Salida building permits

Requirements

• STEP 1: Submit the City of Salida Residential Building Permit Application (448 E. First Street, Suite 112) with site plan, floor plans, building elevations, utilities layout, proof of ownership, and — if in the floodplain — a Special Flood Hazard Development Permit; attach the completed Chaffee County Building Permit Application per the City's own document checklist ('County Application (See County Building Permit Application for Additional Requirements)')
• Pay the City Permit Fee: 20% of the county building permit fee, minimum $50 (residential), due at City submittal, per the City's own Residential Building Permit Application
• STEP 2 (after City review/forward): Submit to Chaffee County Building Safety Department — one electronic plan set (PDF or Dropbox link, no hand-drawn plans), including foundation plan, floor plans, floor/wall/roof framing plans, elevations, sections/details, and IECC compliance documentation (Compliance Path Certificate, Manual J/S/D calculations, blower-door/duct/ventilation test results from a RESNET- or BPI-certified tester)
• Pay the Chaffee County Building Permit Fee: Total Valuation x 0.007, plus a Plan Review Fee of 10% of that Building Permit Fee (Building Permit Fee + Plan Review Fee = Total due to County); $110.00 minimum (includes plan review)
• Geotechnical report required if lot slope exceeds 20% (plus a slope-stability study); commercial excavation projects always require one
• Both a Final Inspection AND Municipal (City of Salida) Sign-Off AND County approval are required before a Certificate of Occupancy will issue

Required documents

• RequiredCity of Salida Residential Building Permit Application3-page form (Updated 1/15/2026) covering applicant/owner info, site data, building type, dimensional compliance (setbacks, lot coverage, parking, landscaping per Sec. 16-4-80/16-2-20), and the City Permit Fee calculation; requires the County Application to be attached per the City's own checklist
• RequiredChaffee County Residential Building Permit ApplicationIncludes the Certificate of Zoning Compliance (note: does not apply within Salida — the City's own zoning review substitutes for this section), the Building Permit Fee Schedule worksheet, and full plan/IECC/energy-testing submittal requirements
• RequiredSite Plan, Floor Plans, Building ElevationsRequired by both the City (dimensional compliance) and County (structural/architectural plan review)
• RequiredProof of Ownership (Warranty Deed, etc.)

Fee schedule

Requirements

• STEP 1: City of Salida Residential Building Permit Application, checking 'Addition' or 'Remodel' under Building Type, with dimensional compliance data (setbacks, lot coverage, landscaping) matched to the proposed site/floor plans
• Pay City Permit Fee (20% of county fee, minimum $50)
• STEP 2: Chaffee County Building Permit Application and plan set; valuation for remodels/alterations must include 'all materials, labor, architectural, engineering, structural, electrical, plumbing, excavation, and mechanical work' per the County's own fee instructions
• Geotechnical report required if lot slope exceeds 20%

Required documents

• RequiredCity of Salida Residential Building Permit ApplicationSame form used for new construction; check 'Addition' or 'Remodel'
• RequiredChaffee County Residential Building ApplicationSame form and fee worksheet used for new construction, applied to the remodel/addition valuation

Fee schedule

Requirements

• Confirm with City of Salida Community Development (planning@cityofsalida.com) whether standalone electrical work needs a City sign-off, or whether it can go directly to the County as a standalone trade permit
• Submit the Chaffee County Electrical Permit Application; residential wiring fees are computed by square footage of enclosed living space per CRS 12-23-117; all other installations (garage, shop, photovoltaic, commercial) are computed from total installation cost
• Colorado's homeowner clause allows an owner-occupant to self-perform electrical work on their sole residence if not for sale/resale/rental

Required documents

• RequiredChaffee County Electrical Permit ApplicationCovers residential/commercial/industrial/agricultural installation types, new/remodel/addition class of work, and solar mounting system details

