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Change of Use / Change of Occupancy Permit in Edgewater, Colorado

Required whenever a commercial space in Edgewater changes occupancy, changes use, or expands its use/occupancy into more space in the same building — regardless of whether any construction or remodeling accompanies the change. Edgewater does not publish a standalone 'change of use permit' application or fee; per the City's own Commercial New Business Tenant Information guidance, this requirement is enforced through the ordinary building permit process (technically governed by the 2021 International Existing Building Code, Sec. 18-9-10, as locally adopted) plus the City's general Business License requirement (Municipal Code Chapter 6, Article 1). Where the new occupancy classification affects fire/life-safety systems, West Metro Fire Protection District's own guidance separately names 'change in occupancy type or use' as one of its planned-construction-project scenarios requiring WMFPD permit and inspection in addition to the City's building permit.

Verified 2026-08-13 · Source

When you need this permit

  • Per the City's own Commercial New Business Tenant Information document: 'Any commercial changes of occupancy, changes of use, expansions of use, or expansions of occupancy into more space in the same building, regardless of whether there will be any construction or remodeling to prepare the space for the new tenant, require a building permit and inspection prior to operating the business in the space' — this applies even to a same-size space, or a business simply moving to a different space in the same building
  • A plan showing the existing floor plan and proposed new layout must be submitted, reasonably to scale, including a graphic showing the space's location within the building relative to other spaces and the parking lot; if the building itself is being expanded, a survey is also required
  • A completed building permit application must be submitted through the Building Department (SAFEbuilt, via CommunityCore)
  • A City of Edgewater business license is required to operate the business in the new space, managed through the City Clerk's office; the application requires prior evidence of an active building permit/inspection sign-off consistent with the space's approved use
  • Where the change of use triggers construction, remodeling, or tenant-improvement work, this file's commercial-tenant-improvement entry applies (Commercial Submittal Checklist, stamped architectural/structural/electrical/mechanical plans, 2021 Energy Code compliance documentation)
  • West Metro Fire Protection District's own 'West Metro Fire Rescue Permit & Inspection Process - Edgewater' guidance names 'change in occupancy type or use' as one of the scenarios requiring a separate WMFPD fire-district permit and inspection, in addition to the City's building permit, when the new occupancy affects fire/life-safety requirements
  • For restaurants and commercial kitchens specifically: a grease interceptor is required per the adopted Plumbing Code where grease output is damaging to the sewer system; restaurants over 5,000 square feet must have an approved fire sprinkler system; Type I hoods are required over grease/smoke-producing equipment; Jefferson County Health Department approval (letter, email, or fax) is required as a condition of the Certificate of Occupancy and must be on the jobsite before final inspection

Required documents

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Fee schedule

Building Permit Fee (valuation-based, same schedule as new construction)Code Ref. 18-1-40(a); applies even where the change of occupancy involves zero construction valuation, at the Building Official's discretion
$35.00 minimum, scaling per the valuation tiers in the Fee Surcharge Schedule
Plan Review Fee
65% of the Permit Fee
General Business License — All Other BusinessesCity of Edgewater Fee Surcharge Schedule, General Business Licensing, Code Ref. 6-1-60; several specific business categories carry different fees (e.g. Grocery or Hardware Store $203.00, Laundromat $153.00, Tanning Salon $103.00, Secondhand Dealer $53.00); Non-Profit Entities are exempt
$53.00
Business Licensing Background Check (per person)Code Ref. 2-6-80
$10.00
Use TaxApplies only where construction/tenant-improvement work with a materials valuation accompanies the change of use
Total valuation x 50% x 4%

Review timeline

Plan review
Not published — contact the department

How long did your Change of Use / Change of Occupancy Permit permit actually take in Edgewater?

Anonymous — one question, no email. Answers are combined and only shown once at least 5 people have reported.

Inspection process

  1. 1

    Pre-Occupancy Building Inspection

    Confirms the new layout and occupancy classification comply with applicable code before the business may operate; required even where no construction work was performed

  2. 2

    Fire Life-Safety Inspection (West Metro Fire Protection District)

    Required where the change in occupancy type or use affects fire/life-safety systems; a separate track from the City's own inspection

  3. 3

    Health Department Approval

    Required as a Certificate of Occupancy condition for food-service or child-care uses; must be documented on the jobsite before final inspection

See the full Edgewater inspection guide — scheduling & re-inspection fees →

Tips

  • Edgewater does not publish a named 'change of use' or 'change of occupancy' application separate from the ordinary building permit — but the City's own Commercial New Business Tenant Information document is explicit that a building permit and inspection are required before operating in the space 'regardless of whether there will be any construction or remodeling,' even for a same-size space or an in-building move. Don't assume a use change with zero physical work is exempt.
  • A City of Edgewater business license (via the City Clerk's office) is required in addition to, and separate from, the building permit — budget time for both processes, since the business license application references the space's approved use.
  • Because a change of occupancy can trigger fire-protection requirements (sprinklers, alarms, egress reconfiguration), West Metro Fire Protection District's own guidance names 'change in occupancy type or use' as a scenario requiring its own separate permit and inspection — coordinate with WMFPD early, not just with SAFEbuilt.
  • Restaurant and commercial-kitchen changes of use carry extra requirements: grease interceptor sizing, a fire sprinkler system if over 5,000 square feet, correct Type I/II hood installation, and Jefferson County Health Department sign-off as a Certificate of Occupancy condition — budget calendar time for the Health Department review specifically, since it is a genuinely separate agency from the City and WMFPD.

