Commercial Tenant Improvement Permit in Lakewood, Colorado
Required for interior remodels and tenant finish work in existing commercial buildings in Lakewood. Applied for in eTRAKiT under Permit Type 'Building Commercial', subtype 'Tenant Finish or Remodel'. Reviewed against the 2021 IBC with Lakewood Title 14 amendments; plans require West Metro Fire Protection District stamp before city submittal, and Jefferson County Health Department stamp if day care or food service is included.
Verified 2026-06-30 · Source
When you need this permit
- eTRAKiT Permit Type 'Building Commercial', subtype 'Tenant Finish or Remodel' (interior remodel of an existing commercial building)
- Plans must be stamped and signed by a Colorado licensed design professional
- Plans must be stamped by West Metro Fire Protection District BEFORE submittal to the city (contact 303-989-4307 ext. 510)
- If day care or food service is included in the tenant finish, plans must also be stamped by Jefferson County Health Department before city submittal (contact 303-271-5755)
- Valuation must include labor and materials for all construction including systems (electrical, mechanical, plumbing, fire detection, fire protection, low voltage wiring)
- Fire sprinkler/protection work does not require a separate permit if included in the Building Commercial permit scope; a separate Fire Protection permit is required for major repair or replacement outside that scope
- All contractors must be registered with the City of Lakewood
Required documents
- Req
Building Permit Application (via eTRAKiT)
Select Permit Type 'Building Commercial', subtype 'Tenant Finish or Remodel'
- Req
West Metro Fire Protection District Stamp
Required on plans before submittal to the City of Lakewood
- Opt
Jefferson County Health Department Stamp
Required if the tenant finish includes day care or food service, before submittal to the city
- Req
Construction Drawings
Full plan set stamped and signed by a Colorado licensed design professional
Fee schedule
| Fee type | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Building Permit Fee — valuation-based (same table as new construction) | Varies by valuation — see Residential Building Permit fee tiers ($26.00 minimum up to $5,570.15 + $3.45/$1,000 over $1,000,000) | City of Lakewood Building Permit & Inspection Fee Schedule applies the same single valuation-based table to commercial tenant finish/remodel work; no separate commercial-specific tier published |
| Plan Review Fee | 65% of the building permit fee | — |
| Estimated Use Tax | 3% of 50% of the project valuation | — |
| Additional Plan Review (changes/revisions to approved plans) | $65.00 per hour (minimum charge: 4 hours), or total hourly cost to the city if greater | — |
Review timeline
~0–0 business days
Typical estimate — confirm current times with the Lakewood building department
Inspection process
- 1
Framing / Structural
After framing complete, before walls covered
- 2
MEP Rough-In
Mechanical, electrical, plumbing rough-in before walls closed
- 3
Fire Inspection
Fire alarm/sprinkler/suppression inspections coordinated with West Metro Fire
- 4
Final / Certificate of Occupancy
All work complete; City issues Certificate of Occupancy for projects with a change in occupancy
Tips
- Get your West Metro Fire Protection District stamp BEFORE submitting to the city — Lakewood requires it on the plans as a prerequisite, not a parallel review step.
- Day care or food service tenant finish adds a mandatory Jefferson County Health Department stamp requirement to the pre-submittal checklist.
- A Certificate of Occupancy will NOT be issued for tenant finish work that doesn't involve a change of occupancy, or for fire sprinkler/alarm-only work — confirm whether your project triggers a CO requirement.
Frequently asked questions
- What has to happen before submitting a commercial tenant finish permit in Lakewood?
- Plans must first be stamped by the West Metro Fire Protection District (303-989-4307 ext. 510) before submittal to the city. If the tenant finish includes day care or food service, plans must also be stamped by the Jefferson County Health Department (303-271-5755) first. Plans must be stamped and signed by a Colorado licensed design professional.
Sources & verification
Verified against official sources. Last reviewed 2026-06-30.
- City of Lakewood — Public Works Department, Permit Counter (Building Division) — official building department
- City of Lakewood Building Permit Process for Contractors (rev. 2023) — Commercial Building Permits section
- City of Lakewood eTRAKiT Permit Types info sheet (rev. 2022-01-06) — Commercial Buildings section
- City of Lakewood Building Permit & Inspection Fee Schedule (effective Jan 1, 2021, current published version)
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 Lakewood building department before you submit. PermitBase is an independent reference and is not affiliated with any government agency.
Other permits in Lakewood
Related guides
Get the AI compliance checklist
Upload your project scope, get a jurisdiction-specific checklist of everything you need. Coming soon.
We only use your email to send permit updates. No spam, unsubscribe anytime. Privacy.