Fee schedule

Requirements

• Confirm with City of Salida Community Development (planning@cityofsalida.com) whether a standalone EV charger installation needs a City zoning sign-off first, or whether it can go directly to the County as a standalone trade permit — per this file's electrical-permit entry, a City sign-off is only required when the electrical work is part of a broader project that itself triggers City review (new construction, addition, solar)
• Submit the Chaffee County Electrical Permit Application; a dedicated EV charger circuit (typically a new 240V circuit) is computed from total installation cost under the 'all other installations' valuation tier, since no separate EV-charger fee line exists
• Colorado's homeowner clause allows an owner-occupant to self-perform electrical work, including an EV charger circuit, on their sole residence if not for sale/resale/rental
• Colorado's HB24-1173 (EV Charging System Permits, C.R.S. § 31-23-316) requires counties with population over 20,000 to adopt, by December 31, 2025, either the Colorado Energy Office's EV Charger Permitting Model Code, their own objective standards/administrative review process, or a formal ordinance continuing their existing process — Chaffee County's population is right at this threshold (reported as approximately 19,500-20,400 depending on source/year), and no specific Chaffee County ordinance response to HB24-1173 could be confirmed as of the last verification; applicants should confirm current compliance status directly with the County Building Department

Required documents

• RequiredChaffee County Electrical Permit ApplicationSame application used for all electrical work in unincorporated Chaffee County and Salida — covers residential/commercial installation types; an EV charger circuit is entered under the general installation-cost valuation category since no dedicated EV/EVSE line exists

Fee schedule

Requirements

• Submit the Chaffee County Plumbing Permit Application; residential fixture fees are per-fixture, commercial work is valuation-based
• Colorado's homeowner clause allows an owner-occupant to self-perform plumbing work on their sole residence if not for sale/resale/rental

Required documents

• RequiredChaffee County Plumbing Permit Application

Fee schedule

Requirements

• Submit the Chaffee County Mechanical Permit Application, specifying equipment make/model/size and fuel type
• Carbon monoxide detectors required in any dwelling with a fuel-fired heater/appliance, fireplace, or attached garage per Colorado state statute

Required documents

• RequiredChaffee County Mechanical Permit Application

Fee schedule

Requirements

• A SEPARATE PERMIT IS REQUIRED FOR EACH STRUCTURE, per the County's own Roofing Permit Application
• If the structure is in a Historical District, contact the municipality (City of Salida) planning department for review before applying
• A mid-roof (in-progress) inspection is required for all re-roof permits — do not install shingles past the ice/water barrier until this inspection is complete
• Underlayment, ice/water barrier, shingle attachment, and drip edge must comply with 2021 IRC R905.1.1, R905.1.2, R905.2.6, and R905.2.8.5 respectively; roof valley flashing (where applicable within Unincorporated Chaffee County) must meet 2021 IWUIC Section 504 standards — confirm with the County whether this specific IWUIC provision extends inside Salida city limits for your project
• Applicant/permit holder is responsible for providing safe roof access (properly set and secured ladder) for inspection; failure to provide access results in inspection disapproval

Required documents

• RequiredChaffee County Application for Roofing PermitCovers property/contractor info, square footage, re-roof vs. repair, existing/new roofing material, tear-off status, roof pitch, valleys, and ventilation changes

Fee schedule

Requirements

• Zoning Sign-off from the City of Salida is REQUIRED before the County will approve the demolition permit — the County's own Demolition/Abatement Permit Application has an explicit 'Zoning Approval: County / Buena Vista / Poncha Springs / Salida' sign-off block
• Copy of asbestos inspection report, State-issued Demolition Permit, and State-issued Asbestos Abatement Permit if applicable
• Approval of the appropriate Historical Society required if applicable (relevant to Salida's Historic District)
• Scaled site plan showing the structure(s) to be demolished, distances from property lines/other structures/utilities/driveway/water features/easements
• Written list of all hazardous materials on the property and disposal method; materials must be removed within 14 days of the demolition date
• Utility providers must be notified and utility connections discontinued/capped per their rules (capped 5 feet from the property line if abandoned); utilities must be inspected PRIOR to covering
• Proof of the approved County Demolition Permit, State permit, and asbestos results, plus a list of removed materials, is required at the Chaffee County Landfill

