Arvada building permit requirements

City of Arvada — Building Safety Division

Verified 2026-06-30 · Source

11 permit types720-898-7620Mon–Fri, 8 a.m.–5 p.m.; permits are applied for and paid online via eTRAKiT at arvadapermits.org — permits are no longer processed over the counter

Department information

Address: 8101 Ralston Road, Arvada, CO 80002
Phone: 720-898-7620
Email: buildingpermits@arvada.org
Office hours: Mon–Fri, 8 a.m.–5 p.m.; permits are applied for and paid online via eTRAKiT at arvadapermits.org — permits are no longer processed over the counter
Website: Official site

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.

2018 International Building Code (IBC) — currently adopted and enforced (as of lastVerified date); City Council approved a transition to the 2024 IBC with Arvada amendments on March 24, 2026, formally adopted April 1, 2026, with implementation beginning July 1, 2026 — building permits submitted before July 1, 2026 may still use the 2018 codes2018 International Residential Code (IRC) — currently adopted; 2024 IRC (with Arvada amendments, including a reorganized Chapter 3 and new ADU/tiny-house/3D-printed-home appendices) takes effect for new submittals July 1, 20262018 International Fuel Gas Code (IFGC) — currently adopted; 2024 IFGC effective July 1, 20262018 International Mechanical Code (IMC) — currently adopted; 2024 IMC effective July 1, 20262018 International Plumbing Code (IPC) — currently adopted; 2024 IPC effective July 1, 20262009 International Property Maintenance Code (IPMC) — currently adopted; 2024 IPMC (deleting 45 prior municipal amendments) effective July 1, 20262018 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) — currently adopted; replaced July 1, 2026 by the Colorado Model Low Energy Carbon Code, based on the 2024 IECC, with EV-ready/electric-ready/solar-ready mandates2018 International Fire Code (IFC) — currently adopted; 2024 IFC effective July 1, 20262018 International Existing Building Code (IEBC) — currently adopted; 2024 IEBC effective July 1, 20262023 National Electrical Code (NEC) / NFPA 70 — currently adopted per the City's Adopted Building Code page, matching the State of Colorado Electrical Board's 2023 NEC adoption (effective Aug. 1, 2023); Arvada's 2026 code update references an eventual move to the 2026 NEC, but implementation will not begin until the State of Colorado begins its own 2026 NEC adoption process later in 2026 — the 2023 NEC remains in effect for Arvada in the interim2018 International Swimming Pool and Spa Code (ISPSC) — currently adopted; 2024 ISPSC effective July 1, 2026Arvada Wildfire Resiliency Code (new local Wildland Urban Interface code, adopted as part of the 2026 code cycle, effective July 1, 2026) — first Arvada-specific wildfire code; requires structural hardening and defensible space for new buildings, additions, accessory structures over 120 sq ft, and re-roofing/re-siding projects that replace more than 25% of the roof covering or exterior siding, within identified wildfire risk zones (map based on Jefferson County's wildfire map)

Permit types

Residential Building Permit (New Construction)

Required for construction of new single-family homes, duplexes, and townhomes in Arvada. As of lastVerified date, reviewed against the currently-adopted 2018 IRC and 2018 IECC; the City transitions to the 2024 IRC and the Colorado Model Low Energy Carbon Code (based on the 2024 IECC) for permits submitted on or after July 1, 2026, per the City's published implementation date.

Residential Addition / Remodel Permit

Covers additions, structural alterations, egress window additions, and interior remodels (basement finishes, kitchen/bath remodels) to existing homes in Arvada. Additions and exterior structural work use the 'Residential Exterior' application; interior-only remodels use 'Residential Interior.' Both are reviewed against the currently adopted 2018 IRC (2024 IRC effective for submittals on or after July 1, 2026).

Electrical Permit

Required for residential and commercial electrical work in Arvada. The City of Arvada Building Division issues the electrical permit and performs plan review and inspections directly — it does NOT defer permit issuance to the Colorado State Electrical Board. However, a State of Colorado electrical contractor license (issued by the State Electrical Board under C.R.S. Title 12, Article 23) is a prerequisite: Arvada's Building Inspection Policy requires a State-licensed electrical contractor of record to be listed on the permit before it can be issued, and City inspectors verify State license status on every job site.

Plumbing Permit

Required for residential and commercial plumbing installations, alterations, and repairs in Arvada, processed as part of the 'Residential Mechanical & Plumbing' permit category. The City of Arvada Building Division issues the plumbing permit and performs plan review and inspections directly — a State of Colorado plumbing contractor license (issued by the State Plumbing Board under C.R.S. Title 12, Article 155) is a prerequisite for contractors, verified by the City before permit issuance, per the same contemporaneous-review policy structure used for electrical.

Mechanical / HVAC Permit

Required for furnace, air conditioner, heat pump, boiler, and other HVAC equipment installation or replacement in Arvada, processed under the 'Residential Mechanical & Plumbing' permit category. Requirements currently follow the 2018 IRC and 2018 IECC (2024 IMC/IFGC and Colorado Model Low Energy Carbon Code effective July 1, 2026).

