Do I Need a Permit to Replace a Furnace in Colorado?
Furnace replacement permit requirements. Even same-model swaps need a mechanical permit. What inspectors check.
Yes — even a like-for-like furnace swap requires a mechanical permit.
Why Even a Swap Needs a Permit
Furnace replacements involve gas connections, venting, and combustion air — all safety-critical systems. Most jurisdictions require a mechanical permit to verify the new furnace is properly vented, has adequate combustion air, and the gas connections are leak-free. This is true even for exact same-model replacements.
High-Efficiency Conversions
Upgrading from a standard-efficiency (80%) to high-efficiency (90%+) furnace changes the venting requirements: standard units use metal B-vent, high-efficiency units use PVC/CPVC. The old metal vent chase may need to be sealed. A condensate drain line is also required for high-efficiency units.
What Inspectors Check
The final inspection covers: gas piping and drip leg, venting type and clearances, combustion air supply (especially in confined spaces), condensate drain (high-efficiency units), thermostat operation, and CO detector presence on every level.
Bundled with AC?
If you're replacing both the furnace and AC unit at the same time, one mechanical permit typically covers both. The inspector will check the AC refrigerant lines, electrical disconnect, and condenser pad in addition to the furnace items.
Yes, always. The permit is $40-$75 and your HVAC contractor handles it. One final inspection. Don't skip it — CO poisoning from bad venting is real.
Permit fees by city in Colorado
Verified from each city’s published fee schedule. Where a city has no separate fee listed for this project, open the city page for the current requirements and amount.
125 rows
| Permit fee | Source | |
|---|---|---|
| Akron | Not a fixed figure — calculated based on construction cost (valuation-based), due at time of application submissionVerifiedvia Residential Building Permit (New Construction) | Residential Building Permit (New Construction) → |
| Alamosa | Calculated per the Fee Schedule 'A' valuation tiers ($24 minimum)Verified | Mechanical / HVAC Permit → |
| Arvada | $55.00Verified | Mechanical / HVAC Permit → |
| Aspen | Computed via the City's Building Permit Fee Estimator (Excel) referencing the current Municipal Code Fee Ordinance (Title 2)Verified | Mechanical / HVAC Permit → |
| Ault | $70.00Verified | Mechanical / HVAC Permit → |
| Aurora | $201.00Verified | Mechanical / HVAC Permit → |
| Avon | 15% of Building Permit FeeVerified | Mechanical / Gas Permit → |
| Basalt | $21.00 minimum, scaling per the valuation tiers in the Town of Basalt Building Permit Fee ScheduleVerified | Mechanical / HVAC Permit → |
| Bennett | $23.50 minimum, scaling per the valuation tiers in the June 2026 Schedule of FeesVerified | Mechanical / HVAC Permit → |
| Berthoud | Per the 2024 IRC Appendix AB valuation-based fee table, plus $50 Administration + $50 Technology feeVerified | Mechanical / HVAC Permit → |
| Blue River | $50.00Verified | Mechanical Permit (Type C Permit) → |
| Boulder | $13.60Verified | Mechanical / HVAC Permit → |
| Bow Mar | $250Verified | Mechanical / HVAC Permit → |
| Breckenridge | $50.00 minimum, scaling per valuation tiersVerified | Mechanical / HVAC Permit → |
| Brighton | $23.50 minimum, scaling per the valuation tiers in the 2026 Community Development Fee ScheduleVerified | Mechanical / HVAC Permit → |
| Broomfield | $23.50Verified | Mechanical / HVAC Permit → |
| Burlington | $25 minimum, scaling per the tiered valuation scheduleVerified | Mechanical / HVAC Permit → |
| Calhan | $150.00Verified | Furnace Permit → |
| Cañon City | $30.00 flat for valuation not more than $2,000; $30.00 plus $10.00 per each additional $1,000 (or fraction thereof) for valuation over $2,000Verified | Mechanical / HVAC Permit → |
| Castle Pines | Per 2026 Fee Schedule Table 1-A valuation tiersVerified | Mechanical / HVAC Permit → |
| Castle Rock | $75.00 eachVerified | Mechanical / HVAC Permit → |
| Centennial | $23.50 minimum ($1-$500 valuation), scaling per the Building Permit Fee Schedule tableVerified | Mechanical / HVAC Permit → |
| Center | See city page for the current Mechanical / HVAC Permit fee | Mechanical / HVAC Permit → |