Required documents

• RequiredChaffee County Demolition/Abatement Permit ApplicationIncludes a Zoning Approval sign-off section explicitly naming Salida, and a Utility Provider sign-off section (water, sanitation, electric, gas, other)
• OptionalAsbestos Inspection Report / State Demolition and Abatement PermitsRequired if applicable

Fee schedule

Requirements

• ADUs are permitted only in R1, R2, R3, MN, MC, MD, MH, and AG zone districts per the City of Salida's own ADU Building Info page
• Only one ADU permitted per lot
• Internal/attached ADU: up to 1,000 sq ft of conditioned living space (no more than 800 sq ft above the first floor), provided the remaining principal dwelling is larger than the ADU
• Detached ADU in an accessory building 16 ft or less in height: up to 1,000 sq ft, provided the principal dwelling is larger
• Detached ADU in an accessory building over 16 ft in height: capped at 800 sq ft, provided the principal dwelling is larger
• Setbacks: minimum 5 ft from side property lines, 10 ft from rear (5 ft rear setback may be granted with adequate utility service demonstration)
• One off-street parking space is likely required for the ADU; access should come from an alley where one exists
• ADU cannot be condominiumized or sold separately from the principal dwelling, and cannot be rented for periods under 30 days
• Use the same City Residential Building Permit Application (check 'Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU)' box, specify internal/attached vs. detached conditioned square footage) and the same Chaffee County Residential Building Application as new construction

Required documents

• RequiredCity of Salida Residential Building Permit Application (ADU box checked)
• RequiredChaffee County Residential Building Application

Fee schedule

Requirements

• City of Salida zoning/fire safety sign-off required first, per Salida Municipal Code Chapter 16, before the application is forwarded to the County
• Chaffee County Electrical Permit Application must be submitted for the PV installation itself, with the SOLAR mounting system (Pole/Ground/Roof, AC or DC) box completed
• DC and AC wiring must be installed by a licensed electrical contractor unless the Colorado homeowner clause applies (owner-occupant, property not for sale/rental, owner personally performs the work)
• Required County inspections: service underground system, rough-in prior to insulation/drywall, and final prior to occupancy/energizing

Required documents

• RequiredChaffee County Electrical Permit ApplicationCovers installation type, class of work, and Solar Mounting System detail (Pole/Ground/Roof, AC/DC)
• RequiredCity of Salida zoning/fire review submittalRequired first-step sign-off before the County will process the electrical permit