Roofing Permit (Re-Roofing)

Required for residential and commercial roof replacement in Arvada. Replacement of up to 100 sq ft of roofing material per year is treated as maintenance and does not require a permit. Commercial roofs are currently governed by Chapter 15 of the 2018 IBC as amended (2024 IBC effective July 1, 2026); properties in an identified wildfire risk zone that replace more than 25% of the roof covering will additionally need to comply with the new Arvada Wildfire Resiliency Code once it takes effect.

Solar PV Permit

Required for installation of rooftop or ground-mounted solar photovoltaic systems on residential and commercial structures in Arvada. Reviewed against the currently adopted 2023 NEC, plus Arvada's wind (136/150 Vult), snow (30 psf), and Exposure C design criteria.

Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) Permit

Required for construction of a new Type A (detached, lockable/rentable) or Type B (attached or inside the primary dwelling, lockable/rentable) Accessory Dwelling Unit in Arvada. Both types are treated as a separate dwelling unit under the building code, requiring fire separation from the primary dwelling and a separate HVAC system. As of the lastVerified date, ADU permits are issued only to City-licensed contractors (Class I-B, II-B, or III-B) — the City's proposed 2026 code cycle would allow homeowner/occupant self-permitting, but this was not yet confirmed as adopted.

Demolition Permit

Required for full or partial demolition of residential and commercial structures in Arvada. Processed as a flat-rate permit distinguishing minor interior demolition from major building demolition; asbestos/hazardous material compliance with Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) standards is required as part of the application.

Commercial Tenant Improvement / Tenant Finish Permit

Required for build-out, remodel, or change-of-use work inside an existing commercial space in Arvada, processed under the 'New Commercial Buildings, Commercial Additions & Multi-Family' permitting program. Some occupancy changes without construction may still require a permit or review to establish a proper Certificate of Occupancy.

Deck / Covered Patio Permit

Required for construction of decks, attached shade structures, detached pergolas/gazebos/accessory structures, and outdoor kitchens/gas fireplaces in Arvada, processed via the 'Residential Exterior' permit type. As of lastVerified date, detached accessory structures over 200 sq ft require a permit; this threshold drops to over 120 sq ft once the 2024-code cycle takes effect July 1, 2026.

Tips & gotchas

Arvada physically straddles Jefferson County and Adams County — per the 2020 U.S. Census, about 121,510 residents are in the Jefferson County portion and about 2,892 in the Adams County portion (the city's eastern edge). This does NOT create a split permitting system: as a home-rule city, the City of Arvada's own Building Safety Division is the single permitting authority for the entire city regardless of which county a specific parcel falls in. This PermitBase entry is filed under jefferson-county for URL/geo grouping only, reflecting the majority of Arvada's land area and population — do not assume Adams County addresses in Arvada need a different permit process.
IMPORTANT TIMING NOTE: As of this entry's lastVerified date (2026-06-30), Arvada's currently ENFORCED building code is still the 2018 International Code series. The City approved a transition to the 2024 International Codes (plus a new Arvada Wildfire Resiliency Code and the Colorado Model Low Energy Carbon Code) on March 24, 2026, with formal adoption April 1, 2026 — but per the City's own published guidance, implementation does not begin until July 1, 2026. Building permits submitted before July 1, 2026 may still use the 2018 codes; permits submitted on or after that date must comply with the new 2024-based codes. Always confirm which code cycle applies to your specific application date directly with the Building Safety Division.
Both electrical and plumbing permits in Arvada are issued and inspected by the City's own Building Safety Division — NOT by the Colorado State Electrical Board or State Plumbing Board. The state boards license the individual contractors and journeymen (a prerequisite credential under C.R.S. Title 12, Articles 23 and 155), and Arvada's own published policies on 'Contemporaneous Review of State-Issued Electrical/Plumbing Licenses' confirm the City verifies that state licensure and then issues, reviews, and inspects the permit directly — the same pattern used in Denver, Aurora, Fort Collins, and Lakewood.
Arvada permits are no longer processed over the counter — nearly everything goes through the City's eTRAKiT system at arvadapermits.org. Homeowners create a public account; licensed contractors log in with their City-issued AEC contractor number.
Use tax (not sales tax) is collected on every Arvada building permit at issuance, calculated on the project valuation using a 58% materials / 42% labor cost split (per RS Means Denver-area cost data) — this is separate from, and in addition to, the permit fee itself. Present your issued permit to material vendors to have local sales tax waived on qualifying purchases.
Boiler installations over 200,000 BTU and water heater installations both carry Colorado STATE-level licensing/permitting requirements layered on top of the City of Arvada's own permit — don't assume the City permit alone is sufficient for larger mechanical equipment.

Sources & verification

Verified against official sources. Last reviewed 2026-06-30.

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

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