Sterling building permits
VerifiedDepartment contacts, adopted codes, permit types, fees, and gotchas for Sterling, Colorado.
Last verified 2026-07-06 · Source · Embed this page’s badge · Version history
Building department
- Address
- 421 N. 4th Street, P.O. Box 4000, Sterling, CO 80751
- Phone
- (970) 522-9700, ext. 1109 (Marianne, permits and licenses); main line (970) 522-9700; fax (970) 521-0632
- harbart@sterlingcolo.com (permits and licenses); pubworks@sterlingcolo.com (general Public Works)
- Office hours
- Not published on the Permits and Licenses page as of the last verification; inspection requests are scheduled by phone at (970) 522-9700, with a stated same-day/next-day cutoff (see reviewTimelineNote on inspections below).
- Website
- Official site
Inspection guide
See how inspections work in Sterling — sequence, scheduling & re-inspection fees.
Codes adopted
Colorado has no statewide-mandated building code edition. Under the Colorado Constitution's home-rule provisions (art. XX, home rule for municipalities since 1902; home rule for counties since 1970), building codes and zoning are an enumerated home-rule charter power, so cities and counties adopt and amend their own construction codes independently — predominantly the I-Codes, with editions and local amendments varying by jurisdiction. The one statewide floor is for energy: HB22-1362 (2022) created the Energy Code Board (jointly appointed by the Colorado Energy Office and the Department of Local Affairs) and requires that, on or after July 1, 2023 and before July 1, 2026, any municipality or county that adopts or updates a building code must adopt and enforce an energy code achieving performance equivalent to or better than the 2021 IECC together with the board's Model Electric Ready and Solar Ready Code (which includes electric-ready, EV-ready, and solar-ready provisions); from July 1, 2026 onward the floor shifts to the board's Model Low Energy and Carbon Code or an equivalent. Electrical and plumbing permitting defaults to the Colorado State Electrical Board and State Plumbing Board (within DORA's Division of Professions and Occupations) — the state issues permits and inspects statewide except in counties/jurisdictions that operate their own certified Electrical or Plumbing Inspection Program, in which case the local program has authority instead. Always confirm the currently adopted code edition, local amendments, and inspection authority (state board vs. local program) with the specific jurisdiction before submitting plans.
- 2018 International Building Code (IBC), with Appendices A, E, and I — City of Sterling Municipal Code § 5-31, adopted by Ord. No. 5-2023 (eff. 6/13/23); a copy is kept at the City Clerk's office for public inspection
- 2018 International Residential Code (IRC), with Appendices F and H — Municipal Code § 5-56, adopted by Ord. No. 7-2023 (eff. 6/13/23); IRC Section R313 (Automatic Fire Sprinkler Systems) is expressly omitted in its entirety
- 2018 International Mechanical Code (IMC) — Municipal Code § 5-43, adopted by Ord. No. 6-2023 (eff. 6/13/23)
- 2018 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) — Municipal Code § 5-106, adopted by Ord. No. 8-2023 (eff. 6/13/23)
- 2018 International Fuel Gas Code (IFGC) — Municipal Code § 5-140, adopted by Ord. No. 9-2023 (eff. 6/13/23)
- 2018 International Existing Building Code (IEBC), with Appendices B and C, adopted in its entirety without amendment per state law — Municipal Code § 5-150, adopted by Ord. No. 10-2023 (eff. 6/13/23)
- Uniform Code for the Abatement of Dangerous Buildings, 1994 Edition (ICBO) — Municipal Code § 5-16, as amended by Ord. Nos. 12-1992, 26-1995, and 2-2009
- Any references to plumbing or electrical requirements (except required-fixture references) are explicitly EXCEPTED from both the IBC and IRC as locally adopted — Municipal Code § 5-31(b) and § 5-56(b) — because plumbing and electrical permitting/inspection in Sterling is handled by the State of Colorado, not the City
- Manufactured/mobile home installations follow C.R.S. § 24-32-3101 et seq. rather than a City-adopted installation code — Municipal Code § 5-121
Permit types & fees
Residential Building Permit (New Construction)
Required to erect a new one- or two-family dwelling within Sterling city limits. Reviewed under the 2018 IRC (with Appendices F and H) as locally adopted, plus the 2018 IECC. Issued by the City of Sterling Public Works Department, Code Enforcement Division. Electrical and plumbing work on the project is permitted separately through the State of Colorado, not the City.