Fee schedule

Requirements

• STEP 1: Submit the City of Salida Commercial/Mixed-Use/Multi-Family Building Permit Application (448 E. First Street, Suite 112) — check 'Commercial,' 'Addition,' 'Remodel,' 'Accessory Structure,' 'Mixed-Use,' or 'Multi-Family' as applicable, and 'Interior' and/or 'Exterior' under Work Type; for a tenant improvement with no footprint change, check 'Remodel' + 'Interior'
• Required City document checklist per the form itself: Site Plan(s) with utilities layout (for Public Works review), Floor Plans, Building Elevations, Drainage Study/Plan (per Sec. 16-4-30(c)), Water Tap Application, Special Flood Hazard Development Permit (if in the floodplain), the Chaffee County Building Permit Application, and Proof of Ownership
• Pay the City Permit Fee: 20% of the county building permit fee, minimum $100 (commercial/mixed-use/multi-family — double the $50 residential minimum), due at City submittal, per the City's own Commercial/Mixed-Use/Multi-Family Building Permit Application and corroborated by the City's 2026 Fees and Charges for Community Development Services schedule
• Larger commercial developments may ALSO require a separate City Site Plan Review or Conditional Use Permit track under Salida Municipal Code Chapter 16 (Minor Site Plan Review, Major Site Plan Review, or Conditional Use Permit), layered on top of — not instead of — the Building Permit; the City's Commercial Permit Inquiries/Major Impact Review contact is Kristen Hodges (kristen.hodges@cityofsalida.com). Which specific commercial projects trigger this additional track was not confirmed within the scope of this review — confirm directly with City of Salida Community Development before assuming the Building Permit alone is sufficient for a large-scale project
• STEP 2 (after City review/forward): Submit the Chaffee County Commercial Permit Application (Revised April 2026) with one complete, unlocked electronic plan set (PDF or Dropbox link; no hand-drawn plans) — Site Plan, Structural & Architectural Plans (sealed/signed/dated by a Colorado-licensed architect or engineer where required), Floor Plans, Floor & Roof Framing Plans, Elevations, Sections/Details/Schedules, and the Chaffee County Commercial Energy Compliance Certificate (2021 IECC commercial path)
• Mechanical, Electrical, and Plumbing (MEP) plans are required for commercial buildings with an occupant load over 10, and COMcheck compliance documentation is required for the electrical and mechanical portions, per the County's own Building Permit Submittal Requirements
• Geotechnical report required for ALL commercial projects involving excavation (no slope-percentage threshold, unlike the residential >20%-slope trigger), per the County's own Building Permit Submittal Requirements
• A separate Fire District review applies: the County's own submittal checklist lists a 'Completed Fire Application' as required specifically for 'Commercial Projects located in Unincorporated Chaffee County Only,' while a separate 'Application for a Construction Review' packet included with the County's commercial forms names BOTH Chaffee County Fire Protection District and South Arkansas Fire Protection District as possible Authorities Having Jurisdiction — confirm which fire district has jurisdiction over your specific Salida property and that district's own plan-review/impact-fee requirements directly, since this was not resolvable from the fetched documents alone
• Pay the Chaffee County Building Permit Fee: Total Valuation x 0.007, plus a Plan Review Fee of 10% of that Building Permit Fee ($110.00 minimum, inclusive of plan review) — same 0.7%/10% formula as residential, but valuation is computed from the County's commercial-specific 2024 ICC Building Valuation Data table (by IBC occupancy group and construction type), not the flat VB/R3 per-square-foot rate used for single-family residential
• Both a Final Inspection AND Municipal (City of Salida) Sign-Off AND County approval are required before a Certificate of Occupancy will issue, consistent with the residential process
• If the project involves ONLY a change of occupancy/use with NO construction and NO footprint change, do not use this Building Permit — use the separate Change of Use Notification instead (Chaffee County form, co-branded with Salida/Buena Vista/Poncha Springs, Revised April 2024), which states outright: 'If you are changing the footprint or doing any construction please fill out a Building Permit application instead of this application'

Required documents

• RequiredCity of Salida Commercial/Mixed-Use/Multi-Family Building Permit Application3-page form (Updated 1/15/2026) — distinct from the Residential Building Permit Application; explicitly instructs 'Do not use this form for single-family residential, duplex, or single-family attached townhomes (on their own lots): use the residential application.' Covers Building Type, Work Type (Interior/Exterior), dimensional compliance (setbacks per Table 2-B, lot coverage, parking, EV parking per the Colorado Model Electric Code, landscaping per Sec. 16-4-80), and the City Permit Fee calculation
• RequiredChaffee County Commercial Permit ApplicationRevised April 2026; includes Location checkbox (Unincorporated Chaffee County / Salida / Buena Vista / Poncha Springs), Description of Work (New/Addition/Alteration/Repair/Change of Occupancy-Use), IBC occupancy group and construction-type classification, the Building Permit Fee Schedule (2024 ICC Building Valuation Data table), a Chaffee County Fire Protection District Impact Fee acknowledgment form, and a separate Application for a Construction Review (Fire District plan review)
• RequiredChaffee County Building Permit Submittal Requirements (Commercial)Cover checklist accompanying the Commercial Permit Application: adopted codes/design criteria, required forms/documents, plan submittal requirements, structural & architectural plan standards, MEP plan requirements (occupant load over 10), and Commercial IECC energy-code submittal requirements
• RequiredSite Plan, Structural & Architectural Plans, Floor Plans, Building ElevationsRequired by both the City (dimensional compliance) and County (structural/architectural plan review); County requires plans sealed/signed/dated by a Colorado-licensed architect or engineer where applicable
• RequiredProof of Ownership (Warranty Deed, etc.)
• OptionalChange of Use Notification (Chaffee County; co-branded Salida/Buena Vista/Poncha Springs)NOT part of this Building Permit — a separate, distinct form (Revised April 2024) used ONLY when the occupancy/use of an existing building is changing with NO construction and NO footprint change; requires Warranty Deed, floor plans showing existing and proposed use, and a site plan; a $100.00 Chaffee County fee applies plus a separate $100.00 City of Salida 'Change of Use' fee (per the City's 2026 Fees and Charges schedule) plus a separate, unspecified municipality/fire-department sign-off fee

