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Residential Addition / Remodel Permit in Durango, Colorado

Required for additions and remodels of existing residential buildings in Durango where the work involves structural changes or means-of-egress modifications, per the City's 'Do I Need a Permit?' table. Finish work and drywalling alone are excluded. Reviewed under the 2024 IRC as locally adopted.

Verified 2026-07-06 · Source

When you need this permit

  • Permit required for: any addition or remodel of residential buildings required by current adopted code, including changing means of egress or structural work; excludes finish work and drywalling
  • Decks that are covered, or more than 30 inches above grade, require a deck permit; platforms/walks 30 inches or less above grade and not over a basement/story below do not require a permit
  • Accessory buildings greater than 120 sq ft (not the principal structure) require a permit; sheds/playhouses 120 sq ft or less do not
  • Retaining walls over 30 inches in height require a permit from the Engineering Division; walls over 6 ft, or any wall in/near public right-of-way, must be designed by a structural engineer
  • All submittals (residential and commercial) require a site plan regardless of scope of work, per the Submittal Requirements page
  • Major Street Impact Fee is often exempted for additions to existing single-family units, provided the majority of the original structure is preserved

Required documents

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Fee schedule

Building Permit Fee (same valuation-based schedule as new construction)City's own worked example: a 600 sq ft addition with plumbing/heating work at ~$167.37/sq ft valuation ($100,422 total) yields a Building Permit Fee of $712.00 and Use Tax of $1,757.39
$24.00 minimum, scaling per the July 2026 Fee Schedule valuation tiers
Use Tax
1.75% of total project valuation
Major Street Impact FeePer the July 2026 Fee Schedule PDF
Often exempt for additions to existing single-family units where the majority of the original structure is preserved

Review timeline

Plan reviewDurango’s published plan-review target
0–30 business days

How long did your Residential Addition / Remodel Permit permit actually take in Durango?

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

Inspection process

  1. 1

    Foundation (if new footings)

    Before concrete pour, for additions with new foundation elements

  2. 2

    Rough Framing

    Framing complete and tied into existing structure before cover

  3. 3

    Rough Plumbing / Mechanical

    Trade rough-ins before concealment; electrical rough-in is inspected separately by the State of Colorado Electrical Board, not the City

  4. 4

    Final Inspection

    All City-permitted work complete per approved plans

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

Tips

  • Finish work and drywalling alone are explicitly excluded from Durango's residential remodel permit requirement — only structural or egress-affecting work triggers it.
  • A site plan is required for every residential submittal in Durango regardless of how small the remodel scope is — don't assume a minor interior project skips this document.
  • If your addition preserves the majority of the original structure, ask about the Major Street Impact Fee exemption before budgeting for it as a certainty.

Frequently asked questions

Durango requires a residential addition / remodel permit for: Permit required for: any addition or remodel of residential buildings required by current adopted code, including changing means of egress or structural work; excludes finish work and drywalling; Decks that are covered, or more than 30 inches above grade, require a deck permit; platforms/walks 30 inches or less above grade and not over a basement/story below do not require a permit; Accessory buildings greater than 120 sq ft (not the principal structure) require a permit; sheds/playhouses 120 sq ft or less do not; Retaining walls over 30 inches in height require a permit from the Engineering Division; walls over 6 ft, or any wall in/near public right-of-way, must be designed by a structural engineer; All submittals (residential and commercial) require a site plan regardless of scope of work, per the Submittal Requirements page; Major Street Impact Fee is often exempted for additions to existing single-family units, provided the majority of the original structure is preserved. If your project isn't listed, confirm with City of Durango Community Development Department, Building Division at 970-375-5000 before starting work.

In Durango, the published Building Permit Fee (same valuation-based schedule as new construction) is: $24.00 minimum, scaling per the July 2026 Fee Schedule valuation tiers. Additional published fees: Use Tax — 1.75% of total project valuation; Major Street Impact Fee — Often exempt for additions to existing single-family units where the majority of the original structure is preserved. These are the jurisdiction's own published figures — see the fee schedule table and source citations on this page.

Durango's published plan-review target for a residential addition / remodel permit is 0–30 business days.

You'll need: Building Permit Application (OpenGov portal); Site Plan; Construction Drawings. See the required-documents checklist on this page for details on each.

Durango requires 4 inspection(s) for a residential addition / remodel permit, in order: Foundation (if new footings), Rough Framing, Rough Plumbing / Mechanical, Final Inspection. Schedule each through City of Durango Community Development Department, Building Division (970-375-5000).

Apply through City of Durango Community Development Department, Building Division at 949 E 2nd Avenue, Durango, CO 81301. Phone: 970-375-5000, email: Building@DurangoCo.Gov. Office hours: Not published on the Building Division pages as of this review; main City Hall line 970-375-5000. General building-permit questions: Building@DurangoCo.Gov. Fee-schedule calculation questions: 970-375-4850.. Official information: https://www.durangoco.gov/311/Applying-for-a-Building-Permit.

Durango, Colorado has adopted: 2024 International Building Code (IBC) — City of Durango Building Codes page, effective for new projects not already in a planning process prior to 01/01/2026; 2024 International Residential Code (IRC); 2024 International Fire Code (IFC); 2024 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC); 2024 International Plumbing Code (IPC); 2024 International Mechanical Code (IMC); 2024 International Fuel Gas Code (IFGC); 2023 National Electrical Code (NEC); Colorado Model Electric Ready and Solar Ready Code (CMERSRC) — state-mandated, per City of Durango Building Codes page and Submittal Requirements page; Colorado Wildfire Resiliency Code (WRC) — state-mandated; City of Durango began enforcement April 1, 2026 per the Building Codes page and Do I Need a Permit? page; Transition provision: projects with full vertical construction drawings designed to the 2018 I-Codes and submitted to the Planning Division prior to January 1, 2026 may remain compliant with that older code cycle; all other new submittals must follow the 2024 I-Codes, 2023 NEC, CMERSRC, and Wildfire Resiliency Code; Code books available for review at Community Development and the City Clerk's Office; full municipal code at library.municode.com/co/durango. Local amendments apply — see the Durango overview page for the full list.

No. The City's 'Do I Need a Permit?' page excludes finish work and drywalling from the residential remodel permit requirement. A permit is required only when the remodel involves structural work or changes to the means of egress.

Sources & verification

Verified against official sources. Last reviewed 2026-07-06.

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

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