Denver building permits
VerifiedDepartment contacts, adopted codes, permit types, fees, and gotchas for Denver, Colorado.
Last verified 2026-06-30 · Source · Embed this page’s badge · Version history
Building department
- Address
- 201 W. Colfax Ave., Dept. 205, Denver, CO 80202 (2nd floor, Wellington Webb Municipal Building)
- Phone
- (720) 865-2700
- Office hours
- Mon–Fri, 8 a.m.–4 p.m. (phone); permits must be applied for and paid online via e-permits — see denvergov.org/epermits
- Website
- Official site
- Permit portal
- Apply online at Denver's portal
Inspection guide
See how inspections work in Denver — sequence, scheduling & re-inspection fees.
Codes adopted
Colorado has no statewide-mandated building code edition. Under the Colorado Constitution's home-rule provisions (art. XX, home rule for municipalities since 1902; home rule for counties since 1970), building codes and zoning are an enumerated home-rule charter power, so cities and counties adopt and amend their own construction codes independently — predominantly the I-Codes, with editions and local amendments varying by jurisdiction. The one statewide floor is for energy: HB22-1362 (2022) created the Energy Code Board (jointly appointed by the Colorado Energy Office and the Department of Local Affairs) and requires that, on or after July 1, 2023 and before July 1, 2026, any municipality or county that adopts or updates a building code must adopt and enforce an energy code achieving performance equivalent to or better than the 2021 IECC together with the board's Model Electric Ready and Solar Ready Code (which includes electric-ready, EV-ready, and solar-ready provisions); from July 1, 2026 onward the floor shifts to the board's Model Low Energy and Carbon Code or an equivalent. Electrical and plumbing permitting defaults to the Colorado State Electrical Board and State Plumbing Board (within DORA's Division of Professions and Occupations) — the state issues permits and inspects statewide except in counties/jurisdictions that operate their own certified Electrical or Plumbing Inspection Program, in which case the local program has authority instead. Always confirm the currently adopted code edition, local amendments, and inspection authority (state board vs. local program) with the specific jurisdiction before submitting plans.
- 2025 Denver Building Code (DBC) / Denver Commercial Building Code (DCBC) / Denver Residential Code (DRC) — based on the 2024 International Building Code (IBC) and 2024 International Existing Building Code (IEBC), with Denver amendments; adopted June 13, 2025, second-printing updates adopted November 24, 2025, effective December 31, 2025 (no exceptions for new submittals after that date)
- 2025 Denver Residential Code (DRC) — based on the 2024 International Residential Code (IRC), with Denver amendments; effective December 31, 2025
- 2025 Denver Mechanical Code — based on the 2024 International Mechanical Code (IMC), with Denver amendments; effective December 31, 2025
- 2025 Denver Plumbing Code — based on the 2024 International Plumbing Code (IPC), with Denver amendments; effective December 31, 2025
- 2025 Denver Fuel Gas Code — based on the 2024 International Fuel Gas Code (IFGC), with Denver amendments; effective December 31, 2025
- 2025 Denver Fire Code — based on the 2024 International Fire Code (IFC), with Denver amendments; effective December 31, 2025
- 2025 Denver Energy Code (DEC) — based on the 2021 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC), NOT the 2024 IECC; Denver made limited amendments (aligned to the Colorado Model Electric/Solar Ready Code) rather than advancing the base IECC edition
- 2023 National Electrical Code (NEC) / NFPA 70 — adopted unamended by Denver, matching the State of Colorado's adopted electrical code
- 2022 Denver Building and Fire Code (4th Printing) — the prior code edition, based on 2021 I-Codes; superseded for new submittals as of Dec 31, 2025 but still referenced for projects permitted under it
Permit types & fees
Residential Building Permit (New Construction)
Required for construction of new single-family homes, duplexes, and IRC townhomes in Denver. Reviewed against the 2025 Denver Residential Code (DRC, based on the 2024 IRC) and 2025 Denver Energy Code (DEC, based on the 2021 IECC), plus the Denver Zoning Code. Issued as a Residential Construction Permit (RESCON).
Residential Addition / Remodel Permit
Required for additions, remodels, basement finishes, and structural alterations to existing single-family homes, duplexes, and IRC townhomes in Denver. Reviewed against the 2025 Denver Residential Code and Denver Zoning Code; uses the same valuation-based fee table as new construction.
Electrical Permit
Required for electrical installations, alterations, and service changes in Denver. Denver runs its OWN electrical permitting and plan review program (Electrical.Review@denvergov.org) rather than deferring to a statewide board for in-city work — contractors must hold both a State of Colorado Electrical Contractor card AND a Denver contractor license. Governed by the 2023 NEC (adopted unamended) plus Denver Building/Residential Code amendments.