From$23.50Residential Addition / Remodel Permit
Required to enlarge, alter, or repair an existing one- or two-family dwelling in Sterling, including additions, alterations, and change-of-use projects. Uses the same Building Permit Application and valuation-based fee schedule as new construction.
From$23.50valuation-basedCommercial Building Permit (New Construction / Major Alteration)
Sterling has NO separately named 'commercial building permit' application, checklist, or fee schedule distinct from the general City of Sterling Building Permit described elsewhere in this record. The Building Permit Application is a single generic form for all classes of work, and the Permits and Licenses page states only that 'Building permits are required to erect, enlarge, alter or repair a structure in the City of Sterling', with no residential/commercial split. What genuinely is distinct for commercial work: (1) the project is reviewed under the 2018 International Building Code (IBC) — Municipal Code § 5-31 — rather than the 2018 IRC used for one- and two-family dwellings; (2) the application's 'Official Use Only' section requires staff to record an IBC Occupancy Group and Construction Type, and tracks Fire Department and Health Department approvals alongside Zoning, Engineering, Soil Report, and Flood Plain approvals, fields not exercised for a typical single-family submission; (3) the same form's inspection log ends with a Certificate of Occupancy ('C of O') line, after Footing, Stem Wall, Under Floor, Framing, Wallboard, Masonry, and Final; and (4) establishing a new use in a commercial structure requires a SEPARATE Zoning Compliance Permit ($30.00 flat fee). This entry describes the commercial pathway through that shared mechanism rather than a distinct product.
From$23.50valuation-basedTenant Improvement / Change-of-Use Permit (Existing Commercial Structures)
Sterling has no permit product separately named 'Tenant Improvement Permit.' Interior alteration work in an existing commercial building is filed as an ALTERATION on the same City of Sterling Building Permit Application documented elsewhere in this record, reviewed under the 2018 International Existing Building Code (IEBC, Municipal Code § 5-150, adopted in its entirety without amendment per state law) alongside the 2018 IBC. The genuinely distinct, well-documented trigger for TI-type work is the City's Zoning Compliance Permit: per the Permits and Licenses page, a Zoning Compliance Permit is 'required for the establishment of a new conforming use in an existing commercial structure,' and the Zoning Compliance Permit Application form itself states 'No change in the use of this property shall be made without the issuance of a new zoning compliance permit for that new use' — this is the mechanism that actually captures a new tenant/new use moving into existing commercial space in Sterling, distinct from (and required in addition to) any Building Permit needed for the physical alteration work itself.
From$23.50valuation-basedElectrical Permit
Electrical permits for work within Sterling city limits are NOT issued by the City of Sterling. Per the City's own Permits and Licenses page, electrical permits are filed directly through the State of Colorado (DORA, Division of Professions and Occupations) and inspected by state electrical inspectors. The City makes the state application forms available at the Public Works Department and requires proof of current state electrical licensure before it will issue its own contractor's license to an electrical contractor.
See fee schedulePlumbing Permit
Plumbing permits for work within Sterling city limits are NOT issued by the City of Sterling. Per the City's own Permits and Licenses page, plumbing permits are filed directly through the State of Colorado (DORA, Division of Professions and Occupations) and inspected by state plumbing inspectors. The City makes the state application forms available at the Public Works Department and requires proof of current state plumbing licensure before it will issue its own contractor's license to a plumbing contractor.
See fee scheduleMechanical / HVAC Permit
Required for installation, alteration, or repair of heating, cooling, and ventilation systems in Sterling, using a dedicated Mechanical Permit Application. Governed by the 2018 International Mechanical Code (IMC) and 2018 International Fuel Gas Code (IFGC) as locally adopted, and billed under the same valuation-based fee table as building permits.
From$23.50valuation-basedRoofing Permit (Re-Roof)
Required for reroofing work on structures in Sterling, using a dedicated Re-Roof Permit Application. Governed by the 2018 IRC/IBC as locally adopted, with detailed local rules requiring complete tearoff (no overlays), ice barrier, flashing, ventilation, and a mandatory pre-mid-roof inspection in addition to the final inspection.
From$23.50valuation-basedDemolition Permit
Required for demolition of any structure in Sterling, using a dedicated Demolition Permit Application. A flat $30.00 fee applies. Applicants must acknowledge receipt and review of the State of Colorado asbestos regulations before the permit is issued.
