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Residential Building Permit (New Construction) in Sterling, Colorado

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.

Verified 2026-07-06 · Source

When you need this permit

  • Plans must comply with the 2018 IRC as adopted (Appendices F and H included; IRC § R313 Automatic Fire Sprinkler Systems is omitted in its entirety) and the 2018 IECC
  • Exterior wall water-resistive barrier required per IRC § R703.2 (one layer No. 15 asphalt felt, ASTM D226 Type 1, or approved equivalent) before any exterior veneer
  • Director of Public Works must determine the site is reasonably safe from flooding, or flood-resistant design/construction methods must be used (Municipal Code § 5-2(1))
  • If public improvements (street paving, curbs, gutters, sidewalks, drainage) are necessitated by the construction, they must be built and dedicated to the City per City of Sterling Engineering Specifications, as a condition of the permit (Municipal Code § 5-2(2))
  • Proof of a current City of Sterling contractor's license is required before permit issuance, unless the Director of Public Works determines no licensable contractor will work on the project (Municipal Code § 5-2(3)) Contractor
  • Electrical and plumbing work is NOT part of this City permit — it is separately permitted and inspected by the State of Colorado (DORA); the City makes state permit application forms available at the Public Works Department
  • Storage sheds 120 sq. ft. or smaller are exempt from permitting

Required documents

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Fee schedule

Building Permit Fee — valuation $1 to $500Section III, Public Works, Schedule of Charges and Fees Per Sterling City Code (Sec. 5-1 et seq.), Resolution No. 11-1-24, Series of 2024, effective January 1, 2025
$23.50
Building Permit Fee — valuation $501 to $2,000
$23.50 for the first $500 plus $3.05 for each additional $100, or fraction thereof, to and including $2,000
Building Permit Fee — valuation $2,001 to $25,000
$69.25 for the first $2,000 plus $14.00 for each additional $1,000, or fraction thereof, to and including $25,000
Building Permit Fee — valuation $25,001 to $50,000
$391.75 for the first $25,000 plus $10.10 for each additional $1,000, or fraction thereof, to and including $50,000
Building Permit Fee — valuation $50,001 to $100,000
$643.75 for the first $50,000 plus $7.00 for each additional $1,000, or fraction thereof, to and including $100,000
Building Permit Fee — valuation $100,001 to $500,000
$993.75 for the first $100,000 plus $5.60 for each additional $1,000, or fraction thereof, to and including $500,000
Building Permit Fee — valuation $500,001 to $1,000,000
$3,233.75 for the first $500,000 plus $4.75 for each additional $1,000, or fraction thereof, to and including $1,000,000
Building Permit Fee — valuation $1,000,001 and up
$5,608.75 for the first $1,000,000 plus $3.65 for each additional $1,000, or fraction thereof
City Use TaxPermits and Licenses page: 'a City use tax is charged based on total material cost listed on application or at least one half of the total value listed on the permit. Material cost use tax (4%) is imposed on the privilege of storing, using or consuming in the City any construction and building materials purchased at retail.'
4% of material cost (or 4% of at least one-half of total permit valuation if material cost is not separately listed)
Plan Review FeePermits and Licenses page states plan review fees may apply but does not publish a standalone rate distinct from 'Additional plan review required by changes, additions or revisions to plan' at $50.00/hour (minimum 1/2 hour) per the Fee Schedule
May be required in some cases

Review timeline

Plan review
Not published — contact the department

How long did your Residential Building Permit (New Construction) permit actually take in Sterling?

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

Inspection process

  1. 1

    Footing

    After excavation is complete and reinforcing steel and forms are in place, but prior to placement of concrete

  2. 2

    Foundation Wall

    After forms and reinforcing steel are in place, but prior to placement of concrete

  3. 3

    Underfloor

    After all under-floor building service equipment, conduit, and piping are in place, but prior to installation of concrete or floor sheathing

  4. 4

    Rough Mechanical

    After all wiring, pipes, and ducts are in place, but prior to concealment

  5. 5

    Framing

    After the roof, all framing, fire-blocking, and bracing are in place, and all pipes, chimneys, and vents are complete, and rough mechanical/plumbing/electrical have been inspected and approved (state inspectors for plumbing/electrical), but prior to installation of insulation and wallboard

  6. 6

    Wall Board

    After all gypsum board or lathing (interior or exterior) is in place, but before plastering is applied or gypsum board fasteners are taped and finished

  7. 7

    Final Mechanical

    After all service equipment has been installed and is ready to be put in service

  8. 8

    Final Building Inspection

    After the final mechanical, electrical, and plumbing inspections have been completed and signed off (electrical/plumbing sign-off comes from the State of Colorado), and the building is complete and ready to occupy

