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Residential Building Permit (New Construction) — Wheat Ridge, Colorado · Requirements sheet
Verified 2026-07-05 · Source: https://www.ci.wheatridge.co.us/282/Building-Permits
PermitBase is an independent reference and is not affiliated with any government agency. Requirements change and vary by project — confirm current details with the building department before you submit.
Residential Building Permit (New Construction) in Wheat Ridge, Colorado
Required for new single-family homes and other new residential construction within Wheat Ridge city limits. Reviewed under the 2024 IRC/IBC (as locally amended per Chapter 5 of the Municipal Code) during the transition; 2018 codes remain electable through December 31, 2025. Issued by the City of Wheat Ridge Building Division.
Verified 2026-07-05 · Source
When you need this permit
- Plans must comply with the applicable code edition — 2018 or 2024 I-Codes electable through December 31, 2025; 2024 I-Codes mandatory for all applications submitted on/after January 1, 2026
- Submitted and managed electronically through the City's OpenGov permit portal (wheatridgeco.portal.opengov.com)
- Permit fee calculated from the Building Valuation Data Chart applied to the City's Building Permit Fee Schedule; Plan Review Fee (65% of permit fee) due at application; Use Tax (3.5% of 60% of project valuation) collected with the permit
- All contractors must hold a current City of Wheat Ridge contractor license (or valid reciprocal license from Aurora, Boulder, Colorado Springs, Denver, Fort Collins, Pikes Peak Regional Building Department, or Park County) in addition to any required Colorado state trade license Contractor
- Permit expires 365 days after issuance regardless of activity
Required documents
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Fee schedule
Building Permit Fee — valuation $1.00 to $500.00City of Wheat Ridge Permit Valuation & Fees page, 2026 Budget fee table
$26.50
Building Permit Fee — valuation $2,001 to $25,000
$77.50 for the first $2,000.00 plus $15.85 for each additional $1,000.00 or fraction thereof
Building Permit Fee — valuation $100,001 to $500,000
$1,132.05 for the first $100,000.00 plus $6.45 for each additional $1,000.00 or fraction thereof
Building Permit Fee — valuation over $1,000,000
$6,462.05 for the first $1,000,000.00 plus $4.10 for each additional $1,000.00 or fraction thereof
Plan Review FeeDue at time of application, per the City's Permit Valuation & Fees page
65% of the Permit Fee
Use TaxCollected with the building permit
3.5% of 60% of total project valuation
Review timeline
Plan reviewWheat Ridge’s published plan-review target
10–20 business days
Inspection process
- 1
Footing/Foundation
Before concrete pour
- 2
Framing
Structural framing complete before cover
- 3
Rough Electrical/Plumbing/Mechanical
Trade rough-ins before concealment
- 4
Final Inspection
All work complete per approved plans and applicable code
See the full Wheat Ridge inspection guide — scheduling & re-inspection fees →
Tips
- Wheat Ridge does not offer expedited plan review at any price — plans are worked strictly in the order received, so build schedule buffer into any construction timeline.
- Confirm which code edition (2018 vs. 2024 I-Codes) applies to your project if you are applying before January 1, 2026 — the transition window allows either, and your engineer/architect needs to know which one you're targeting.
- Budget for the City's Use Tax (3.5% of 60% of valuation) on top of the base permit and plan review fees — it is collected at issuance, not itemized separately on the fee table.
Frequently asked questions
Wheat Ridge requires a residential building permit (new construction) for: Plans must comply with the applicable code edition — 2018 or 2024 I-Codes electable through December 31, 2025; 2024 I-Codes mandatory for all applications submitted on/after January 1, 2026; Submitted and managed electronically through the City's OpenGov permit portal (wheatridgeco.portal.opengov.com); Permit fee calculated from the Building Valuation Data Chart applied to the City's Building Permit Fee Schedule; Plan Review Fee (65% of permit fee) due at application; Use Tax (3.5% of 60% of project valuation) collected with the permit; All contractors must hold a current City of Wheat Ridge contractor license (or valid reciprocal license from Aurora, Boulder, Colorado Springs, Denver, Fort Collins, Pikes Peak Regional Building Department, or Park County) in addition to any required Colorado state trade license; Permit expires 365 days after issuance regardless of activity. If your project isn't listed, confirm with City of Wheat Ridge Building Division (Community Development Department) at 303-235-2855 (Option 1: Building Permits & Contractor Licensing; Option 2: Inspections; Option 4: Plan Review); General City phone 303-234-5900 before starting work.
In Wheat Ridge, the published Building Permit Fee — valuation $1.00 to $500.00 is: $26.50. Additional published fees: Building Permit Fee — valuation $2,001 to $25,000 — $77.50 for the first $2,000.00 plus $15.85 for each additional $1,000.00 or fraction thereof; Building Permit Fee — valuation $100,001 to $500,000 — $1,132.05 for the first $100,000.00 plus $6.45 for each additional $1,000.00 or fraction thereof; Building Permit Fee — valuation over $1,000,000 — $6,462.05 for the first $1,000,000.00 plus $4.10 for each additional $1,000.00 or fraction thereof; Plan Review Fee — 65% of the Permit Fee; Use Tax — 3.5% of 60% of total project valuation. These are the jurisdiction's own published figures — see the fee schedule table and source citations on this page.
