 2024 International Existing Building Code (IEBC) by reference, whose 'subject matter... includes standards regulating the use and reuse of existing buildings, including alteration, change of occupancy, addition and relocation.' Change-of-occupancy work is therefore handled through the adopted IEBC's own provisions within the normal Town building-permit process (administered by SAFEbuilt), not through a separately named or fee'd Town permit.

Verified 2026-08-14 · Source

When you need this permit

  • A change in use in a nonconforming situation may only be made to a conforming situation, per Land Use Code Sec. 16-3-30
  • Major renovation (work estimated to cost more than 50% of the appraised value of the structure) may be done only to a conforming use or structure, and only in accordance with a permit issued under Chapter 16, per Sec. 16-3-20(a)
  • If a legal nonconforming structure is damaged such that repair/replacement costs exceed 50% of its appraised value, it may be repaired or replaced only to a conforming structure or use, under a zoning permit issued per Sec. 16-3-20(b)
  • The Town has adopted the 2024 International Existing Building Code (IEBC), Chapters 1-16, by reference; the IEBC's own subject matter covers alteration, change of occupancy, addition, and relocation of existing buildings, per Building Regulations Sec. 18-10-10
  • No locally-drafted change-of-occupancy permit procedure is set out separately in the Municipal Code text itself — change-of-occupancy determinations are made by incorporation of the adopted IEBC's own chapters, administered through the Town's normal SAFEbuilt-operated building-permit process

Required documents

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Fee schedule

No standalone Change of Use / Change of Occupancy feeThe Town's 2026 Governmental Fee Schedule (Exhibit A) has no line item for 'change of use' or 'change of occupancy'; associated work is billed under the Town's standard valuation-based Building Permit Fee table. Contact the Planning & Building Department, 303-381-2028 / superiorinspections@safebuilt.com, to confirm what fee applies to a specific change of occupancy.
Not published — contact the department

Review timeline

Plan review
Not published — contact the department

How long did your Change of Use / Change of Occupancy permit actually take in Superior?

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

Inspection process

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

    Tips

    • Superior doesn't have a 'Change of Use Permit' by that name — for a NONCONFORMING use/structure, the operative rule is Sec. 16-3-30 (a change can only be made TO a conforming use); for buildings generally, change of occupancy is handled through the adopted 2024 International Existing Building Code within the normal building-permit process.
    • If the change involves a legal nonconforming structure and the renovation/repair cost exceeds 50% of the structure's appraised value, that alone triggers a required conforming-use permit under Sec. 16-3-20 — get an appraisal-based cost comparison early.

    Frequently asked questions

    Superior requires a change of use / change of occupancy permit for: A change in use in a nonconforming situation may only be made to a conforming situation, per Land Use Code Sec. 16-3-30; Major renovation (work estimated to cost more than 50% of the appraised value of the structure) may be done only to a conforming use or structure, and only in accordance with a permit issued under Chapter 16, per Sec. 16-3-20(a); If a legal nonconforming structure is damaged such that repair/replacement costs exceed 50% of its appraised value, it may be repaired or replaced only to a conforming structure or use, under a zoning permit issued per Sec. 16-3-20(b); The Town has adopted the 2024 International Existing Building Code (IEBC), Chapters 1-16, by reference; the IEBC's own subject matter covers alteration, change of occupancy, addition, and relocation of existing buildings, per Building Regulations Sec. 18-10-10; No locally-drafted change-of-occupancy permit procedure is set out separately in the Municipal Code text itself — change-of-occupancy determinations are made by incorporation of the adopted IEBC's own chapters, administered through the Town's normal SAFEbuilt-operated building-permit process. If your project isn't listed, confirm with Town of Superior Planning & Building Department, Building Division (operated by SAFEbuilt) at 303-381-2028 before starting work.

    Superior does not publish a plan-review timeline for this permit. Contact Town of Superior Planning & Building Department, Building Division (operated by SAFEbuilt) at 303-381-2028 for current turnaround.

    You'll need: Building Permit Application (IEBC change-of-occupancy provisions apply where relevant). See the required-documents checklist on this page for details on each.

    Apply through Town of Superior Planning & Building Department, Building Division (operated by SAFEbuilt) at 100 Superior Plaza Way, Suite 200, Superior, CO 80027. Phone: 303-381-2028, email: superiorinspections@safebuilt.com. Office hours: Town of Superior general office hours Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-4 p.m. (per Town website footer); Planning direct line 303-499-3675 ext. 131; Building direct line 303-381-2028; Permit Fees line 720-738-7326. The Building Division is operated under contract by SAFEbuilt; permit applications, submittals, and inspection requests are handled via the Community Core online portal and the superiorinspections@safebuilt.com email address.. Official information: https://www.superiorcolorado.gov/Government/Departments/Planning-Building.

    Superior, Colorado has adopted: 2024 International Building Code (IBC) — adopted per Chapter 18 of the Superior Municipal Code, per the Town's Building Codes and Zoning Regulations page; 2024 International Residential Code (IRC), with a local amendment adopting the 2018 IRC high-wind roof-covering criteria (ASTM D7158 Class G or H, or ASTM D3161 Class F) for reroofing, per the Town's Supplemental Roof Information page (2018 IRC edition adopted June 2020 specifically for the wind-region roofing requirement, ahead of the Town's broader 2024 code cycle); 2024 International Mechanical Code (IMC); 2024 International Plumbing Code (IPC); 2024 International Fire Code (IFC); 2024 International Fuel Gas Code (IFGC); 2024 International Existing Building Code (IEBC); 2024 International Private Sewage Disposal Code; 2024 International Property Maintenance Code; Metro Cohort Model Code, based on the 2024 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) — per the Town's Building Codes and Zoning Regulations page; 2023 National Electrical Code (NEC); Superior Municipal Code Section 18-14-40 (Minimum Efficiency Requirement / Construction Waste Recycling) — requires an applicant for a new residential structure building permit to demonstrate a minimum of 50% of construction waste is recycled, with waste diversion tracking submitted to the Town at project completion; additions/remodels over 500 sq ft are encouraged (not required) to divert waste. Local amendments apply — see the Superior overview page for the full list.

    Not as a standalone, separately named permit. A change in use of a legal nonconforming property is restricted by Municipal Code Sec. 16-3-30 to only being made to a conforming use. More generally, change-of-occupancy work on existing buildings is governed by the Town's adopted 2024 International Existing Building Code, administered through the normal SAFEbuilt-operated building-permit process, with no separate fee line.

    Sources & verification

    Verified against official sources. Last reviewed 2026-08-14.

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

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