Skip to main content
PermitBase

Plumbing Permit in Cortez, Colorado

Required for installation, alteration, or repair of plumbing systems, water/sewer/gas lines, and related fixtures in Cortez. Governed by the 2009 International Plumbing Code (IPC) as locally adopted. Plumbing inspections for new construction are included in the initial building permit; standalone plumbing work is billed per a detailed unit-fee schedule.

Verified 2026-07-06 · Source

When you need this permit

  • Permit required for replacement of sewer, gas, or water lines and most plumbing alterations/extensions, per the Planning & Building FAQ
  • Governed by the 2009 IPC as adopted, with local amendments linked from the Building Codes & Design Standards page
  • Plumbing inspections are included in the initial building permit fee for new construction (no separate plumbing inspection fee in that case) — 2026 Fee Schedule note
  • A licensed plumber is required by Colorado state law if the property is intended for resale, rental, or is a commercial structure; homeowners may self-perform on an owner-occupied home Owner-builderContractor

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

Each Issuing PermitCity of Cortez Fee Schedule, effective January 1, 2026, Plumbing Permit Fees section
$35.00
Supplemental Permit
$10.00
Each plumbing fixture, trap, or set of fixtures on one trap (incl. water, drainage piping, backflow protection)
$15.00
Each Building/Trailer Park Sewer
$25.00
Rainwater Systems (inside building), per drain
$10.00
Each Private Sewer Disposal System
$50.00
Each Water Heater and/or Vent
$20.00
Each Gas Piping System, 1-4 OutletsEach additional outlet: $3.00
$15.00
Each Industrial Waste Interceptor (incl. trap and vent, excepting kitchen-type grease interceptors)
$15.00
Installation, Alteration, or Repair of Water Piping and/or Water Treating Equipment
$15.00
Each Lawn Sprinkler System on any one meter, including backflow protection
$10.00
Vacuum breakers or backflow protective devices, 1 to 4Each additional: $1.00
$5.00

Review timeline

Plan review
Not published — contact the department

How long did your Plumbing 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 Plumbing

    Pipe, drain, waste, and vent installation before concealment; scheduled via the 24-hour inspection line

  2. 2

    Final Inspection

    Fixtures connected, no leaks, proper venting verified

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

Tips

  • If your plumbing work is part of new construction under a building permit, you are not charged separately for plumbing inspections — they're bundled into the building permit fee. Standalone plumbing work outside a building permit is billed per this detailed unit-fee schedule instead.
  • The fee schedule is granular and itemized by fixture/component type (water heater, gas outlet, backflow device, etc.) rather than valuation-based — tally each component separately rather than estimating a lump sum.

Frequently asked questions

No. The City's 2026 Fee Schedule states that plumbing inspections are included in the initial building permit fee for new construction. The itemized plumbing fee schedule applies to standalone plumbing work not part of a new-construction building permit.

In Cortez, the published Each Issuing Permit is: $35.00. Additional published fees: Supplemental Permit — $10.00; Each plumbing fixture, trap, or set of fixtures on one trap (incl. water, drainage piping, backflow protection) — $15.00; Each Building/Trailer Park Sewer — $25.00; Rainwater Systems (inside building), per drain — $10.00; Each Private Sewer Disposal System — $50.00; Each Water Heater and/or Vent — $20.00; Each Gas Piping System, 1-4 Outlets — $15.00; Each Industrial Waste Interceptor (incl. trap and vent, excepting kitchen-type grease interceptors) — $15.00; Installation, Alteration, or Repair of Water Piping and/or Water Treating Equipment — $15.00; Each Lawn Sprinkler System on any one meter, including backflow protection — $10.00; Vacuum breakers or backflow protective devices, 1 to 4 — $5.00. 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 plumbing permit, in order: Rough Plumbing, 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 PermitMechanical / HVAC 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)

Plumbing Permit in other cities

Akron, ColoradoArvada, ColoradoAspen, ColoradoAult, ColoradoAurora, ColoradoAvon, ColoradoBasalt, ColoradoBennett, Colorado

Compare plumbing permit fees across Colorado →

Look up this fee in a different city →

Embed this data card →

Related guides

Water HeaterBasement Finish

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 →