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

Tips

  • Electrical and plumbing work on your new home is NOT part of this City building permit — those are separately permitted and inspected by the State of Colorado (DORA), and the Framing and Final Building inspections both explicitly require the state rough/final electrical and plumbing sign-offs to be in hand first.
  • Sterling's use tax is 4% of material cost, or 4% of at least half of total permit valuation if material cost isn't separately itemized — budget for this in addition to the base permit fee.
  • Schedule inspections by calling (970) 522-9700 at least half a day ahead: requests before noon are done that afternoon, after noon the following morning.
  • Proof of a current City of Sterling contractor's license (separate from any state trade license) is required before the City will issue the building permit, unless no licensable contractor is involved in the project. Contractor

Frequently asked questions

Sterling requires a residential building permit (new construction) for: Plans must comply with the 2018 IRC as adopted (Appendices F and H included; IRC § R313 Automatic Fire Sprinkler Systems is omitted in its entirety) and the 2018 IECC; Exterior wall water-resistive barrier required per IRC § R703.2 (one layer No. 15 asphalt felt, ASTM D226 Type 1, or approved equivalent) before any exterior veneer; Director of Public Works must determine the site is reasonably safe from flooding, or flood-resistant design/construction methods must be used (Municipal Code § 5-2(1)); If public improvements (street paving, curbs, gutters, sidewalks, drainage) are necessitated by the construction, they must be built and dedicated to the City per City of Sterling Engineering Specifications, as a condition of the permit (Municipal Code § 5-2(2)); Proof of a current City of Sterling contractor's license is required before permit issuance, unless the Director of Public Works determines no licensable contractor will work on the project (Municipal Code § 5-2(3)); Electrical and plumbing work is NOT part of this City permit — it is separately permitted and inspected by the State of Colorado (DORA); the City makes state permit application forms available at the Public Works Department; Storage sheds 120 sq. ft. or smaller are exempt from permitting. If your project isn't listed, confirm with City of Sterling Public Works Department, Code Enforcement Division at (970) 522-9700, ext. 1109 (Marianne, permits and licenses); main line (970) 522-9700; fax (970) 521-0632 before starting work.

In Sterling, the published Building Permit Fee — valuation $1 to $500 is: $23.50. Additional published fees: Building Permit Fee — valuation $501 to $2,000 — $23.50 for the first $500 plus $3.05 for each additional $100, or fraction thereof, to and including $2,000; Building Permit Fee — valuation $2,001 to $25,000 — $69.25 for the first $2,000 plus $14.00 for each additional $1,000, or fraction thereof, to and including $25,000; Building Permit Fee — valuation $25,001 to $50,000 — $391.75 for the first $25,000 plus $10.10 for each additional $1,000, or fraction thereof, to and including $50,000; Building Permit Fee — valuation $50,001 to $100,000 — $643.75 for the first $50,000 plus $7.00 for each additional $1,000, or fraction thereof, to and including $100,000; Building Permit Fee — valuation $100,001 to $500,000 — $993.75 for the first $100,000 plus $5.60 for each additional $1,000, or fraction thereof, to and including $500,000; Building Permit Fee — valuation $500,001 to $1,000,000 — $3,233.75 for the first $500,000 plus $4.75 for each additional $1,000, or fraction thereof, to and including $1,000,000; Building Permit Fee — valuation $1,000,001 and up — $5,608.75 for the first $1,000,000 plus $3.65 for each additional $1,000, or fraction thereof; City Use Tax — 4% of material cost (or 4% of at least one-half of total permit valuation if material cost is not separately listed); Plan Review Fee — May be required in some cases. These are the jurisdiction's own published figures — see the fee schedule table and source citations on this page.

Sterling does not publish a plan-review timeline for this permit. Contact City of Sterling Public Works Department, Code Enforcement Division at (970) 522-9700, ext. 1109 (Marianne, permits and licenses); main line (970) 522-9700; fax (970) 521-0632 for current turnaround.

You'll need: Building Permit Application; Construction Drawings; Proof of Contractor's License. See the required-documents checklist on this page for details on each.

Sterling requires 8 inspection(s) for a residential building permit (new construction), in order: Footing, Foundation Wall, Underfloor, Rough Mechanical, Framing, Wall Board, Final Mechanical, Final Building Inspection. Schedule each through City of Sterling Public Works Department, Code Enforcement Division ((970) 522-9700, ext. 1109 (Marianne, permits and licenses); main line (970) 522-9700; fax (970) 521-0632).

Apply through City of Sterling Public Works Department, Code Enforcement Division at 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, email: harbart@sterlingcolo.com (permits and licenses); pubworks@sterlingcolo.com (general Public Works). Office hours: Not published on the Permits and Licenses page as of this review; inspection requests are scheduled by phone at (970) 522-9700, with a stated same-day/next-day cutoff (see reviewTimelineNote on inspections below).. Official information: https://www.sterlingcolo.com/departments/public_works/permits_and_licenses.php.

The City of Sterling Public Works Department, Code Enforcement Division issues building, mechanical, fence, demolition, and zoning compliance permits for all work within Sterling city limits. Sterling is a home-rule city with its own department.

No. Per the City's own Permits and Licenses page, plumbing and electrical permits are filed through the State of Colorado and inspected by state plumbing and electrical inspectors, though the City makes the state application forms available at the Public Works Department.

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

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