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Estes Park building inspections

Verified

Inspection sequence, scheduling, and re-inspection fees for building permits in Estes Park, Colorado.

Verified 2026-07-06 · Source

How to schedule

Inspections are requested through the building department below.

Address
170 MacGregor Avenue, Room 230, PO Box 1200, Estes Park, CO 80517
Phone
(970) 577-3735
Email
building@estes.org
Office hours
Monday-Friday 8:00am-4:00pm, second floor of Town Hall
Website
Official site

Published scheduling rules

  • Schedule inspections through Community Connect by 4:00pm the day before — same-day inspection requests are refused outright, unlike some jurisdictions that allow morning-of scheduling with enough notice. (Residential Building Permit (New Construction))
  • Schedule inspections by 4:00pm the day before through Community Connect; no same-day inspections are available. (Plumbing Permit)
  • Have your complete gas line diagram ready BEFORE calling for inspection — the Town explicitly requires it filled out in full (line type/size/length/pressure/BTUs/gas type) prior to the inspection request. (Mechanical / HVAC Permit)
  • Inspections must be scheduled through Community Connect by 4:00pm the previous business day — no same-day inspections — and the final inspection requires two weeks' advance notice; plan the CO date into your opening timeline, especially for a seasonal opening ahead of the summer RMNP rush. (Commercial Building Permit (New Construction / Additions))
  • Inspections must be scheduled through Community Connect by 4:00pm the PREVIOUS business day. The Town does not accept same-day inspection requests, so build that lead time into your schedule. (General)

Inspection sequence

Applies to: Residential Building Permit (New Construction)

  1. 1

    Underground Inspection

    After trenches/ditches excavated and bedded, piping/tubing/ducts/electrical wiring installed, before backfill

  2. 2

    Frame Inspection

    After roof deck/sheathing, all framing, fireblocking, and bracing are in place and pipes/chimneys/vents/rough electrical/plumbing/heating to be concealed are complete

  3. 3

    Rough-In Inspection

    After roof, framing, fireblocking, firestopping, draftstopping, bracing in place and chimneys/vents/electrical/plumbing/heating/pipes/ducts roughed-in, prior to insulation or wall/ceiling membranes

  4. 4

    Energy Efficiency Inspection

    Footing, foundation, slab and thermal envelope insulation R/U-values, fenestration U-value, duct system R-value, HVAC/water-heating equipment efficiency, air sealing, lighting controls, and building commissioning documentation

  5. 5

    Final Building Inspection / Certificate of Occupancy

    Schedule at least two weeks in advance; CO issued if no code violations found; Temporary CO available for up to 90 days (extendable) if a portion can be safely occupied before full completion

Applies to: Commercial Building Permit (New Construction / Additions)

  1. 1

    Underground Inspection

    After trenches/ditches are excavated and bedded and piping/ducts to be concealed are installed, before backfill (per the adopted IBC inspection sequence; the Division inspects structural, life safety, accessibility, plumbing, mechanical, gas, and energy — electrical inspections are performed by the State Electrical Board)

  2. 2

    Frame / Rough-In Inspection

    After roof deck, framing, fireblocking, and bracing are in place and plumbing/mechanical/gas rough-ins to be concealed are complete, before insulation or wall/ceiling membranes; special inspections from the code-required special-inspection list proceed per the approved plans

  3. 3

    Energy Efficiency Inspection

    Thermal envelope insulation R/U-values, fenestration U-value, duct system R-value, HVAC/water-heating equipment efficiency, air sealing, lighting controls, and commissioning documentation per the 2021 IECC as locally amended

  4. 4

    Final Building Inspection / Certificate of Occupancy

    Notify the Division of Building Safety at least TWO WEEKS in advance of the anticipated final so all involved departments/agencies (including the Estes Valley Fire Protection District, and the health department for restaurants) have time to review; CO fee $100; Temporary CO available at $100/hour (minimum one hour); shell buildings receive a Letter of Completion instead of a CO

Applies to: Commercial Tenant Finish / Remodel Permit

  1. 1

    Rough-In Inspection

    After framing, fireblocking, and bracing changes are in place and plumbing/mechanical/gas rough-ins to be concealed are complete, before insulation or wall/ceiling membranes (electrical rough-in is inspected separately by the State Electrical Board)

  2. 2

    Energy Efficiency Inspection

    Verification of 2021 IECC compliance items affected by the remodel scope

  3. 3

    Final Building Inspection / Certificate of Occupancy

    Notify the Division at least two weeks before the anticipated final; for restaurants, health department approval (letter, e-mail, or fax on the jobsite) is required before the final inspection will be approved; CO $100

