Skip to main content
PermitBase

Demolition Permit in Cortez, Colorado

Required for demolition of any structure in Cortez, per the Planning & Building FAQ. The lot must be graded smooth after demolition is complete. Priced as a flat fee on the City's 2026 Fee Schedule.

Verified 2026-07-06 · Source

When you need this permit

  • Permit required for demolition of any structure, per the Planning & Building FAQ ('Does the city require demolition permits? Yes, required for any structure demolition')
  • Lot must be graded smooth after demolition
  • Application must state whether the structure being demolished is listed as historic, and total square footage to be demolished, per the Building Permit Application

Required documents

Check off what you have — your progress is saved on this device.

Not ready yet — 0 of 1 required documents checked.

This checker covers one permit. A full project usually triggers several — our paid checklist will assemble all of them, from $29 →

Fee schedule

Demolition PermitCity of Cortez Fee Schedule, effective January 1, 2026, Building Permit Fees section
$100.00

Review timeline

Plan review
Not published — contact the department

How long did your Demolition Permit permit actually take in Cortez?

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

Inspection process

  1. 1

    Final Inspection

    Confirms complete removal per permit scope and that the lot has been graded smooth

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

Tips

  • Grading the lot smooth after demolition is an explicit City requirement, not just good practice — plan for this as part of project scope and cost, not an optional cleanup step.
  • If the structure is historically listed, flag this on the application — the City's own Building Permit Application form specifically asks this question for demolition projects.

Frequently asked questions

Yes. The City's Planning & Building FAQ states the lot must be graded smooth after the structure is demolished.

$100.00 flat, per the City's 2026 Fee Schedule.

Cortez does not publish a plan-review timeline for this permit. Contact City of Cortez Community & Economic Development Department, Division of Planning & Building at 970-565-3402 for current turnaround.

You'll need: City of Cortez Building Permit Application. See the required-documents checklist on this page for details on each.

Cortez requires 1 inspection(s) for a demolition permit, in order: Final Inspection. Schedule each through City of Cortez Community & Economic Development Department, Division of Planning & Building (970-565-3402).

Apply through City of Cortez Community & Economic Development Department, Division of Planning & Building at 123 Roger Smith Avenue, Cortez, CO 81321. Phone: 970-565-3402, email: clindquist@cortezco.gov. Office hours: Monday-Thursday 7:30 a.m.-5:00 p.m.; Friday 8:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. Permit Tech/Deputy City Clerk (Cheryl Lindquist): 970-564-4016. Fire Inspector/Building Inspector (Sean Canada): 970-564-4009. 24-hour inspection scheduling line: 970-564-4071 (checked daily at 8:00 a.m.; inspections performed 9:00 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Monday-Thursday, excluding holidays). Fax: 970-565-8172.. Official information: https://www.cortezco.gov/186/Building-Permits-Applications.

Cortez, Colorado has adopted: 2015 International Building Code (IBC) — City of Cortez Adopted Codes page; 2015 International Residential Code (IRC), EXCEPT Section R313 (Residential Fire Sprinkler Systems), which was not adopted — City of Cortez Adopted Codes page; 2009 International Mechanical Code (IMC); 2009 International Plumbing Code (IPC); 2009 International Fuel Gas Code (IFGC); 2009 International Existing Building Code (IEBC); 2009 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) — cited as '2009 International Energy Efficiency Code' on the Adopted Codes page; the City's separate Building Codes & Design Standards page states the 2009 IECC is in effect; 2015 International Property Maintenance Code (IPMC); 2009 International Fire Code (IFC); 2017 National Electrical Code (NEC) — per City of Cortez Building Codes & Design Standards page; NOTE — electrical permits themselves are NOT issued by the City (see localAmendments); this is the code edition the state electrical inspection references for Cortez; ANSI A117.1-2003 Edition, Accessible and Usable Buildings and Facilities; NFPA 211-2000 Edition, Standard for Chimneys, Fireplaces, Vents, and Solid Fuel-Burning Appliances; Colorado Manufactured Housing Installations, State Resolution #37; Local Ordinance #851, Series 1997 — Construction Standards for Straw Bale Homes; Full text of IBC/IRC/IFC/IPC/IPMC local amendments is hosted as separate ordinance-amendment documents linked from the City's Building Codes & Design Standards page (https://www.cortezco.gov/184/Building-Codes-and-Design-Standards). Local amendments apply — see the Cortez overview page for the full list.

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

Other permits in Cortez

Residential Building Permit (New Construction)Residential Addition / Remodel PermitPlumbing PermitMechanical / HVAC PermitRoofing Permit (Re-Roof)Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) PermitFence PermitElectric Vehicle Charging Station Permit (State-Issued Electrical Permit)Solar PV Permit (Split City/State Jurisdiction)

Demolition Permit in other cities

Alamosa, ColoradoArvada, ColoradoAspen, ColoradoAult, ColoradoAurora, ColoradoBennett, ColoradoBerthoud, ColoradoBoulder, Colorado

Compare demolition permit fees across Colorado →

Look up this fee in a different city →

Embed this data card →

Now live

Build your Cortez project checklist

Describe your project once and get every permit, document, and fee it triggers in Cortez — in one checklist. Sign up and pay once to generate it, or go unlimited with Pro.

Get started →