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Residential Building Permit (New Construction) in Fort Collins, Colorado

Required for new single-family homes, townhomes, and duplex/ADU new construction in Fort Collins. Reviewed against the 2024 IRC with 2024 Fort Collins Amendments and the 2024 IECC with Fort Collins energy/green amendments. Fee is calculated from the Fee Schedules occupancy-based rate table (R-3 = $0.65/sq ft), split 35% Plan Check / 65% Building Permit.

Verified 2026-06-30 · Source

When you need this permit

  • Submit one permit per detached structure
  • Plans must comply with the 2024 IRC with Fort Collins Amendments and 2024 IECC with Fort Collins Amendments (current as of April 1, 2026)
  • Residential Energy Code Compliance Form required
  • Residential Mechanical Systems Design Submittal (Manual J/D/S load calcs) required for new mechanical systems
  • Grading Plan Requirements form required
  • Construction Waste and Recycling Management Declaration of Responsibility + Construction Waste Management Report required
  • Homeowner Affidavit required if a homeowner is doing the work (self-permitting allowed for owner's own single-family residence, per Contractor Licensing exemptions) Owner-builder
  • New Construction Building Permit Fee Form required
  • Fee calculated from occupancy category (R-3 Single Family Detached/Duplex = $0.65/sq ft) via the Fee Schedules page: 35% Plan Check Fee due at application, 65% Building Permit Fee due at issuance
  • Transportation Capital Expansion Fees (TCEF) apply for new buildings that create additional traffic

Required documents

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Fee schedule

Building Permit Fee — R-3 (Single Family Detached/Duplex)City of Fort Collins Fee Schedules page — Applicable Fee Rates Per Square Foot table; example given: 3,500 sq ft x $0.65 = $2,275 total
$0.65 per square foot of project area
Plan Check FeeCity of Fort Collins Fee Schedules page — Fees for New Construction Projects
35% of total fee, due at application
Building Permit Fee (remainder)City of Fort Collins Fee Schedules page
65% of total fee, due at permit issuance
Sales TaxCity of Fort Collins Sales Tax page — current rates apply; billed via project cost reports at close-out
Calculated based on total project valuation (materials and labor)
Transportation Capital Expansion Fee (TCEF)City of Fort Collins Fee Schedules page; exact amount not itemized on the general fee page — confirm at application
Varies — applies to new buildings/major changes that create additional traffic

Review timeline

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

How long did your Residential Building Permit (New Construction) 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

    Inspection of footing formwork prior to concrete being poured

  2. 2

    Foundation

    Inspection of foundation formwork prior to concrete being poured

  3. 3

    Rough Frame / Rough Plumbing / Rough Electric / Rough Mechanical

    Framing, plumbing, electric, and mechanical rough-ins — done before or concurrently, before interior insulation installed

  4. 4

    Insulation

    After all rough inspections approved, verifies air sealing and R-values match approved energy documents, before drywall

  5. 5

    Final Building

    After all work shown on approved plans is complete, including Final Plumbing, Final Electric, and Final Mechanical

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

Tips

  • New building codes (2024 IRC, IBC, IECC and Fort Collins Amendments) took effect April 1, 2026 — the prior 2021-cycle codes remain available for reference only until Oct. 1, 2026.
  • Fort Collins uses an occupancy-based per-square-foot fee (not a valuation-based sliding table like Denver or Reno) — R-3 (single-family detached/duplex) is $0.65/sq ft.
  • Homeowners may self-permit their own single-family residence under Contractor Licensing exemptions, subject to conditions — contact the city to confirm eligibility.
  • Fort Collins' frost depth is 30 inches and Seismic Design Category is B — both notably different from nearby Reno, NV (24 in. frost / SDC D2).

Frequently asked questions

Fort Collins requires a residential building permit (new construction) for: Submit one permit per detached structure; Plans must comply with the 2024 IRC with Fort Collins Amendments and 2024 IECC with Fort Collins Amendments (current as of April 1, 2026); Residential Energy Code Compliance Form required; Residential Mechanical Systems Design Submittal (Manual J/D/S load calcs) required for new mechanical systems; Grading Plan Requirements form required; Construction Waste and Recycling Management Declaration of Responsibility + Construction Waste Management Report required; Homeowner Affidavit required if a homeowner is doing the work (self-permitting allowed for owner's own single-family residence, per Contractor Licensing exemptions); New Construction Building Permit Fee Form required; Fee calculated from occupancy category (R-3 Single Family Detached/Duplex = $0.65/sq ft) via the Fee Schedules page: 35% Plan Check Fee due at application, 65% Building Permit Fee due at issuance; Transportation Capital Expansion Fees (TCEF) apply for new buildings that create additional traffic. If your project isn't listed, confirm with City of Fort Collins — Building Services at 970-416-2740 before starting work.

Fort Collins calculates new-construction fees by multiplying total project square footage by an occupancy-category rate (e.g., $0.65/sq ft for R-3 single-family/duplex). The total is split 35% Plan Check Fee (due at application) and 65% Building Permit Fee (due at issuance).

Plan review for a residential building permit (new construction) 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: Residential Building Permit Application (PDF, 558KB); New Construction Building Permit Fee Form; Residential Energy Code Compliance Form; Residential Mechanical Systems Design Submittal; Grading Plan Requirements; Construction Waste and Recycling Management Declaration of Responsibility + Report. See the required-documents checklist on this page for details on each.

Fort Collins requires 5 inspection(s) for a residential building permit (new construction), in order: Setback and Footing, Foundation, Rough Frame / Rough Plumbing / Rough Electric / Rough Mechanical, Insulation, 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.

As of April 1, 2026, Fort Collins requires the 2024 International Building Code and International Residential Code with Fort Collins Amendments, plus the 2024 IECC with Fort Collins energy amendments. The prior 2021-cycle codes remain available for reference until Oct. 1, 2026.

Sources & verification

Verified against official sources. Last reviewed 2026-06-30.

Fee schedules

Codes & ordinances

Department & other records

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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