Residential Building Permit (New Construction) in Cortez, Colorado

Cortez requires a residential building permit (new construction) for: Plans must comply with the 2015 IBC/IRC as locally adopted (IRC Section R313, residential fire sprinklers, is explicitly NOT adopted in Cortez); Must meet Cortez's Structural Design Criteria: 30 psf non-reducible ground snow load, Wind Design 115/51, 32-inch minimum frost depth, Seismic Design Category B, 7-degree F winter design temperature, Moderate/Heavy termite infestation probability, Air Freezing Index 1500, Severe weathering exposure, and required ice barrier underlayment; Application must declare a construction value for all applications (required field on the Building Permit Application); All applications must be submitted digitally with 2 sets of copies of construction documents; A Site Plan is required (drawn to scale; not necessarily by a surveyor/engineer) along with floor plans; elevations, cross sections, foundation plan, framing plan, and utility plan (with domestic water meter size) may be required for new builds; Public improvements (sidewalk, curb, gutter, streetscape) may be required as a condition of the permit; Electrical work on the project is separately permitted and inspected by the State of Colorado (DORA, 800-886-7675), not included in this City building permit; If plumbing or electrical work is performed and the property is intended for resale, rental, or is a commercial structure, Colorado law requires a licensed plumber and/or electrician. If your project isn't listed, confirm with City of Cortez Community & Economic Development Department, Division of Planning & Building at 970-565-3402 before starting work.

In Cortez, the published Building Permit Fee — valuation $1.00 to $500.00 is: $75.00. Additional published fees: Building Permit Fee — valuation $501.00 to $2,000.00 — $75.00 for the first $500.00 plus $4.00 for each additional $100.00 or fraction thereof, to and including $2,000.00; Building Permit Fee — valuation $2,001.00 to $25,000.00 — $135.00 for the first $2,000.00 plus $13.75 for each additional $1,000.00 or fraction thereof, to and including $25,000.00; Building Permit Fee — valuation $25,001.00 to $50,000.00 — $451.25 for the first $25,000.00 plus $10.50 for each additional $1,000.00 or fraction thereof, to and including $50,000.00; Building Permit Fee — valuation $51,000.00 to $100,000.00 — $713.75 for the first $50,000.00 plus $7.25 for each additional $1,000.00 or fraction thereof, to and including $100,000.00; Building Permit Fee — valuation $100,001.00 to $500,000.00 — $1,076.25 for the first $100,000.00 plus $6.00 for each additional $1,000.00 or fraction thereof, to and including $500,000.00; Building Permit Fee — valuation $500,001.00 to $1,000,000.00 — $3,476.25 for the first $500,000.00 plus $5.00 for each additional $1,000.00 or fraction thereof, to and including $1,000,000.00; Building Permit Fee — valuation $1,000,001.00 and up — $5,976.25 for the first $1,000,000.00 plus $4.00 for each additional $1,000.00 or fraction thereof; Use Tax — Charged per City Council Ordinance No. 1054, Series 2005 (8/9/2005). These are the jurisdiction's own published figures — see the fee schedule table and source citations on this page.

The City does not publish a specific plan-review turnaround figure. Colorado is a home-rule state with no statewide review-time statute, and Cortez's own Building Permit Application, FAQ, and Building Division pages do not state a day-count commitment. Contact Planning & Building (970-565-3402) directly for current expectations.

You'll need: City of Cortez Building Permit Application; Site Plan; Floor Plans, Elevations, Foundation Plan, Framing Plan, Utility Plan. See the required-documents checklist on this page for details on each.

Cortez requires 4 inspection(s) for a residential building permit (new construction), in order: Foundation, Rough Framing, Rough Plumbing / 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.

The City of Cortez Division of Planning & Building (Community & Economic Development Department) issues building, plumbing, and mechanical permits for all work within Cortez city limits. Cortez is the only municipality in Montezuma County with a building department — the County itself has none and does not enforce a residential building code in unincorporated areas.

No. All electrical permits and inspections in Cortez are handled by the Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies (DORA) at 800-886-7675, not the City Building Division.