Castle Rock building permits

Requirements

• Plans must comply with the 2024 IRC as locally amended, plus the 2021 IECC and the 2023 Colorado Model Electric-Ready and Solar-Ready Code
• Design must meet Castle Rock's amended Table R301.2(1) criteria: 115 mph Vult wind speed, Seismic Design Category B, 36-inch minimum frost depth, mandatory ice barrier underlayment, and tiered ground snow load (30 psf below 6,000 ft elevation, 35 psf at 6,000-6,499 ft, 40 psf at 6,500-7,000 ft, not reducible)
• Foundation inspections must be performed by a Colorado-licensed professional engineer or registered architect, with a stamped written report submitted to the Building Official
• Building valuation set using the Town's own Building Valuation Table (ICC August 2016 data, Town-specific per-occupancy-group $/sq ft rates), not solely the applicant's stated cost
• All submittals are electronic-only via eTRAKiT, following the Town's Electronic Submittal Guidelines (flattened/optimized PDF, no layers, True Type fonts, bookmarked sheets)
• Contractor registration with the Town is required; homeowners may self-permit only their own owner-occupied primary residence via a notarized/in-person Homeowner Affidavit — not available for rental properties

Required documents

• RequiredPlan Review and Construction Permit Application (eTRAKiT)Submitted electronically via the eTRAKiT Development Portal
• RequiredConstruction DrawingsFull architectural, structural, mechanical, electrical, and plumbing plan set combined into a single bookmarked PDF, sealed by the design professional
• RequiredSite PlanProperty lines, setbacks, and location of proposed and existing structures
• OptionalHomeowner AffidavitRequired only if the applicant is self-permitting as an owner-occupant of their own primary residence; must be signed in-person at the Building Counter or notarized if submitted electronically

Fee schedule

Requirements

• Building permits required for additions, remodels, interior improvements, basement finishes, decks, patios, awnings, pools, and spas
• Permits required for retaining walls over 4 feet high (including the footing/foundation) and for new mechanical equipment
• Plans must comply with the 2024 IRC as locally amended, including Castle Rock's amended structural design criteria (115 mph wind, Seismic Category B, 36-inch frost depth, tiered snow load)
• Deck construction must meet the Town's amended Table R507.7 maximum joist spacing table for decking material/thickness
• Contractor registration required; homeowner self-permit option available only for the applicant's own owner-occupied primary residence

Required documents

• RequiredPlan Review and Construction Permit Application (eTRAKiT)Submitted electronically via the eTRAKiT Development Portal
• RequiredResidential Addition ChecklistTown-published checklist of required submittal items for residential addition permits
• OptionalBasement Finish Checklist and Building GuideTown-published checklist specific to basement finish permits
• RequiredSite Plan / Construction DrawingsScope, dimensions, and connection of the addition/alteration to the existing structure

Fee schedule

Requirements

• Electrical permit required for new construction wiring, service upgrades, added circuits, and installations tied to solar-ready zones
• Where a solar-ready zone is installed for future electricity generation, electrical rough-in inspection must verify conduit/prewiring from the solar-ready zone to the electrical panel per local amendment R105.2.4.1
• Contractor registration with the Town required; homeowners may self-permit electrical work only on their own owner-occupied primary residence

Required documents

• RequiredPlan Review and Construction Permit Application (eTRAKiT)Submitted electronically via the eTRAKiT Development Portal

Fee schedule

Requirements

• Plumbing permit required for new/altered water, sewer, and gas piping installations not covered by a flat-fee replacement item
• Water heater replacement/installation is billed as a flat fee rather than valuation
• Contractor registration with the Town required; homeowners may self-permit plumbing work only on their own owner-occupied primary residence

Required documents

• RequiredPlan Review and Construction Permit Application (eTRAKiT)Submitted electronically via the eTRAKiT Development Portal

Fee schedule

Requirements

• Permit required for furnace, air conditioner, and other mechanical equipment installation or replacement
• Residential air conditioner, water heater, and furnace replacement/installation are billed at a shared flat fee
• Generators over 5kW require a permit at a flat fee
• Contractor registration with the Town required; homeowners may self-permit mechanical work only on their own owner-occupied primary residence