Fee schedule

Requirements

• A sign permit is required prior to installation of any sign or group of signs whose total aggregate square footage is more than nine square feet per property, per Sec. 16-6-50(b)(1)(b); signs totaling nine square feet or less per property are exempt, per Sec. 16-6-50(b)(2)
• Buildings with multiple nonresidential tenants, or developments existing at Code adoption without a comprehensive sign plan, must create one at the time of application for any sign permit, per Sec. 16-6-50(b)(1)(c); each tenant still needs a separate individual sign permit
• Other permit-free categories per the Standard Sign Permit Application and Article 16-6: window signs read through the glass; one sidewalk sign per building (max 3' wide x 4' tall) for businesses in MN or MD zones, adjacent to the public entrance; temporary signs displayed fewer than 90 days per calendar year (residential: max 3 temporary signs, 9 sq ft total; nonresidential: max 1 temporary sign, 16 sq ft)
• Application: Standard Sign Permit Application (3-page form, Updated 1/15/2026) submitted to City of Salida Community Development, 448 E. First Street, Suite 112; requires a scaled sketch plan (dimensions, sign type, height, illumination type, image of proposed sign), a scaled site plan showing the sign's location and all other existing signs on the building/parcel, and the application fee per the adopted fee schedule
• Signs projecting over a public right-of-way in a manner that could endanger the public must have supports, hangers, or fasteners certified by a Colorado-licensed structural engineer, per Sec. 16-6-40(b)
• Total sign area allowed is calculated per Table 6-A: 1st floor linear lot frontage x 1.0, plus 2nd floor linear lot frontage x 0.5, plus 3rd floor linear lot frontage x 0.5
• Separate building and/or electrical permits for a sign may additionally be required, determined case-by-case by the Building Official, per Sec. 16-6-50(b)(1)(d)
• All signs are subject to inspection to confirm installation/maintenance complies with the approved permit, per Sec. 16-6-50(c)(3)
• A sign permit expires if construction of the sign is not completed within 180 days after approval, per Sec. 16-6-50(c)(4)
• Creative Sign Permit (Sec. 16-6-70, separate application, Updated 4/1/2026): for signs employing design standards that differ from the General Sign Standards; requires a written statement addressing three Impact Review Standards and three Design Review Standards (Sec. 16-6-70(e)), plus public notice via postage-paid envelopes mailed to property owners within 175 feet of the subject property

Required documents

• RequiredStandard Sign Permit Application3-page form (Updated 1/15/2026), City of Salida Community Development Department; requires applicant/owner info, site data, scaled sketch plan, site plan, sign-area compliance table (Table 6-A), and structural engineer certification if the sign projects over a right-of-way
• OptionalCreative Sign Permit Application3-page form (Updated 4/1/2026) for signs not fitting the General Sign Standards; requires a written statement addressing Impact Review and Design Review standards (Sec. 16-6-70(e)) and public notice to adjoining property owners within 175 feet