| Cheyenne Wells | $25.00Verifiedvia Residential Building Permit | Residential Building Permit → |
| City of Fountain | $80.00 for the first $2,000 plus $8.00 for each additional $1,000 or fraction thereofVerifiedvia Residential Building Permit (New Single-Family/Duplex Construction) | Residential Building Permit (New Single-Family/Duplex Construction) → |
| Colorado Springs | $30.00Verified | Mechanical / HVAC Permit → |
| Columbine Valley | $66.50 minimum, scaling per the Town's general Building Permit Fee ScheduleVerified | Mechanical / HVAC Permit (Non-Structural Building Permit) → |
| Commerce City | $30.41Verified | Mechanical/Gas (HVAC) Permit (RMECH / CMECH) → |
| Conejos County (Unincorporated) | $24Verifiedvia Residential Building Permit (New Construction) | Residential Building Permit (New Construction) → |
| Cortez | $30.00Verified | Mechanical / HVAC Permit → |
| Craig | Not separately published as a standalone line item distinct from the general $100 structure permit feeVerified | Mechanical / HVAC Permit → |
| Crested Butte | $100.00Verified | Mechanical / HVAC Permit → |
| Cripple Creek | See city page for the current Mechanical / HVAC Permit fee | Mechanical / HVAC Permit → |
| Dacono | Computed from ICC Building Valuation Data / project valuation, same general schedule basis as BuildingVerified | Mechanical / HVAC Permit → |
| Delta | Mechanical valuation × 0.0075, minimum $50.00Verified | Mechanical / HVAC Permit → |
| Denver | Assessed on the mechanical/HVAC work's valuation using Denver's Building Permit and Plan Review Fee Schedule (ADMIN 125/138 Table 1) — e.g. $35 for $501–$2,000 valuation, $35 for the first $2,000 plus $8/each additional $1,000 up to $25,000, scaling up through the table's brackets to $5,385 for the first $1,000,000 plus $3.65/each additional $1,000 over that; quick permits carry $0 plan review fee (Table 2 valuation applies if higher than the applicant-submitted valuation)Verified | Mechanical / HVAC Permit → |
| Dillon | Total mechanical valuation x 0.0075, $65.00 minimumVerified | Mechanical Permit → |
| Durango | Calculated the same way as a standalone Building Permit Fee, per the July 2026 Fee Schedule valuation tiers ($24.00 minimum)Verified | Mechanical / HVAC Permit → |
| Eagle | $65.00Verified | Mechanical / HVAC Permit → |
| Eaton | $125.00Verified | Mechanical / HVAC Permit (Furnace, Air Conditioning, Gas Line, Gas Fireplace) → |
| Edgewater | $35.00 minimum, scaling per the valuation tiers in the City's Fee Surcharge ScheduleVerified | Mechanical / HVAC Permit → |
| Erie | $35.00Verified | Mechanical / HVAC Permit → |
| Estes Park | $23.50 minimum, scaling per valuation tiersVerified | Mechanical / HVAC Permit → |
| Evans | $26.24 minimum, scaling per valuation tiersVerified | Mechanical / HVAC Permit → |
| Federal Heights | $23.50 minimum, scaling per the valuation tiers in the City's Building Fees scheduleVerified | Mechanical / HVAC Permit → |
| Firestone | $132.00Verified | Mechanical / HVAC Permit → |
| Florence | See city page for the current Mechanical / HVAC Permit fee | Mechanical / HVAC Permit → |
| Fort Collins | $65.00 per heating applianceVerified | Mechanical / HVAC Permit → |
| Fort Lupton | $150.00 flatVerified | Mechanical / HVAC Permit → |
| Fort Morgan | $40.00 flat feeVerified | Mechanical / HVAC Permit (A/C Installation) → |
| Frederick | $200.00Verified | Mechanical / HVAC Permit → |
| Frisco | Determined by applying the project valuation to the corresponding Building Permit Valuation fee tiersVerified | Mechanical / HVAC Permit → |
| Fruita | Valuation-based per Table 2 Permit Fee Schedule (e.g., $35.00 minimum up to $500 valuation)Verified | Mechanical / HVAC Permit → |
| Garden City | See city page for the current Mechanical / HVAC Permit fee | Mechanical / HVAC Permit → |
| Gilcrest | $70.00 flatVerified | Mechanical / HVAC Permit (Furnace, Air Conditioner) → |
| Glenwood Springs | Calculated the same way as a standalone Building Permit Fee, per Table 1-A valuation tiers ($23.50 minimum)Verified | Mechanical / HVAC Permit → |
| Golden | Calculated per the Building Permit Fee Table valuation tiers ($25.85 minimum)Verified | Mechanical / HVAC Permit → |