Required documents

• RequiredPlan Review and Construction Permit Application (eTRAKiT)Submitted electronically via the eTRAKiT Development Portal

Fee schedule

Requirements

• Roof coverings for re-roofs must be Class A, B, or C per IBC Section 1505 (local amendment to Section 723.1.3)
• Ice barrier underlayment required on eaves and valleys for asphalt shingles, metal roof shingles, mineral-surfaced roll roofing, slate/slate-type shingles, and wood shingles/shakes — at least two layers of cemented underlayment or a self-adhering polymer-modified bitumen sheet extending at least 24 inches inside the exterior wall line; exception for detached accessory structures with no conditioned floor area
• Shingle repair or replacement not exceeding one square (100 sq ft) of covering per building is exempt from a permit
• Commercial and residential re-roof permits are billed based on valuation (not a flat fee) per the Town's fee schedule

Required documents

• RequiredPlan Review and Construction Permit Application (eTRAKiT)Submitted electronically via the eTRAKiT Development Portal

Fee schedule

Requirements

• Building/structure demolition requires a Town permit at a flat fee
• Contractor is responsible for ensuring all utilities and fire protection systems are properly disconnected prior to demolition
• A CDPHE-certified asbestos inspection is a separate, statewide (non-Town) requirement for any demolition or renovation in Colorado; contact CDPHE directly for asbestos notification/abatement requirements, which are not administered by the Town's Building Division

Required documents

• RequiredPlan Review and Construction Permit Application (eTRAKiT)Submitted electronically via the eTRAKiT Development Portal

Fee schedule

Requirements

• Building Permit required for the racking/structural mounting portion, using the Town's standard valuation-based Building Permit Fee tiers (2024 IRC/IBC as locally amended)
• Electrical Permit required separately for grid interconnection, governed by the 2026 NEC as locally administered by the Town
• Where the property has an existing solar-ready zone, the electrical rough-in inspection must verify conduit/prewiring from that zone to the panel, per local amendment IRC R105.2.4.1 (2023 Colorado Model Electric-Ready and Solar-Ready Code, Municipal Code Chapter 15.15)
• Contractor registration with the Town is required; homeowners may self-permit electrical work only on their own owner-occupied primary residence
• Any fee the Town assesses is capped by Colorado's statewide solar permit fee law, C.R.S. § 24-48.5-113 (HB21-1284): $500 for a residential system, $1,000 for a commercial system
• Submitted electronically via the eTRAKiT Development Portal, same as other Castle Rock trade/building permits

Required documents

• RequiredPlan Review and Construction Permit Application (eTRAKiT) -- BuildingCovers the racking/structural mounting scope
• RequiredPlan Review and Construction Permit Application (eTRAKiT) -- ElectricalCovers the grid-interconnection scope

Fee schedule

Requirements

• Fences not over 6 feet high are exempt from a building permit (local amendment to both IBC Section 105.2 subsection 2 and IRC Section R105.2 subsection 1)
• Swimming pool barriers of ANY height are explicitly NOT exempt from permit requirements, regardless of the general fence-height exemption
• Retaining walls over 4 feet high, including the footing/foundation, require a permit (Development Procedures Manual, Chapter X - Permits)

Required documents

• RequiredPlan Review and Construction Permit Application (eTRAKiT)Required only for fences over 6 feet or retaining walls over 4 feet; submitted electronically via eTRAKiT

Fee schedule

Requirements

• EV charger circuit installation (retrofit to an existing structure) is electrical work; apply via the eTRAKiT Development Portal using the standard Plan Review and Construction Permit Application
• Contractor registration with the Town required; homeowners may self-permit electrical work only on their own owner-occupied primary residence, same as general electrical-permit rules
• For NEW CONSTRUCTION, the 2023 Colorado Model Electric-Ready and Solar-Ready Code (adopted via Ordinance 2026-017) requires EV-ready circuit/conduit provisioning to be verified at electrical rough-in, similar to the Town's existing solar-ready-zone amendment
• No distinct EV-charger fee line, checklist, or application exists; billed under the general standalone trade-permit valuation table

