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Mechanical / HVAC Permit in Cortez, Colorado

Required for installation, replacement, alteration, or repair of mechanical systems (furnaces, boilers, air handlers, evaporative coolers, ventilation, and related equipment) in Cortez. Governed by the 2009 International Mechanical Code (IMC) as locally adopted. Mechanical inspections for new construction are included in the initial building permit; standalone mechanical work is billed per a detailed unit-fee schedule.

Verified 2026-07-06 · Source

When you need this permit

  • Permit required for addition, replacement, or repair of mechanical systems, per the Planning & Building FAQ's permit-required list
  • Governed by the 2009 IMC as adopted
  • Mechanical inspections are included in the initial building permit fee for new construction
  • Commercial mechanical permits/fees are based on job cost per the Building Permit Fees chart rather than the residential unit-fee schedule, per the 2026 Fee Schedule

Required documents

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Fee schedule

Mechanical Permit Issuing FeeCity of Cortez Fee Schedule, effective January 1, 2026, Mechanical Permit Fees section; Each Supplemental Permit: $10.00
$30.00
Installation or relocation of furnace up to and including 100,000 Btu/h (29.3kW)
$15.00
Installation or relocation of furnace over 100,000 Btu/h (29.3kW), including vent
$15.00
Relocation of floor furnace / installation or relocation of suspended, recessed, or floor-mounted heater
$15.00
Installation, relocation, or replacement of each appliance vent not included in appliance permit
$5.00 each
Repair, alteration, or addition to each heating/cooling/absorption unit or system (incl. controls)
$7.00
Installation or relocation of boiler, each
$15.00
Each Air Handling Unit up to 10,000 cfm (4720 L/s), including ducts attached to evaporative coolers
$10.00
Each Evaporative Cooler (other than portable types)
$10.00
Each Ventilation Fan connected to a single duct
$5.00
Each Ventilation system not part of a heating/AC system authorized by a permit
$10.00
Installation of each hood served by mechanical exhaust, including ducts for hood incinerator
$10.00
Installation/relocation of each domestic-type incinerator
$10.00
Installation/relocation of each commercial or industrial-type incinerator
$20.00
Miscellaneous equipment regulated by the Mechanical Code, not otherwise classed
$10.00

Review timeline

Plan review
Not published — contact the department

How long did your Mechanical / HVAC 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

    Rough Mechanical

    Ductwork, flues, and equipment placement before concealment

  2. 2

    Final Inspection

    Equipment operational, combustion air and venting verified

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

Tips

  • Like plumbing, mechanical inspections are bundled into the building permit fee for new construction — the itemized unit-fee schedule applies mainly to standalone/retrofit mechanical work.
  • Commercial mechanical permits are priced off job cost using the same table as building permits, not the itemized residential unit-fee list — don't apply the per-furnace/per-vent pricing to a commercial project.

Frequently asked questions

Yes. The City's Planning & Building FAQ lists mechanical system alterations/replacements among permit-required work, and the 2026 Fee Schedule prices furnace installation/relocation at $15.00 under the Mechanical Permit Fees unit schedule (in addition to the $30.00 mechanical permit issuing fee, unless bundled into a new-construction building permit).

In Cortez, the published Mechanical Permit Issuing Fee is: $30.00. Additional published fees: Installation or relocation of furnace up to and including 100,000 Btu/h (29.3kW) — $15.00; Installation or relocation of furnace over 100,000 Btu/h (29.3kW), including vent — $15.00; Relocation of floor furnace / installation or relocation of suspended, recessed, or floor-mounted heater — $15.00; Installation, relocation, or replacement of each appliance vent not included in appliance permit — $5.00 each; Repair, alteration, or addition to each heating/cooling/absorption unit or system (incl. controls) — $7.00; Installation or relocation of boiler, each — $15.00; Each Air Handling Unit up to 10,000 cfm (4720 L/s), including ducts attached to evaporative coolers — $10.00; Each Evaporative Cooler (other than portable types) — $10.00; Each Ventilation Fan connected to a single duct — $5.00; Each Ventilation system not part of a heating/AC system authorized by a permit — $10.00; Installation of each hood served by mechanical exhaust, including ducts for hood incinerator — $10.00; Installation/relocation of each domestic-type incinerator — $10.00; Installation/relocation of each commercial or industrial-type incinerator — $20.00; Miscellaneous equipment regulated by the Mechanical Code, not otherwise classed — $10.00. These are the jurisdiction's own published figures — see the fee schedule table and source citations on this page.

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 2 inspection(s) for a mechanical / hvac permit, in order: Rough Mechanical, 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 PermitRoofing Permit (Re-Roof)Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) PermitDemolition PermitFence PermitElectric Vehicle Charging Station Permit (State-Issued Electrical Permit)Solar PV Permit (Split City/State Jurisdiction)

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