Applies to: Residential Addition / Remodel Permit

  1. 1

    Frame Inspection

    Framing/structural modifications complete before cover

  2. 2

    Rough-In Inspection

    Plumbing/mechanical/gas roughed-in before concealment (if applicable to scope)

  3. 3

    Final Building Inspection

    Schedule at least two weeks ahead; Letter of Completion or Certificate of Occupancy issued upon passing

Applies to: Change of Use / Change of Occupancy

  1. 1

    Use Classification / Zoning Compliance Review

    A document-and-record review by Community Development Department staff (and, for conditional uses, ultimately the Town Board) — not a physical site inspection

  2. 2

    Building Division Inspections (if construction accompanies the use change)

    The standard inspection sequence for the applicable Town building-permit type applies; see the commercial-building-permit and commercial-tenant-improvement-permit entries

Applies to: Fire Sprinkler and Fire Alarm System Permit

  1. 1

    Rough-In / Hydro Test Inspection

    Sprinkler system inspections include one hydro test and one rough inspection; fire alarm system inspections include one rough inspection — additional/phased inspections must be arranged with the inspector at the time of permit application or re-inspection fees apply

  2. 2

    Final Inspection

    One final inspection is included per system type under EVFPD's fee schedule

Applies to: Mechanical / HVAC Permit

  1. 1

    Rough Mechanical/Gas Inspection

    Ductwork, gas lines, flues, and equipment installed but not concealed

  2. 2

    Final Mechanical Inspection

    Equipment operational; combustion air and venting verified

Applies to: Plumbing Permit

  1. 1

    Underground/Rough Plumbing Inspection

    Underground and rough-in plumbing installed before concealment

  2. 2

    Final Plumbing Inspection

    Fixtures connected, tested per Municipal Code Section 110.7 (testing requirements added by local amendment), no leaks, proper venting verified

Applies to: Roofing Permit (Re-Roof)

  1. 1

    Underlayment/Ice Barrier Inspection

    Underlayment and ice barrier verified before roof covering installation is completed; Mid Roof Inspection Affidavit may be used per the Town's forms library

  2. 2

    Final Building Inspection

    Completed roof — roof covering class, ice barrier, and Wildfire Hazard Area compliance (if applicable) verified; Height Certificate - Roof affidavit may be required

Applies to: Solar PV Permit

  1. 1

    Structural/Mounting Inspection

    Racking, roof penetrations, and structural modifications verified

  2. 2

    Final Building Inspection

    Contractor must call for final inspection when installation is complete; full-size color approved plans must remain on site through this inspection

Final inspection only: Demolition Permit, Electrical Permit, EV Charger / EVSE Permit (State-Issued — No Town Component), Sign Permit

Re-inspection fees

Plumbing PermitRe-inspection Fee · Table 1-B, Ordinance No. 03-16
$100.00/hour, minimum charge one hour
Mechanical / HVAC PermitRe-inspection Fee · Ordinance No. 03-16, Exhibit A, Table 1-B — Fee Schedule, item 2 (re-inspection fees)
$100.00/hour, minimum charge one hour
Roofing Permit (Re-Roof)Re-inspection Fee · Ordinance No. 03-16, Exhibit A, Table 1-B — Fee Schedule, item 2 (re-inspection fees)
$100.00/hour, minimum charge one hour
Commercial Building Permit (New Construction / Additions)Reinspection / after-hours inspection / additional plan review from plan changes · Table 1-B (Ordinance 03-16); or the total hourly cost to the jurisdiction, whichever is greater
$100.00/hour (minimum charge one hour)
Fire Sprinkler and Fire Alarm System PermitRe-inspection Fee · EVFPD Resolution 2021-01 Prevention Fee Schedule
$100.00 for the first offense; doubles for each subsequent re-inspection

Estes Park building permits

Estes Park building permitsResidential Building Permit (New Construction)Commercial Building Permit (New Construction / Additions)Commercial Tenant Finish / Remodel PermitResidential Addition / Remodel PermitChange of Use / Change of OccupancyFire Sprinkler and Fire Alarm System PermitMechanical / HVAC PermitPlumbing PermitRoofing Permit (Re-Roof)Solar PV PermitDemolition PermitElectrical PermitEV Charger / EVSE Permit (State-Issued — No Town Component)Sign Permit

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