Required documents

• RequiredPlan Review and Construction Permit Application (eTRAKiT)Submitted electronically via the eTRAKiT Development Portal for the EV charger circuit

Fee schedule

Requirements

• All commercial projects require plan review; building permit applications are paperless and submitted electronically in PDF through the eTRAKiT Development Portal (etrakitt9.crgov.com), following the Town's Electronic Submittal Guidelines - Commercial
• Contractors must hold a valid license from a testing jurisdiction with an ICC-equivalent exam, current Town contractor registration, a certificate of liability insurance, and workers' compensation insurance (if applicable) before applying
• Plans must be sealed Architectural, Structural, Plumbing, Mechanical and Electrical drawings from a Colorado Registered Design Professional, with a full code analysis: construction type, use and occupancy classification, mixed-use strategy, occupant loads, means of egress, fire protection systems, energy compliance path and fixture counts (per the Town's commercial submittal checklists)
• New commercial buildings follow the Town's Development Steps sequence before building permit: Site Development Plan approval (administrative for projects 10 acres or less not adjacent to residential; public-hearing track otherwise), then engineered construction drawings review, then building permit plan review — Town reviews are concurrent across Building, Fire, Utilities, Zoning and Plum Creek Water Reclamation Authority
• All Fire Protection permits (suppression, alarm, commercial hood systems, tanks, hazmat) are submitted separately and directly to the Castle Rock Fire and Life Safety Division at CRFDFM.com — not through the Building Division
• All new businesses and construction of new buildings in the Plum Creek Water Reclamation Authority service area (which includes Castle Rock) must complete and submit PCWRA's Industry Information Questionnaire
• Building valuation is set using the Town's own Building Valuation Table (2024 IBC occupancy groups, Town-published $/sq ft rates — e.g., B Business Type VB $209.02/sq ft, M Mercantile Type VB $133.27/sq ft); shell-only buildings deduct 20%. The table is the minimum valuation the Town will accept for new construction
• New construction, additions and certain exterior work may be subject to 2025 Colorado Wildfire Resiliency Code requirements depending on the property's low/moderate/high fire intensity classification on the Town's wildfire resiliency map

Required documents

• RequiredPlan Review and Building Permit Application (eTRAKiT)Completed application on the eTRAKiT Development Portal; all submitted documents must be in PDF format
• RequiredDetailed Narrative / Scope of WorkExplaining all proposed construction, installation, alterations, and demolition (required on the Town's commercial submittal checklists)
• RequiredSealed Construction DrawingsCombined and complete Architectural, Structural, Plumbing, Mechanical and Electrical plans from a Colorado Registered Design Professional, designed to all codes as adopted by the Town, including full code analysis project data
• RequiredSupporting Engineering DocumentsProject manuals, engineering calculations and specifications, sealed by the design professional, if used
• RequiredCommercial Water Calculations / Water Tap Size CertificationCommercial Water Calculation Fixture Unit Worksheet (or Water Tap Size Certification) sealed by a Colorado registered professional engineer
• RequiredPlum Creek Water Reclamation Authority ApprovalPCWRA approval, plus the Industry Information Questionnaire for new businesses/new buildings in the PCWRA service area
• RequiredCastle Rock Fire Department ApplicationFire protection systems are permitted separately through Castle Rock Fire and Life Safety (303-660-1066; CRFDFM.com)
• OptionalManufacturer Specifications and Load CalculationsRequired at submittal for air conditioning units, water heaters, furnaces and boilers