$30.00Residential/Commercial Solar Photovoltaic (PV) Permit
Required for installation of a rooftop or ground-mounted solar photovoltaic system within Sterling city limits. Sterling's own Permits and Licenses page and 2025 fee resolution have no dedicated solar line item — the structural/racking scope is billed under the same valuation-based Building Permit fee table (Section III, Public Works, Schedule of Charges and Fees, Resolution No. 11-1-24) as other building work, and the electrical interconnection scope is a State of Colorado (DORA) electrical permit, the same as all other electrical work in Sterling. Colorado's statewide C.R.S. § 24-48.5-113 independently caps whatever fee is actually assessed for a solar energy device installation at $500 for a residential permit or $1,000 for a nonresidential/commercial permit (systems under 2 megawatts), overriding Sterling's general valuation-based fee table for this specific device type.
From$500.00Fence Permit
Required prior to installation or repair of any fence, free-standing wall, or retaining wall, or hedge, in Sterling, using a dedicated Fence Permit Application. A flat $30.00 fee applies.
$30.00EV Charger / EVSE Permit
Sterling has no distinct electric-vehicle-charging-station permit type or fee line. As with all other electrical work in the city, an EV charger (EVSE) circuit is filed directly through the State of Colorado (DORA, Division of Professions and Occupations) and inspected by state electrical inspectors, not the City of Sterling, per the same jurisdictional split documented in the Electrical Permit entry (Sterling Municipal Code Section 5-31(b)/Section 5-56(b) except plumbing/electrical from the City's adopted IBC/IRC). The contractor performing the work must also hold a City of Sterling Class IV Subcontractor's License in addition to the state permit. Sterling's population (approximately 13,700, 2020 Census) exceeds the 10,000-resident municipal threshold in Colorado HB24-1173 (effective 8/7/2024), making the City a 'covered municipal permitting agency' required to have adopted, by 12/31/2025, either the state's model EV-charger permit code, its own objective EV-charger standards, or an affirmation of its existing review process; the City has not publicly confirmed which path it selected (nothing appears in the Sterling Municipal Code library or the City ordinance list). The State's own Electrical Permit Application/Fee Schedule (DORA State Electrical Board, effective 5/15/2019, with no update through the Board's 1/28/2026 rule revisions) bills a standalone EV charger circuit under Table B ('Commercial and other fees') at a $90.00 base fee for job valuation of $2,000 or less, plus $8.00 per additional $1,000 of valuation (rounded up), payable to the State of Colorado.
From$90.00valuation-basedSign Permit
City of Sterling Zoning Ordinance (Appendix A to the Code of Ordinances), Chapter X (Sign Regulations), Sections 1001-1009, regulates all exterior signs within the City to protect property values, area character, and public health/safety/welfare. Sec. 1003 requires a permit and payment of fees for all signs unless otherwise provided by the chapter (no permit is required for sign maintenance or a copy change on painted/printed/changeable-copy signs). Applications are made to the Department of Public Works per Sec. 1004. Sign design/placement/size limits vary by zoning district and are set out in Table 10.1 of the chapter.
From$1valuation-basedFire Sprinkler / Fire Alarm System Permit
The Sterling Fire Department is the City's own department (Sterling Municipal Code Sec. 7-1: 'a single department of fire... called the Sterling Fire Department'), not a separate special district. Municipal Code Chapter 7, Article II adopts the 2018 International Fire Code (IFC), with the Fire Chief serving as code official (Sec. 7-8). Per Sec. 7-9, 'Operational permits shall not be required as described in the International Fire Code; however, construction permits shall be required' — fire sprinkler and fire alarm system installations are IFC construction-permit work administered by the Fire Chief.
See fee scheduleZoning Compliance Permit (Change of Use)
City of Sterling Zoning Ordinance (Appendix A), Chapter IV (Use Regulations), Sec. 406 ('Changes in use') requires anyone seeking a change in use in any zoning district to first present the proposed change to the Director of Public Works or designee for a determination of which procedure applies, and requires that person to be issued a Zoning Compliance Permit before initiating the change and/or receiving a certificate of occupancy. This is confirmed as the specific mechanism referenced elsewhere in the Zoning Ordinance as 'Zoning compliance' on the City's own Permits and Licenses page, and priced at a flat $30.00 fee ('109 - Zoning Compliance Permit') in the City's Charges and Fees Policy.