Frequently asked questions

Edgewater requires a change of use / change of occupancy permit for: Per the City's own Commercial New Business Tenant Information document: 'Any commercial changes of occupancy, changes of use, expansions of use, or expansions of occupancy into more space in the same building, regardless of whether there will be any construction or remodeling to prepare the space for the new tenant, require a building permit and inspection prior to operating the business in the space' — this applies even to a same-size space, or a business simply moving to a different space in the same building; A plan showing the existing floor plan and proposed new layout must be submitted, reasonably to scale, including a graphic showing the space's location within the building relative to other spaces and the parking lot; if the building itself is being expanded, a survey is also required; A completed building permit application must be submitted through the Building Department (SAFEbuilt, via CommunityCore); A City of Edgewater business license is required to operate the business in the new space, managed through the City Clerk's office; the application requires prior evidence of an active building permit/inspection sign-off consistent with the space's approved use; Where the change of use triggers construction, remodeling, or tenant-improvement work, this file's commercial-tenant-improvement entry applies (Commercial Submittal Checklist, stamped architectural/structural/electrical/mechanical plans, 2021 Energy Code compliance documentation); West Metro Fire Protection District's own 'West Metro Fire Rescue Permit & Inspection Process - Edgewater' guidance names 'change in occupancy type or use' as one of the scenarios requiring a separate WMFPD fire-district permit and inspection, in addition to the City's building permit, when the new occupancy affects fire/life-safety requirements; For restaurants and commercial kitchens specifically: a grease interceptor is required per the adopted Plumbing Code where grease output is damaging to the sewer system; restaurants over 5,000 square feet must have an approved fire sprinkler system; Type I hoods are required over grease/smoke-producing equipment; Jefferson County Health Department approval (letter, email, or fax) is required as a condition of the Certificate of Occupancy and must be on the jobsite before final inspection. If your project isn't listed, confirm with City of Edgewater Community Development Department, Building & Planning Division at (720) 763-3001 before starting work.

In Edgewater, the published Building Permit Fee (valuation-based, same schedule as new construction) is: $35.00 minimum, scaling per the valuation tiers in the Fee Surcharge Schedule. Additional published fees: Plan Review Fee — 65% of the Permit Fee; General Business License — All Other Businesses — $53.00; Business Licensing Background Check (per person) — $10.00; Use Tax — Total valuation x 50% x 4%. These are the jurisdiction's own published figures — see the fee schedule table and source citations on this page.

Edgewater does not publish a plan-review timeline for this permit. Contact City of Edgewater Community Development Department, Building & Planning Division at (720) 763-3001 for current turnaround.

You'll need: Building Permit Application; Existing and Proposed Floor Plan; City of Edgewater Business License Application. Depending on your project, Edgewater may also ask for: Health Department Approval; Survey. See the required-documents checklist on this page for details on each.

Edgewater requires 3 inspection(s) for a change of use / change of occupancy permit, in order: Pre-Occupancy Building Inspection, Fire Life-Safety Inspection (West Metro Fire Protection District), Health Department Approval. Schedule each through City of Edgewater Community Development Department, Building & Planning Division ((720) 763-3001).

Apply through City of Edgewater Community Development Department, Building & Planning Division at 1800 Harlan St, Edgewater, CO 80214. Phone: (720) 763-3001, email: lhubble@edgewaterco.com. Office hours: Community Development is available Monday - Thursday 9am - 5pm, except holidays. Best reached at (720) 763-3001 (Logan Hubble, Planning & Development Manager). Building Permit Technician (Bridget McGeoghegan, SAFEbuilt) direct line (303) 450-8745. Inspection requests: call (303) 450-8748 by 4pm the business day before the desired inspection, or call (303) 450-8745 after 8:30am the morning of the inspection for a two-hour arrival window. The City has contracted its building division services (plan review, inspections, code enforcement) to SAFEbuilt since 2013.. Official information: https://www.edgewaterco.gov/city-services/building-planning.

Yes. The City's own Commercial New Business Tenant Information document states that any commercial change of occupancy, change of use, or expansion of use/occupancy requires a building permit and inspection prior to operating, 'regardless of whether there will be any construction or remodeling to prepare the space for the new tenant' — even a same-size space or an in-building move triggers this requirement.

The 2021 International Existing Building Code (IEBC), as adopted by Edgewater Municipal Code Sec. 18-9-10, governs the technical requirements for a change of occupancy, alongside the City's general building permit and business license processes.

Sources & verification

Verified against official sources. Last reviewed 2026-08-13.

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

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