Plumbing Permit
Required for plumbing installations, alterations, and repairs in Denver. Denver runs its OWN plumbing permitting and plan review program (MechPlumb.Review@denvergov.org) — contractors must hold both a State of Colorado Plumbing Contractor card AND a Denver contractor license. Governed by the 2025 Denver Plumbing Code, based on the 2024 International Plumbing Code (IPC) with Denver amendments.
Mechanical / HVAC Permit
Required for heating, cooling, ventilation, and fuel gas equipment installations in Denver. Governed by the 2025 Denver Mechanical Code (2024 IMC) and 2025 Denver Fuel Gas Code (2024 IFGC), both effective December 31, 2025. Reviewed by MechPlumb.Review@denvergov.org for commercial/multifamily work.
Roofing Permit (Reroof)
Required for roof replacement and repairs above a minimum-area threshold on residential and commercial buildings in Denver. Governed by the 2025 Denver Building/Residential Code re-roofing provisions plus the Denver Green Buildings Ordinance for buildings 25,000 sq ft or larger. Eligible for a quick permit for most single-family/duplex work.
Solar PV Permit
Required for installation of rooftop or ground-mounted solar photovoltaic and solar hot water systems in Denver. Eligible single-family/duplex systems can use SolarAPP+, NREL's standardized instant-approval plan review software, for fast electrical quick-permit issuance. Solar PV/renewable energy projects receive a flat $50 building permit fee with $0 plan review under Denver's fee policy.
EV Charger / EVSE Permit
Required for installation of an electric vehicle charging station (EVSE) in Denver — any new 240V circuit, hardwired charger, or modification to existing home wiring requires an Electrical Permit; only plugging into an already-permitted, pre-existing outlet is exempt. Denver's own e-permits Quick Permits page explicitly names 'Electric vehicle chargers' as an eligible class of work for single-family and duplex properties (utility service ≤400A, single-phase), and separately lists 'Electric vehicle chargers for IRC and IBC townhomes' rated no more than 20 Amps/240 Volts as quick-permit eligible. For other multifamily and commercial buildings, 'Electric vehicle charging stations' are explicitly listed as NOT eligible for a quick permit and require standard plan review instead. New single-family/duplex/townhouse construction with a garage or carport must additionally include EV-ready infrastructure (a 240V, 40-amp branch circuit, labeled panel space, and outlet at the parking space) under the Denver Energy Code, independent of any later charger-specific permit. There is no separate EV-charger fee table — pricing follows the same valuation-based Table 1 schedule used for the file's general electrical-permit entry.
Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) Permit
Required for construction of a new attached or detached ADU on a residential property in Denver. ADUs are allowed in all zone districts that permit new single-unit dwellings (as of the July 5, 2023 citywide ADU zoning text amendment). Unlike new single-family homes, ADUs in Denver MUST be built by a licensed contractor — homeowners cannot self-permit.
Demolition Permit
Required for full or partial demolition of structures in Denver. A multi-agency process requiring CDPHE asbestos approval, utility cut-offs, and (for any structure) an initial Landmark Preservation review before the demolition permit itself can be issued.
Commercial Tenant Improvement Permit
Required for interior remodels, additions, and tenant improvements in commercial and multifamily buildings in Denver. Governed by the 2025 Denver Commercial Building Code (DCBC, based on the 2024 IBC) with Denver amendments, effective December 31, 2025. Valuation-based permit requiring a full, digitally-signed plan set submitted via e-permits.
Deck / Covered Patio Permit
Required for construction of decks, porches, patios, pergolas, and carports in Denver, whether enclosed, uncovered, or covered. Reviewed against the 2025 Denver Residential Code and Denver Zoning Code (setbacks, right-of-way impact).
Sign Permit
Required for most signs on private property in Denver. Community Planning and Development's Zoning division reviews and issues a Zoning Sign Permit under the Denver Zoning Code (Section 10.10), separate from any Table 1 Building Permit fee triggered when a sign involves a new support structure or structural framing, and separate from any Electrical Permit fee for an illuminated sign — up to three fee lines are possible on one sign project. Certain low-impact signs displayed 45 days or less are exempt from permitting entirely.
Fire Sprinkler and Fire Alarm System Permit
Required for installation, alteration, or extension of fire sprinkler/suppression, standpipe, and fire alarm/signaling systems in Denver. Denver runs this permit IN-HOUSE through its own Fire Department (Department of Safety — Fire, Fire Prevention Division, 745 W. Colfax Avenue) rather than a separate independent fire district. Applications go through the same denvergov.org/epermits portal used for CPD permits, but as a distinct 'FIRE' project record (format YYYY-FIRE-XXXXXXX) reviewed and issued by DFD's Fire Prevention Division — a separate review track from the CPD building-permit record for the same address. Governed by the 2025 Denver Fire Code (2024 IFC base), Denver Fire Code Appendix N shop-drawing requirements, NFPA 13, and NFPA 72.