The City's own Building Permits page states review can range from 2 to 6 weeks depending on permit type and scope, with residential typically taking up to four weeks. Plans are reviewed in the order received, and expedited review is not offered.
You'll need: Building Permit Application (OpenGov Portal); Construction Drawings; Site Plan. See the required-documents checklist on this page for details on each.
Wheat Ridge requires 4 inspection(s) for a residential building permit (new construction), in order: Footing/Foundation, Framing, Rough Electrical/Plumbing/Mechanical, Final Inspection. Schedule each through City of Wheat Ridge Building Division (Community Development Department) (303-235-2855 (Option 1: Building Permits & Contractor Licensing; Option 2: Inspections; Option 4: Plan Review); General City phone 303-234-5900).
Apply through City of Wheat Ridge Building Division (Community Development Department) at 7500 W. 29th Ave., 2nd Floor, Wheat Ridge, CO 80033. Phone: 303-235-2855 (Option 1: Building Permits & Contractor Licensing; Option 2: Inspections; Option 4: Plan Review); General City phone 303-234-5900, email: buildingpermits@ci.wheatridge.co.us (Permits); planreview@ci.wheatridge.co.us (Plan Review); buildinginspections@ci.wheatridge.co.us (Inspections); contractorlicensing@ci.wheatridge.co.us (Contractor Licensing). Office hours: Walk-in hours Monday-Friday, 9:00 a.m.-3:30 p.m.; service also available by appointment or phone/email starting at 7:30 a.m. Inspection request windows: AM inspections typically 8 a.m.-noon, PM typically noon-3 p.m., with a 2-hour window given on inspection day.. Official information: https://www.ci.wheatridge.co.us/278/Building-Division.
Wheat Ridge, Colorado has adopted: As of January 1, 2026: 2024 International Building Code (IBC), excluding Chapter 1 — City of Wheat Ridge Adopted Codes & Amendments page; 2024 International Residential Code (IRC), excluding Chapter 1, including local Appendices BB, BE, BF, BO, CA, CB, CC, CE, CF, CH; 2024 International Fuel Gas Code (IFGC), excluding Chapter 1, retaining Section 102; 2024 International Mechanical Code (IMC), excluding Chapter 1, retaining Section 102; 2024 International Plumbing Code (IPC), excluding Chapters 1 and 14, retaining Section 102; 2024 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC), excluding Chapter 1, retaining specified sections; 2024 International Existing Building Code (IEBC), excluding Chapter 1; 2024 International Swimming Pool and Spa Code (ISPSC), excluding Chapter 1, retaining Sections 102 and 111; 2024 International Private Sewage Disposal Code (IPSDC), excluding Chapter 1; International Property Maintenance Code (IPMC), excluding Chapter 1, retaining Section 102; 2024 International Fire Code (IFC), excluding Chapter 1, retaining Section 105, adopting Appendices B, C, D, F, H, O; National Electrical Code — latest edition adopted by the Colorado State Electrical Board (2023 NEC as of this review); ICC/ANSI A117.1 — Accessible and Usable Buildings and Facilities; Colorado Model Electric Ready and Solar Ready Code; Colorado Model Low Energy and Carbon Code, excluding Chapter 1, retaining specified sections; Adopted by Ordinance 1883; local amendments consolidated in Chapter 5 of the Wheat Ridge Municipal Code, which reorganizes permit/enforcement/appeals administrative provisions into a single article. Source: City of Wheat Ridge Adopted Codes & Amendments page, https://www.ci.wheatridge.co.us/280/Adopted-Codes-Amendments; TRANSITION PERIOD: through December 31, 2025, permit applicants may elect to use either the prior 2018 International Codes (adopted by City Council January 13, 2020, effective July 1, 2020) or the new 2024 codes; all new permit applications submitted on or after January 1, 2026 must comply with the 2024 I-Codes. Source: Adopted Codes & Amendments page; Forward-looking provision: beginning January 1, 2027, residential fire sprinklers will be required for new townhomes; single-unit detached homes and duplexes remain exempt. Source: Adopted Codes & Amendments page. Local amendments apply — see the Wheat Ridge overview page for the full list.
The City of Wheat Ridge Building Division, part of the Community Development Department, issues its own building, electrical, mechanical, and plumbing permits for all work within city limits. It is staffed in-house (Chief Building Official Steven Peck and Project Manager Renee Meriaux are named on the City's own site) — Wheat Ridge is not served by Jefferson County's unincorporated permitting program or by a third-party contracted building department.
Sources & verification
Verified against official sources. Last reviewed 2026-07-05.
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 Wheat Ridge building department before you submit. PermitBase is an independent reference and is not affiliated with any government agency.
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