Plumbing Permit in Arvada, Colorado
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.
Verified 2026-07-01 · Source
When you need this permit
- Homeowner-occupants may install their own water heater or perform their own plumbing work at their residence, per Colorado state law, as long as they occupy the home
- A State of Colorado-licensed plumbing contractor must be listed as contractor of record for all contracted plumbing work; the City verifies the contractor's State plumbing contractor license and master plumber license before issuing the permit
- Water heater installations/replacements require a licensed plumbing contractor, permit, and inspection under Colorado state law
- Boiler installations over 200,000 BTU require a permit AND inspection from the State of Colorado (in addition to any City permit)
- Water conditioner installations require proof of certificate from the State of Colorado if not installed by a Master Plumber
- Gas line and evaporative cooler work may be filed under either Residential Plumbing or Residential Mechanical, depending on scope
Required documents
- Req
Plumbing Permit Application (eTRAKiT for licensed contractors; email application to Building Safety Division for homeowners)
Online application only available to City-licensed contractors; homeowners submit by email or in person at City Hall
Fee schedule
| Fee type | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Plumbing Permit Fee — valuation-based (general/new plumbing work not on the Table 18-5 flat-rate list) | Assessed as the Table 18-1 valuation-based Building Permit Fee (same schedule as new construction; see Residential Building Permit fee tiers, $34 minimum up to $5,669.25 + $3.45/$1,000 over $1M) plus Use Tax | The Residential Mechanical & Plumbing page states general plumbing fees are published on the Building Fee Schedule page (arvadaco.gov/1263) rather than a separate standalone flat plumbing table — that Building Fee Schedule page IS Table 18-1, the City's published valuation-based fee table, which is the grounded basis for general/new plumbing permit fees; specific fixture types (water heaters, backflow preventers, elevators) instead use the flat Table 18-5 rates cited below |
| Water Heaters (flat-rate) | $55.00 | Table 18-5, Residential Flat-Rate Permit Fees; minor electric wiring included, but a service change/upgrade is not |
| Backflow Preventer (flat-rate) | $55.00 | Table 18-5 |
| Residential Elevator or Dumbwaiter/Chairlift (flat-rate) | $135.50 | Table 18-5 |
| Use Tax | Assessed on the plumbing work valuation using the 58% materials / 42% labor split | Arvada Municipal Code § 98-84 |
Review timeline
0–1 business days
Arvada’s published plan-review target
Inspection process
- 1
Underground Plumbing
Before concrete pour or backfill — pipe slope, materials, cleanouts
- 2
Rough Plumbing
After pipes installed, before walls closed
- 3
Final Plumbing
All fixtures connected, no leaks, proper venting verified; a Final Electrical inspection is also required if any electrical work beyond a simple disconnect/reconnect was performed
Tips
- The City of Arvada Building Division — not the Colorado State Plumbing Board — issues and inspects plumbing permits for work inside Arvada. The State Plumbing Board licenses individual plumbing contractors, master plumbers, journeymen, and apprentices (C.R.S. Title 12, Article 155); the City verifies that licensure before issuing the permit and authorizes inspectors to verify on-site.
- Boiler installations over 200,000 BTU require a SEPARATE permit and inspection directly from the State of Colorado, in addition to the City of Arvada permit — don't assume the City permit alone covers a large boiler installation.
- Colorado state law requires water heater installation/replacement to be done by a licensed plumbing contractor, with a permit and inspection, even for straightforward like-for-like swaps — a homeowner may still do this work on their own occupied residence.
- Requirements for mechanical and plumbing plan submittals currently follow the 2018 IRC and 2018 IECC — confirm whether the 2024-cycle codes apply if your permit application is submitted on or after July 1, 2026.
Frequently asked questions
- Who issues plumbing permits in Arvada — the city or the State of Colorado?
- The City of Arvada Building Safety Division issues and inspects plumbing permits for work within Arvada. The Colorado State Plumbing Board licenses individual plumbing contractors and master plumbers (C.R.S. Title 12, Article 155) as a prerequisite — Arvada's Building Division Policy on Contemporaneous Review of State-Issued Plumbing Licenses confirms the City verifies State licensure and issues the permit directly, the same pattern used for electrical permits.
- What plumbing code does Arvada use?
- As of the lastVerified date, Arvada enforces the 2018 International Plumbing Code (IPC). The 2024 IPC (with Arvada amendments, including deletion of the graywater chapter and updated fixture/material provisions) takes effect for permits submitted on or after July 1, 2026.
Sources & verification
Verified against official sources. Last reviewed 2026-07-01.
- City of Arvada — Building Safety Division — official building department
- City of Arvada — Residential Mechanical & Plumbing
- City of Arvada — Building Division Policy on Contemporaneous Review of State of Colorado Issued Plumbing Licenses
- City of Arvada — Building Fee Schedule (Table 18-1 valuation-based schedule; Table 18-5, Water Heaters/Backflow Preventers/Elevators)
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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