| Grand Junction | Valuation-based per Table 2 Permit Fee Schedule (e.g., $50.00 minimum up to $1,200 valuation)Verified | Mechanical / HVAC Permit → |
| Greeley | $23.50 minimum ($1-$500 valuation), scaling per the City's 2024 Building Permit Fee Schedule Table 1-AVerified | Mechanical / HVAC Permit → |
| Gypsum | $60.00 base plus $16.00 per additional increment (per Table 2) — e.g. the code's own worked example prices an $8,400 installation at $204.00Verified | Mechanical / HVAC Permit → |
| Haxtun | $10.00Verified | Mechanical / HVAC Permit → |
| Holyoke | See city page for the current Mechanical / Sheet Metal (HVAC) Permit fee | Mechanical / Sheet Metal (HVAC) Permit → |
| Hudson | $125Verified | Mechanical / HVAC Permit → |
| Johnstown | $23.50 minimum, scaling per valuation tiersVerified | Mechanical / HVAC Permit (Furnace, Air Conditioning, Fireplace) → |
| Julesburg | Not published; determined by Town Hall per a fee schedule adopted by Town Board resolutionVerified | Mechanical / HVAC Permit → |
| Keenesburg | $100.00Verified | Mechanical / HVAC Permit (Furnace, Boiler, Air Conditioner) → |
| Kersey | Not separately broken out; bundled within the overall SAFEbuilt UBC-valuation-based Building Permit FeeVerified | Mechanical / HVAC Permit → |
| La Junta | Calculated from Total Valuation (Materials $ + Labor $) stated on the applicationVerified | Mechanical / HVAC Permit → |
| La Salle | $125.00 for air conditioning or furnace replacement; otherwise valuation-basedVerified | Mechanical / HVAC Permit → |
| Lafayette | $100.00Verified | Mechanical / HVAC Permit → |
| Lakewood | $80.00Verified | Mechanical / HVAC Permit → |
| Lamar | $31.00Verified | Mechanical / HVAC Permit → |
| Larkspur | See city page for the current Mechanical / HVAC Permit fee | Mechanical / HVAC Permit → |
| Littleton | $25.85 minimum, scaling per valuation tiersVerified | Mechanical / HVAC Permit → |
| Lochbuie | $100.00 eachVerified | Mechanical / HVAC Permit → |
| Lone Tree | $23.50 minimum, scaling per the valuation tiers in the 2026 Building Fees scheduleVerified | Mechanical / HVAC Permit → |
| Longmont | $40.00Verified | Mechanical / HVAC Permit → |
| Louisville | $28.00 minimum, scaling per valuation tiersVerified | Mechanical / HVAC Permit → |
| Loveland | Based on the current ICC Building Valuation Data applied to the stated project valuation on the HVAC Fast Track applicationVerified | Mechanical / HVAC Permit → |
| Lyons | $135Verified | Mechanical / HVAC Permit → |
| Mead | $70Verified | Mechanical / HVAC Permit → |
| Milliken | 10% of combined Building, Electrical, Construction Meter, and Plan Review feesVerified | Mechanical / HVAC Permit (Furnace, Air Conditioning, Gas Fireplace) → |
| Montrose | $50.00Verified | Mechanical / HVAC Permit → |
| Morrison | Per the adopted codeVerified | Mechanical / HVAC Permit → |
| Mount Crested Butte | See city page for the current Mechanical / HVAC Permit fee | Mechanical / HVAC Permit → |
| Mountain View | $40.00 for total valuation $1.00-$500.00; $40.00 for the first $500.00 plus $2.00 per additional $100.00 (or fraction) from $501.00-$2,000.00; $70.00 for the first $2,000.00 plus $14.00 per additional $1,000.00 (or fraction) from $2,001.00-$25,000.00; $391.25 for the first $25,000.00 plus $10.10 per additional $1,000.00 (or fraction) from $25,001.00-$50,000.00; $643.75 for the first $50,000.00 plus $7.00 per additional $1,000.00 (or fraction) from $50,001.00-$100,000.00; $993.75 for the first $100,000.00 plus $5.60 per additional $1,000.00 (or fraction) from $100,001.00-$500,000.00; continuing per the same table above $500,000.00Verified | Mechanical / HVAC Permit → |
| Mountain Village | See city page for the current Mechanical / HVAC Permit fee | Mechanical / HVAC Permit → |
| Nederland | Determined per-project by Town/SAFEbuilt staff at applicationVerified | Mechanical / HVAC Permit → |
| Northglenn | $23.50 minimum, scaling per valuation tiersVerified | Mechanical / HVAC Permit → |
| Nunn | $50.00 flat Admin Fee for water heater/furnace/boiler replacement processed as a 'One Stop' permit (explicitly named by the Town); $75.00 for scopes requiring SAFEbuilt plan review (e.g. new furnace/boiler installation, gas piping runs); plus 2% Use Tax on all Building PermitsVerified | Mechanical / HVAC Permit → |
