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Deck / Covered Patio Permit in Fort Collins, Colorado

Required for decks, stairs, ramps, landings, and patio/porch covers in Fort Collins (except small decks under 200 sq ft / 30 in. high, which are permit-exempt). Flat-fee Fast-Track/Exterior permit; pre-built structures and commercial projects require a Colorado-licensed structural engineer's stamp.

Verified 2026-07-01 · Source

When you need this permit

  • Deck/Stairs/Ramp/Landing: site plan, deck plans; commercial structural work must be stamped by a Colorado-registered structural engineer; City-approved specialty products (diamond piers, PWT engineered deck products) usable without a full engineered design if complete product specs are submitted
  • Patio/Porch Cover: commercial projects and pre-built structures must be designed and stamped by a Colorado-licensed structural engineer
  • Small decks are permit-EXEMPT if: area ≤200 sq ft, height ≤30 in. above grade, not attached to the dwelling, and not serving a required exit door
  • Construction Waste and Recycling Management Declaration of Responsibility + Report required for decks
  • Homeowner Affidavit required if homeowner is doing the work Owner-builder

Required documents

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Fee schedule

Deck / Stairs / Ramp / Landing (flat total)
City of Fort Collins Building Permits page, "Apply for a Building Permit" section (#section-3) — Deck / Stairs / Ramp / Landing accordion, "Fees and Taxes": "Application Fee: $110 total; Show full citationCity of Fort Collins Building Permits page, "Apply for a Building Permit" section (#section-3) — Deck / Stairs / Ramp / Landing accordion, "Fees and Taxes": "Application Fee: $110 total; Plan Check Fee: $38.50 (due when you apply); Building Permit Fee: $71.50 (due when your permit is issued)". Expand that accordion in an ordinary web browser to see the figures; they are rendered client-side and do not appear in the page source.
$110.00 total ($38.50 Plan Check due at application + $71.50 Building Permit Fee due at issuance)
Patio / Porch Cover (flat total)
City of Fort Collins Building Permits page, "Apply for a Building Permit" section (#section-3) — expand the Patio / Porch Cover accordion, "Fees and Taxes": "Application Fee: $110 total; Show full citationCity of Fort Collins Building Permits page, "Apply for a Building Permit" section (#section-3) — expand the Patio / Porch Cover accordion, "Fees and Taxes": "Application Fee: $110 total; Plan Check Fee: $38.50 (due when you apply); Building Permit Fee: $71.50 (due when your permit is issued)"
$110.00 total ($38.50 Plan Check due at application + $71.50 Building Permit Fee due at issuance)
Sales TaxCity of Fort Collins Sales Tax page
Calculated based on total project valuation (materials and labor)

Review timeline

Plan reviewTypical estimate — confirm current times with the Fort Collins building department
~0–0 business days

How long did your Deck / Covered Patio Permit permit actually take in Fort Collins?

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

Inspection process

  1. 1

    Setback and Footing

    Footing formwork inspected before concrete pour, per the 30-inch Fort Collins frost depth

  2. 2

    Rough Frame

    Deck framing, ledger attachment, and structural connections before decking/covering installed

  3. 3

    Final Building

    Completed deck or patio cover inspected against approved plans

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

Tips

  • Decks under 200 sq ft, 30 in. or less above grade, unattached to the dwelling, and not serving a required exit door are entirely permit-exempt in Fort Collins.
  • Both deck and patio-cover permits carry the identical $110 flat total fee structure ($38.50 plan check + $71.50 building permit fee).
  • Pre-built or manufactured deck/patio structures (not custom-designed) still require a Colorado-licensed structural engineer's stamp, same as commercial projects.

Frequently asked questions

Only if the deck exceeds 200 sq ft, is more than 30 inches above grade, is attached to the dwelling, or serves a required exit door. Otherwise it's permit-exempt. Permitted decks cost a flat $110 total ($38.50 plan check + $71.50 building permit fee).

In Fort Collins, the published Deck / Stairs / Ramp / Landing (flat total) is: $110.00 total ($38.50 Plan Check due at application + $71.50 Building Permit Fee due at issuance). Additional published fees: Patio / Porch Cover (flat total) — $110.00 total ($38.50 Plan Check due at application + $71.50 Building Permit Fee due at issuance); Sales Tax — Calculated based on total project valuation (materials and labor). These are the jurisdiction's own published figures — see the fee schedule table and source citations on this page.

Plan review for a deck / covered patio permit in Fort Collins typically runs 0–0 business days. This is an estimate, not a published figure — confirm current review times with City of Fort Collins — Building Services at 970-416-2740.

You'll need: Building Permit Application (PDF, 619KB); Residential Deck Guide (PDF, 1MB). Depending on your project, Fort Collins may also ask for: Residential Patio Cover Guide (PDF, 1MB); Homeowner Affidavit (PDF, 469KB); Owner Authorization Form (PDF, 374KB). See the required-documents checklist on this page for details on each.

Fort Collins requires 3 inspection(s) for a deck / covered patio permit, in order: Setback and Footing, Rough Frame, Final Building. Schedule each through City of Fort Collins — Building Services (970-416-2740).

Apply through City of Fort Collins — Building Services at 281 N. College Ave., Fort Collins, CO 80524. Phone: 970-416-2740, email: BuildingServices@fortcollins.gov. Office hours: Monday–Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.. Official information: https://www.fortcollins.gov/Business/Building-and-Development/Building-Services.

Fort Collins, Colorado has adopted: 2024 International Building Code (IBC) with 2024 Fort Collins IBC Amendments — current as of April 1, 2026 (permits submitted on/after April 1, 2026 use these; 2021 IBC available for reference until Oct. 1, 2026); 2024 International Residential Code (IRC) with 2024 Fort Collins IRC Amendments — current as of April 1, 2026; 2024 International Energy Code (IECC) with 2024 Fort Collins IECC Amendments — current as of April 1, 2026; Fort Collins amendments add all-electric building provisions, solar-ready zone requirements, heat-pump and demand-response requirements (see localAmendments); 2024 International Mechanical Code (IMC) with 2024 Fort Collins IMC Amendments; 2024 International Fuel and Gas Code (IFGC) with 2024 Fort Collins IFGC Amendments; 2024 International Plumbing Code (IPC) with 2024 Fort Collins IPC Amendments (Fort Collins uses the IPC, not the UPC); 2023 National Electrical Code (NEC), effective Aug. 1, 2023 — adopted directly, matching the State of Colorado's adopted electrical code; 2024 International Existing Building Code (IEBC) with 2024 Fort Collins IEBC Amendments; 2024 International Property Maintenance Code (IPMC) with 2024 Fort Collins IPMC Amendments; 2024 International Swimming Pool and Spa Code (ISPSC) with 2024 Fort Collins ISPSC Amendments; 2025 Colorado Wildfire Resiliency Code (adopted statewide, current as of April 1, 2026); 2017 ICC A117.1 — Accessibility, plus Colorado Accessibility State Law (CRS 9-5); Poudre Fire Authority Fire Code — see PFA's Fire Code webpage for current adopted fire code (separate department, not administered by Building Services). Local amendments apply — see the Fort Collins overview page for the full list.

Sources & verification

Verified against official sources. Last reviewed 2026-07-01.

Fee schedules

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

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