Tenant Improvement / Change-of-Use Permit (Existing Commercial Structures) in Sterling, Colorado

Sterling requires a tenant improvement / change-of-use permit (existing commercial structures) for: Interior alteration/build-out of an existing commercial structure is filed as an ALTERATION (or CHANGE OF USE, with FROM/TO fields on the application) on the same Building Permit Application used for new commercial construction, per Municipal Code § 5-1; Governed by the 2018 IEBC (Municipal Code § 5-150, adopted in its entirety without amendment per state law) for alteration/repair/change-of-occupancy work in existing buildings, together with the 2018 IBC for the applicable occupancy classification; A SEPARATE City of Sterling Zoning Compliance Permit ($30.00 flat fee) is required whenever the tenant improvement establishes a NEW conforming use in the existing commercial structure — per the Permits and Licenses page and confirmed directly on the Zoning Compliance Permit Application form ('No change in the use of this property shall be made without the issuance of a new zoning compliance permit for that new use'); The Zoning Compliance Permit Application itself requires the City to classify the property as one of: existing conforming structure/use, existing legal nonconforming structure/use, or new conforming structure/use — confirmed directly from the form's 'For Department Use Only' section; If the tenant improvement does NOT change the use of the space (e.g., a straight cosmetic remodel for the same tenant/use), the Building Permit Application's ALTERATION class of work applies without necessarily triggering a new Zoning Compliance Permit — the City's own materials tie the Zoning Compliance Permit specifically to a change/establishment of use, not to alteration work in general; Electrical and plumbing work within the tenant space is NOT part of this City permit — filed separately with the State of Colorado (DORA), the same jurisdictional split documented in this file's Electrical Permit and Plumbing Permit entries; Proof of a current City of Sterling contractor's license is required before issuance (Municipal Code § 5-2(3)). 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 (same valuation-based schedule as new commercial construction) is: $23.50 minimum, scaling per the Resolution No. 11-1-24 valuation tiers. Additional published fees: 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); Zoning Compliance Permit Fee (separate permit, only if the tenant improvement establishes a new use) — $30.00 flat. 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. Depending on your project, Sterling may also ask for: Zoning Compliance Permit Application. See the required-documents checklist on this page for details on each.

Sterling requires 5 inspection(s) for a tenant improvement / change-of-use permit (existing commercial structures), in order: Rough Mechanical, Framing, Wallboard, Final, Zoning Compliance 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.

Not as a separately named product. Interior alteration work is filed as an ALTERATION on the same City of Sterling Building Permit Application used for new commercial construction, reviewed under the 2018 IEBC/IBC. If the work also establishes a new use in the space, a separate $30.00 Zoning Compliance Permit is required.

No. The Zoning Compliance Permit ($30.00) addresses whether a specific USE is allowed at a specific property and is required whenever a new conforming use is established in an existing commercial structure. It is separate from, and in addition to, any Building Permit needed for the physical construction/alteration work.