Fee schedule

Requirements

• Plans for fire protection systems (sprinkler, fire alarm) in commercial or multi-residential buildings are reviewed by the City of Salida Fire Department as part of its Commercial Plans Review scope of work, per the department's own published Scope of Work on its website
• No dedicated 'fire sprinkler permit' or 'fire alarm permit' fee line is published; the department's Commercial Business and Multi-Residential Plan Review fee (billed by total building square footage, and which includes the Certificate of Occupancy Final inspection) is the published mechanism applicable to reviewing a fire protection system as part of an overall commercial/multi-residential project
• A Cooking Hood Suppression system has its own distinct, separately published Plan Review & Inspection fee ($100.00), confirming the department does itemize some fire-protection-system work separately when it publishes a specific line item for it
• Plans requiring specialized review may be referred to an outside reviewing agency at the applicant's own expense, per the department's own 2026 Fees and Charges schedule notes
• Already-installed sprinkler systems must be inspected and tested within the past year, with a copy of the licensed contractor's test report given to the inspector, per the Fire Department's own Pre-Inspection Checklist; fire alarm systems carry the identical annual test-and-report requirement
• Sprinkler system risers must remain accessible; storage must be kept at least 18 inches below sprinkler heads; the fire department connection must be unobstructed with caps in place, per the Pre-Inspection Checklist
• The fire alarm panel must remain accessible with horns and strobes unobstructed, and a key to the fire alarm control panel and pull stations must be available, per the Pre-Inspection Checklist
• Restaurants must have their cooking equipment fire suppression system serviced semi-annually, with a licensed contractor's test report available to the inspector on request

Required documents

• RequiredFire Department Plan Submittal (Commercial Plans Review)No standalone published application form for fire protection systems specifically was found; commercial plans (including fire protection systems) are submitted to the Salida Fire Department for its Commercial Plans Review — contact 719-539-2212 for current submittal instructions
• OptionalPre-Inspection ChecklistCity of Salida Fire Department's own published self-check reference covering sprinkler/alarm system, egress, extinguisher, and electrical-safety requirements ahead of a fire inspection

Fee schedule

Requirements

• Required before changing the use of, or uses within, a building, or establishing a new use, when NO construction and NO footprint change is involved; if the project involves construction or a footprint change, a Building Permit application must be filed instead, per the form's own instruction
• Applicant indicates which municipality the property is located in (Salida, among others on the form) — each municipality has different requirements and independently signs off
• Required application materials per the form: Warranty Deed; floor plan showing the existing use; floor plan showing the proposed use; site plan
• Applicant must describe both the existing use and the proposed new use of the building in writing on the form
• Applicant must indicate whether new signage is planned; if yes, the form states it is the applicant's own responsibility to obtain and comply with the municipality's sign requirements before installing a sign (see this file's sign-permit entry for Salida's own process)
• Digital signature required from both the applicant/agent and the property owner
• Three separate agency sign-offs occur on the same form: (1) Chaffee County Building Department determines the new building classification and change-of-use status, assesses its $100.00 fee, and the Building Official signs off; (2) the Municipality (City of Salida) determines the zone district and conforming-use status and assesses its own fee before the Zoning Official signs off; (3) the Fire Department assesses its own fee and provides a fire-inspection sign-off
• City of Salida's own 2026 Fees and Charges for Community Development Services schedule (effective 03/17/26) independently confirms a flat $100.00 'Change of Use' line item for the City-side review, separate from the County's $100.00 fee stated on the Notification form itself

Required documents

• RequiredChange of Use NotificationChaffee County Building Safety Department form, co-branded for Salida/Buena Vista/Poncha Springs (Revised April 2024); same form is linked from both the County's and the City of Salida's own Permits & Applications pages
• RequiredWarranty Deed
• RequiredFloor Plan(s) — Existing Use and Proposed Use
• RequiredSite Plan

Fee schedule