Fee schedule

Requirements

• Completed application on the eTRAKiT Development Portal (etrakitt9.crgov.com); all submitted documents must be PDFs per the Electronic Submittal Guidelines - Commercial
• Detailed narrative or scope of work explaining all proposed construction, installation, alterations and demolition
• Combined and complete sealed Architectural, Structural, Plumbing, Mechanical and Electrical drawings from a Colorado Registered Design Professional, designed to all codes as adopted by the Town
• Project data must include a full code analysis: construction type, use and occupancy classification, mixed-use strategy, occupant loads, means of egress, fire protection systems, energy compliance path and fixture counts
• Name of business and address including suite number must appear on the plans
• Completed Commercial Water Tap Size Certification sealed by a Colorado registered professional engineer, and Plum Creek Water Reclamation Authority approval
• Food establishments must apply separately through the Douglas County Health Department's Retail Food Establishment Program
• Fire protection work (sprinkler modifications, alarm, hood systems) is permitted separately through the Castle Rock Fire and Life Safety Division at CRFDFM.com; exterior changes may additionally require Planning approval through the Planning Pre-App Coordinator
• Contractor must hold a valid ICC-equivalent license, current Town registration and insurance before applying

Required documents

• RequiredTenant Improvement Permit Application (eTRAKiT)Completed application on etrakitt9.crgov.com; PDF-only submittal
• RequiredDetailed Narrative / Scope of WorkExplaining all proposed construction, installation, alterations, and demolition
• RequiredSealed Combined Plan SetArchitectural, Structural, Plumbing, Mechanical and Electrical drawings from a Colorado Registered Design Professional with full code analysis, business name and suite number on plans
• RequiredSupporting Sealed DocumentsProject manuals, engineering calculations and specifications sealed by the design professional, if used
• RequiredCommercial Water Tap Size CertificationSealed by a Colorado registered professional engineer (form linked from the Commercial Permits page)
• RequiredPlum Creek Water Reclamation Authority ApprovalPCWRA approval is a listed minimum submittal item on the Town's Commercial Tenant Improvement checklist
• OptionalDouglas County Health Department ApplicationSeparate retail food establishment application, required only for food-service tenants

Fee schedule

Requirements

• A separate sign permit is required for each sign, and for each sign within a group mounted on a single supporting sign structure (Development Procedures Manual, Chapter X - Permits)
• Allowable total site sign area is calculated as the greater of the Allowance per Street Frontage or the Allowance per Building Frontage; Building Frontage is calculated differently depending on whether the building has a single entry or multiple individual tenant entries
• Electric/illuminated signs additionally require a separate electrical permit application
• A right-of-way encroachment permit is required if the sign work involves the public right-of-way
• Signs placed within the public right-of-way are prohibited outright and will be removed by the Town
• Sandwich board (A-frame) signs are exempt from a permit only if ALL of the following are met: no taller than 4 feet and no larger than 8 sq ft, displayed during daylight hours only with no illumination, displayed only while the business is physically open/occupying the building, and a minimum 4-foot clear sidewalk width is maintained
• Governed by Title 19 of the Castle Rock Municipal Code (Sign Code Regulations); electronic message sign illumination is separately addressed at Municipal Code Sec. 19-04-054
• A distinct, lower-cost Temporary Banner Permit track exists for banners (30-day duration) rather than permanent signage

Required documents

• RequiredSign Permit Application (eTRAKiT / Zoning Division)Complete Sign Permit Application submitted to the Zoning Division; fee due at submittal
• RequiredSite PlanShows all existing and proposed structures with sign locations, access and parking
• RequiredElevation DrawingsDimensions and materials of the existing and proposed signs, including the method of illumination
• RequiredConstruction/Structural PlansScope and structural detail of the proposed sign construction
• RequiredStatement of ValueCurrent value of the proposed sign, including costs of installation
• OptionalElectrical Permit ApplicationRequired in addition to the sign permit, only if the sign is electric/illuminated
• OptionalRight-of-Way Encroachment Permit ApplicationRequired only if the sign work encroaches into the public right-of-way