Change of Occupancy / Change of Use Permit
Required whenever a building or a portion of a building in Denver changes occupancy classification, purpose, level of activity, or use in a way that triggers a greater degree of code-required safety, accessibility, structural strength, fire protection, egress, ventilation, or sanitation than currently exists. Governed by CPD Policy ADMIN 142 ('Change of Occupancy and/or Change in Use in an Existing Building — Procedure for Obtaining a New Certificate of Occupancy', effective Jan. 5, 2009, revised Aug. 2023). No new Certificate of Occupancy is issued until the Building Official determines all Code requirements for the change have been satisfied.
New residential construction activity
New privately-owned residential construction onlyHousing units authorized by building permits for new privately-owned residential construction — this is not total permit volume (no commercial permits or remodels).
- Latest month (2026-05)
- 262units
40 buildings · $52M valuation
- Trailing 12 months
- 5,414units
10 of 12 months reported · #1 in Colorado coverage by units
- Year to date (2026 YTD through 2026-05)
- 2,949units
284 buildings · $609.9M valuation
5 month(s) reported to Census
- Full year 2025
- 4,727units
1,085 buildings · $1,036.1M valuation
11 of 12 months reported; Census estimates include imputation
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey (BPS), 2026-05 vintage. Census survey data — separate from the permit-requirements verification above. All Colorado building activity
Tips & gotchas
- Denver publishes its OWN amended building code (the Denver Building/Residential/Commercial/Fire/Mechanical/Plumbing/Fuel Gas/Energy Codes) rather than adopting ICC codes verbatim — always cite the Denver-specific code edition, not a generic I-Code year.
- As of December 31, 2025, the 2025 Denver code family (based on 2024 I-Codes, except 2021 IECC for energy) is mandatory for all new submittals — no exceptions. The 2022 Denver Building and Fire Code (2021 I-Code base) still governs projects permitted under it, but is no longer accepted for new applications.
- Denver's Energy Code stayed on the 2021 IECC base (not 2024 IECC) even in the 2025 code cycle — this is a deliberate divergence from the rest of the 2025 DBC family, which otherwise moved to the 2024 I-Codes.
- Denver adopted the 2023 NEC (NFPA 70) unamended — matching the State of Colorado's electrical code, unlike most of Denver's other codes which carry Denver-specific amendments.
- Denver is a consolidated city-county (its own county-equivalent, same pattern as Carson City, NV) — Community Planning & Development (CPD) is the single, city-wide building-permit authority; there is no separate county layer.
- Denver runs its OWN electrical and plumbing permitting/plan-review program (Electrical.Review@denvergov.org, MechPlumb.Review@denvergov.org) rather than routing permit issuance through the statewide Colorado DORA Electrical/Plumbing Board — but contractors must still hold the underlying State of Colorado Electrical or Plumbing Contractor card as a prerequisite to obtaining the required Denver contractor license.
- Denver's fee structure is unusual: nearly ALL trade permit types (building, electrical, plumbing, mechanical, roofing, demolition) share the SAME valuation-based Table 1 fee schedule (ADMIN 125/138) rather than each trade having its own flat-fee table — the major published exception is the $50 flat fee (with $0 plan review) for solar PV/renewable energy projects.
- Quick permits in Denver skip plan review (and its associated fee) but still use the Table 1 valuation-based PERMIT fee — 'quick' refers to review speed, not necessarily a flat low dollar amount.
- Beginning May 22, 2025, trade quick permits (electrical, mechanical, plumbing, boiler/AC) tied to NEW BUILDINGS or ADDITIONS on single-family/duplex/IRC-townhome projects require an already-issued Residential Construction Permit (RESCON, format YYYY-RESCON-XXXXXXX) before they can be filed — alteration/tenant-finish and repair/replace scopes are unaffected.
- ADUs cannot be self-permitted by homeowners in Denver (must use a licensed contractor), even though a new single-family home CAN be homeowner-permitted under Admin Policy 131.4 — this is a notable asymmetry.
- Demolition in Denver requires CDPHE (state) asbestos approval and a Landmark Preservation review as prerequisite steps before the city demolition permit itself is issued — budget significant lead time.
- All permit applications and fee payments in Denver are handled online via e-permits (denvergov.org/epermits, an Accela-based system) — there is no walk-in paper submission path for building permits, though in-person cashiering is available at 201 W. Colfax Ave., 2nd floor.
- Denver's 2025 code cycle changed how snow loads are determined: rather than a single static table value, applicants now use the ASCE (American Society of Civil Engineers) Hazard Tool for site-specific ground snow load and seismic design criteria; wind load remains a direct Denver Building Code amendment (not from the ASCE tool).