Skip to main content
PermitBase

Change of Use / Change of Occupancy in Golden, Colorado

Golden requires a building permit before any construction or changes to a building, including a change of use, per the City's Required Building Permits Guide. No standalone 'change of use' application separate from the general building permit was found published. A Certificate of Occupancy will not be issued until authorization is granted by every City department or division with applicable regulations subject to inspection/approval, and until all associated fees, taxes, or other monies owed to the City are paid in full, per Municipal Code Chapter 15.08 (Building Code).

Reviewed 2026-08-13 · Source

When you need this permit

  • A building permit is required before any construction or changes to a building, including projects that change its use, per the City's Required Building Permits Guide
  • No standalone change-of-use application distinct from the general Building Permit Application was found published on the City's Permits & Licenses or Building Permits pages
  • A Certificate of Occupancy shall not be issued until authorization is granted by ALL City departments/divisions with applicable regulations subject to inspection or approval, and until all fees, taxes, or other monies owed to the City are paid in full, per Municipal Code Chapter 15.08 (Building Code)
  • Golden Fire Department review may apply if the new use triggers fire/life-safety requirements — see this file's fire-sprinkler-alarm-permit entry
  • Contact the Building Division (303-384-8151, building@cityofgolden.net) to confirm requirements for a specific change-of-use project

Required documents

Check off what you have — your progress is saved on this device.

Not ready yet — 0 of 1 required documents checked.

This checker covers one permit. A full project usually triggers several — our paid checklist will assemble all of them, from $29 →

Fee schedule

Building Permit Fee (if construction accompanies the change)Contact the Building Division (303-384-8151) for a project-specific quote
Not published as a standalone change-of-use fee line

Review timeline

Plan review
Not published — contact the department

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

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

Inspection process

  1. 1

    Final Inspection / Certificate of Occupancy

    Certificate of Occupancy withheld until every City department/division with applicable jurisdiction grants authorization and all fees/taxes owed to the City are paid in full, per Municipal Code § 15.08 (adopting IBC § 113.1 as amended)

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

Tips

  • Golden's Certificate of Occupancy requires sign-off from EVERY City department or division with applicable regulations — not just the Building Division — so a change-of-use project touching zoning, fire, utilities, etc. may need multiple departments' approval before a CO is issued.
  • Outstanding fees or taxes owed to the City of any kind can hold up Certificate of Occupancy issuance, per Municipal Code § 15.08 — resolve any account balances before your final inspection.

Frequently asked questions

Golden requires a change of use / change of occupancy permit for: A building permit is required before any construction or changes to a building, including projects that change its use, per the City's Required Building Permits Guide; No standalone change-of-use application distinct from the general Building Permit Application was found published on the City's Permits & Licenses or Building Permits pages; A Certificate of Occupancy shall not be issued until authorization is granted by ALL City departments/divisions with applicable regulations subject to inspection or approval, and until all fees, taxes, or other monies owed to the City are paid in full, per Municipal Code Chapter 15.08 (Building Code); Golden Fire Department review may apply if the new use triggers fire/life-safety requirements — see this file's fire-sprinkler-alarm-permit entry; Contact the Building Division (303-384-8151, building@cityofgolden.net) to confirm requirements for a specific change-of-use project. If your project isn't listed, confirm with City of Golden Building Department at (303) 384-8151 before starting work.

In Golden, the published Building Permit Fee (if construction accompanies the change) is: Not published as a standalone change-of-use fee line. These are the jurisdiction's own published figures — see the fee schedule table and source citations on this page.

Golden does not publish a plan-review timeline for this permit. Contact City of Golden Building Department at (303) 384-8151 for current turnaround.

You'll need: Building Permit Application (Online Permit Portal). See the required-documents checklist on this page for details on each.

Golden requires 1 inspection(s) for a change of use / change of occupancy permit, in order: Final Inspection / Certificate of Occupancy. Schedule each through City of Golden Building Department ((303) 384-8151).

Apply through City of Golden Building Department at 911 10th Street, Golden, CO 80401 (Building Department); Planning Department at 1445 10th Street, Golden, CO 80401. Phone: (303) 384-8151, email: building@cityofgolden.net. Office hours: Monday-Friday, general City Hall hours (main line (303) 384-8000); Building Department direct line (303) 384-8151. Official information: https://www.cityofgolden.gov/business/building_construction/building_permit.php.

Golden, Colorado has adopted: 2024 International Building Code (IBC), with local Appendix G (Flood Flrp/flood-resistant construction) and Appendix I (Patio Covers) — City of Golden Building Permit Process page; 2024 International Residential Code (IRC), with local Appendix BE (Radon Control Methods) and Appendix CD (Piping Standards for Various Applications) — City of Golden Building Permit Process page; 2024 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC); 2024 International Fire Code (IFC); 2024 International Existing Buildings Code (IEBC); 2024 International Mechanical Code (IMC); 2024 International Plumbing Code (IPC) — note: Golden uses the International Plumbing Code, not the Uniform Plumbing Code; 2024 International Building Code Appendix K — Administrative Provisions for the National Electrical Code; 2023 National Electrical Code (NEC); Golden Wildfire Resiliency Code (GWRC), adopted by City Ordinance No. 2290 and codified as Chapter 15.80 of the Golden Municipal Code — applies to new construction, significant additions, repairs, and remodels on properties within Golden's designated Wildland-Urban Interface (WUI) areas (per the Official Golden Wildfire Map); establishes fire-resistant construction standards for two hazard classifications, Class I (low fire intensity) and Class II (medium and high fire intensity); enforcement begins June 10, 2026; Golden Municipal Code Title 15, Chapter 15.08 (Building Code) governs local amendments and adoption by reference; Chapter 15.01 (Contractor Registration) governs the city's separate contractor registration requirement. Local amendments apply — see the Golden overview page for the full list.

Yes — a building permit is required before any construction or changes to a building, including a change of use, per the City's Required Building Permits Guide. There is no separate standalone change-of-use application.

Sources & verification

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

Other permits in Golden

Residential Building Permit (New Construction)Residential Addition / Remodel PermitElectrical PermitPlumbing PermitMechanical / HVAC PermitRoofing Permit (Reroof)Solar PV PermitEV Charger / Electric Vehicle Charging Station PermitAccessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) PermitDemolition PermitFence / Retaining Wall PermitCommercial Building PermitCommercial Tenant Improvement (Interior Commercial Alteration) PermitSign PermitFire Sprinkler / Fire Alarm System Permit

Change of Use / Change of Occupancy in other cities

Akron, ColoradoAlamosa, ColoradoArvada, ColoradoAspen, ColoradoAult, ColoradoAurora, ColoradoAvon, ColoradoBasalt, Colorado

Compare change of use / change of occupancy fees across Colorado →

Look up this fee in a different city →

Embed this data card →

Now live

Build your Golden project checklist

Describe your project once and get every permit, document, and fee it triggers in Golden — in one checklist. Sign up and pay once to generate it, or go unlimited with Pro.

Get started →