Fee schedule

Requirements

• Fire suppression, fire alarm, commercial hood systems, LPG, UST, AST and hazardous materials inventory plan review are submitted, paid for, and picked up directly at Castle Rock Fire and Rescue Department Headquarters, 300 Perry Street — a genuinely separate process from the Building Division's eTRAKiT portal (Development Procedures Manual, Chapter X - Permits)
• Permit required for addition, alteration, relocation, modification or removal of fire sprinkler heads on an existing system; full plan submittals with hydraulic calculations are required for NFPA 13R system work
• New fire sprinkler and new fire alarm systems installed as part of new construction or a tenant improvement are billed together under the Town's occupancy-and-size-tiered 'Fire New Construction and Tenant Improvements' fee table, rather than the separate modification-only fee lines used for existing-system work
• The Fire Department's own Plan Review and Construction Permit Application form has explicit checkboxes for 'Fire alarm' and 'Sprinkler (type)' project types, alongside 'New building,' 'Tenant finish,' and 'Kitchen hood'
• Plan review takes a minimum of ten working days from the date plans are submitted, per the Plan Review and Construction Permit Application's own printed notice
• Fire alarm plan submittals must include: 24 in. x 36 in. drawings at minimum 1/8 in. = 1 ft scale, a complete fire alarm riser diagram, voltage drop calculations, sound pressure level documentation per NFPA 72, and a sequence-of-operations matrix; a completed Fire Alarm Record of Completion is required at project closeout
• Consultation with Castle Rock Fire and Rescue (CRFD) before initiating any sprinkler work is recommended to confirm documentation needs
• Performing sprinkler/alarm work without a permit results in a doubled permit fee (two times the calculated permit fee)
• Field inspection requests require 24-hour notice (303-660-1066); on large construction projects the fire inspector aims to visit the site every other day

Required documents

• RequiredPlan Review and Construction Permit ApplicationCastle Rock Fire and Rescue Department's application form; has explicit checkboxes for Fire Alarm and Sprinkler project types; the printed 10-working-day review notice runs from the date plans are logged in
• RequiredFire Sprinkler Plans/SpecificationsLayout diagrams, manufacturer cut sheets, and hydraulic calculations (where applicable) per CRFD's Fire Sprinkler Plans Specifications guidance
• OptionalFire Alarm System Specifications SubmittalRiser diagram, voltage drop calculations, sound pressure documentation, and sequence-of-operations matrix; required only for fire alarm system permits
• OptionalFire Alarm Record of CompletionSubmitted at project completion for fire alarm system permits only

Fee schedule

Requirements

• No construction is proposed and the occupancy classification changes: Building Division 'Change of Occupancy' review applies ($250.00)
• No construction is proposed and the occupancy classification does NOT change (a pure tenant swap): Building Division 'Change of Tenancy' review applies instead ($200.00) — the same fee line also documented in the Commercial Tenant Improvement Permit entry
• Separately and in addition, Castle Rock Fire and Rescue conducts its own 'Change of Use' fire-code plan check and inspection to confirm the new use complies with the current International Fire Code as locally amended — this is a distinct fee line item on the Town's own Fire and Rescue Systems and Other Fees schedule, independent of the Building Division fee
• If actual construction, demolition, or tenant-improvement work accompanies the change of use, the project is instead reviewed under the full Commercial Tenant Improvement Permit (the commercial-tenant-improvement-permit entry) rather than this construction-free change-of-use track
• Food-service changes of use require a separate Douglas County Health Department Retail Food Establishment Program application, independent of both the Town's Building and Fire reviews
• Application submitted electronically via the eTRAKiT Development Portal, consistent with the Town's other Building Division permits

Required documents

• RequiredPlan Review and Construction Permit Application (eTRAKiT) — BuildingBuilding Division application indicating whether the request is a Change of Occupancy (classification changes) or Change of Tenancy (no classification change)
• RequiredPlan Review and Construction Permit Application — FireCastle Rock Fire and Rescue's own application/plan-review process for the separate fire-code Change of Use review; submitted directly to Fire Department Headquarters, 300 Perry St.
• OptionalDouglas County Health Department Retail Food ApplicationRequired only where the new use is a food-service establishment

Fee schedule