$30.00
Sterling's permit history isn't searchable here yet
This page covers what the permit requires. What we don't have for Sterling yet is the record of permits actually issued — the history you'd search by street address. That is a gap in our coverage, not a statement about any particular property.
Your email, and the place — never an address. We only use it to tell you when Sterling lands. Privacy.
New residential construction activity
New privately-owned residential construction onlyHousing units authorized by building permits for new privately-owned residential construction — this is not total permit volume (no commercial permits or remodels).
- Latest month (2026-07)
- No data reported
- Trailing 12 months
- No data reported
- Year to date (2026 YTD)
- No data reported
- Full year 2025
- 0units
0 buildings · $0 valuation
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey (BPS), 2026-07 vintage. Census survey data — separate from the permit-requirements verification above. All Colorado building activity
Tips & gotchas
- Sterling is a home-rule city with its OWN Public Works Department, Code Enforcement Division (421 N. 4th Street) issuing building, mechanical, fence, demolition, sign, and zoning compliance permits. Logan County's own unincorporated-area building-permit program (if any) is not confirmed either way — treat it as a separate open question, not resolved by this entry.
- Unusual authority split: the City of Sterling does not issue electrical or plumbing permits at all. File both directly with the State of Colorado (DORA, Division of Professions and Occupations), and state inspectors perform the inspections. The City's own Framing and Final Building inspections require the state rough and final electrical and plumbing sign-offs to already be in hand, so sequence the state work first. Sterling's IBC/IRC adoption expressly excepts plumbing and electrical requirements at Municipal Code § 5-31(b) and § 5-56(b). Durango, CO splits authority the same way.
- Sterling still requires a SEPARATE City contractor's license (Class IV Subcontractor, $50/year, among five license classes) for electrical and plumbing contractors working in city limits, on top of their state trade license — Municipal Code § 9-62 requires proof of current state licensure before the City will issue that City license.
- Building and Mechanical Permits share ONE valuation-based fee table (Section III, Public Works, Schedule of Charges and Fees, Resolution No. 11-1-24, eff. 1/1/2025) — Fence and Demolition Permits are flat $30.00 fees, a much simpler structure than the tiered valuation tables.
- City Use Tax is 4% of material cost (or 4% of at least half of total permit valuation if material cost isn't separately listed) — confirmed verbatim from the City's own Permits and Licenses page, layered on top of the base permit fee.
- Sterling's adopted code cycle is the 2018 I-Codes — IBC, IRC, IMC, IECC, IFGC and IEBC — all six adopted by companion ordinances 5-2023 through 10-2023, effective 6/13/2023. That is one cycle behind the 2024 I-Codes in newer Colorado adoptions, so requirements can differ from a neighbouring city.
- No plan-review turnaround SLA is published by the City for ANY permit type. The only published timing commitment is for INSPECTION scheduling: requests received before noon are completed that same afternoon, requests after noon are completed the following morning — this is a field-inspection scheduling commitment, not a permit-issuance timeline, and this record does not conflate the two.
- Sterling's roofing rules are strict: complete tearoff only, with no overlay layers ever permitted, plus a mandatory in-person pre-mid-roof inspection before any final roof inspection will be granted — 'No final roofs will be completed without a pre-mid inspection.' Build that extra inspection into your schedule.
- Sterling publishes no dedicated solar-PV permit program, no ADU/accessory-dwelling-unit ordinance, and no building-valuation design-criteria page (snow/wind/frost) specific to the City on its own site — these are genuinely unpublished/unconfirmed rather than assumed, and are not modeled as separate permit types here. A 'Climate and Geographic Design Criteria 2023' document is referenced by title on the Permits and Licenses page but is not itself available for verification.
- Storage sheds 120 sq. ft. or smaller are exempt from Sterling's permitting requirement — a specific, city-published size threshold worth confirming against for small accessory structures.
- Downloadable permit application PDFs were reported as 'pulled from the site due to ADA compliance requirements' per the City's own Permits and Licenses page, though several remain independently hosted on the City's Revize CMS (cms6.revize.com) as of the last verification and were used as direct sources for this record; confirm current form availability with Public Works (harbart@sterlingcolo.com, (970) 522-9700 ext. 1109) before relying on a specific downloaded form long-term.