| Palisade | $10.00 flat feeVerifiedvia Residential Building Permit (New Construction) — Town Planning Clearance + Mesa County Building Permit | Residential Building Permit (New Construction) — Town Planning Clearance + Mesa County Building Permit → |
| Parker | $23.50Verified | Mechanical / HVAC Permit → |
| Pierce | No separate published mechanical-specific line item; billed under the same 'UBC fee schedule + $30 or 30% (greater)' structureVerified | Mechanical / HVAC Permit → |
| Platteville | No distinct mechanical/HVAC-permit dollar figure is separately published — verified-negative, confirmed 2026-07-23Verified | Mechanical / HVAC Permit → |
| Poncha Springs | $25.00Verified | Mechanical / HVAC Permit → |
| Pueblo | $44.10Verified | Mechanical / HVAC Permit → |
| Rifle | Included within, and paid together with, the overall Building Permit Fee at issuanceVerified | Mechanical / HVAC Permit (Bundled with Building Permit) → |
| Saguache | $20.00Verifiedvia Building Permit | Building Permit → |
| Salida | $25.00Verified | Mechanical / HVAC Permit → |
| Sedgwick | $30.00Verifiedvia Building Permit (New Construction, Addition, Alteration, Roof/Siding, Foundation, Relocation) | Building Permit (New Construction, Addition, Alteration, Roof/Siding, Foundation, Relocation) → |
| Severance | Valuation-based, determined by SAFEbuilt ColoradoVerified | Mechanical / HVAC Permit → |
| Silver Cliff | See city page for the current Residential Building Permit (New Construction) fee | Residential Building Permit (New Construction) → |
| Silverthorne | 0.0075 x total mechanical valuation, minimum $65.00, plus 65% plan review fee when requiredVerified | Residential Mechanical / HVAC Permit → |
| Springfield | $50.00 flatVerifiedvia Building Permit | Building Permit → |
| Steamboat Springs | $100.00Verified | Mechanical / HVAC Permit → |
| Sterling | See city page for the current Mechanical / HVAC Permit fee | Mechanical / HVAC Permit → |
| Superior | $28.50 minimum, scaling per the valuation tiers in the 2026 Governmental Fee ScheduleVerified | Mechanical / HVAC Permit → |
| Telluride | See city page for the current Mechanical / HVAC Permit fee | Mechanical / HVAC Permit → |
| Thornton | $30.00Verified | Mechanical / HVAC Permit → |
| Timnath | Not published onlineVerified | Mechanical / HVAC Permit → |
| Town of Carbondale | $27.50Verifiedvia New Single-Family Dwelling, Duplex, or Townhouse Building Permit | New Single-Family Dwelling, Duplex, or Townhouse Building Permit → |
| Trinidad | See city page for the current Mechanical / HVAC Permit fee | Mechanical / HVAC Permit → |
| Unincorporated Pueblo County | $44.10Verified | Mechanical / HVAC Permit → |
| Unincorporated Teller County | $75.00Verified | Mechanical / HVAC Permit → |
| Unincorporated Washington County | $100.00 flat, for all buildings except Use by Special Review (commercial-use) buildingsVerifiedvia Building Permit (New Construction, Addition, Remodel, Accessory Structures) | Building Permit (New Construction, Addition, Remodel, Accessory Structures) → |
| Vail | See city page for the current Mechanical / HVAC Permit fee | Mechanical / HVAC Permit → |
| Victor | $23.50 minimum, scaling per the valuation tiers in the City's Fee & Fine ScheduleVerified | Mechanical / HVAC Permit → |
| Walsh | $15.00Verifiedvia Building Permit (Structures, Carports, Fences, and Other Construction) | Building Permit (Structures, Carports, Fences, and Other Construction) → |
| Wellington | $75 flatVerified | Mechanical / HVAC Permit → |
| Westcliffe | Fee set off cost of job — contact Building and Zoning officeVerified | Mechanical / HVAC Permit → |
| Westminster | An additional 15% of the Building Permit Fee, plus 15% of the Plan Review FeeVerified | Mechanical / HVAC Permit → |
| Wheat Ridge | $60Verified | Mechanical / HVAC Permit → |
| Windsor | Equal to SAFEbuilt's own valuation-based fee (not separately published for standalone mechanical work)Verified | Mechanical / HVAC Permit → |
| Winter Park | $54.00 minimum, scaling per valuation tiersVerified | Mechanical / HVAC Permit → |
| Yuma | $100.00Verifiedvia Building Permit (New Construction, Addition, Alteration, Repair) | Building Permit (New Construction, Addition, Alteration, Repair) → |