Skip to main content
PermitBase

Commercial Building Permit (New Construction, Additions, Remodels / Tenant Improvements) in Fort Morgan, Colorado

Required for new commercial construction, commercial additions, and commercial alterations/remodels (including tenant improvements) within Fort Morgan city limits. Issued by the City of Fort Morgan Building Department — Fort Morgan is a home-rule city; Morgan County's building division covers only unincorporated county territory. The City's Building Department page states it performs 'Construction Plan Reviews for residential, commercial, and miscellaneous construction,' and that 'The Chief Building Official and Fire Marshal review all construction plans to ensure compliance with all adopted Codes.' Reviewed under the 2024 IBC/IEBC/IMC/IFC/IECC as adopted by Ordinance No. 1337 (effective June 16, 2026), with plumbing/fuel-gas still on the 2018 IPC/IFGC cycle. Electrical work is NOT included — it is permitted separately through the State of Colorado Electrical Board (DORA), and commercial fire sprinkler systems are permitted through the State of Colorado (Division of Fire Prevention and Control), per the City's own fee schedule. There is NO separately-published tenant-improvement permit type: TI/remodel work runs through this same permit and valuation-based fee, with the fee schedule's own valuation rule that 'Remodel projects with no addition in square footage that include all trades will be calculated at 60% of the unit costs.'

Verified 2026-08-02 · Source

When you need this permit

  • Plans must comply with the 2024 IBC, IEBC, IMC, IFC, and IECC as adopted by Ordinance No. 1337 (effective June 16, 2026), the 2018 IPC/IFGC (still current for plumbing/fuel-gas), and the 2023 Colorado Model Electric and Solar Ready Code
  • All construction plans are reviewed by BOTH the Chief Building Official and the Fire Marshal, per the City's Building Department page
  • Contractor registration with the City of Fort Morgan required before work begins; at registration each contractor must provide proof of general liability insurance (Certificate of Insurance), per the City's Contractor Registration page (requirement effective June 30, 2025) — registration fees are quarterly-prorated ($50.00 first quarter down to $12.50 fourth quarter) and all registrations expire December 31 regardless of issue date Contractor
  • Electrical work on the project is NOT part of this City permit — a separate electrical permit must be obtained directly from the State of Colorado Electrical Board (DORA) at dpo.colorado.gov/EandP/Permits
  • Commercial fire sprinkler systems are NOT permitted by the City — the Citywide Fee Schedule's Fire Department section directs commercial (and residential) sprinkler permits to the State of Colorado, (303) 239-4100, colorado.gov/dfpc; fire alarm permits ($75.00) and commercial hood permits ($75.00) are issued through the City's Fire Department
  • Use Tax (4%) applies to building materials not purchased locally; proof of local purchase (sales tax already paid) required to avoid the charge, collected through the Building Department as part of the permit process
  • 24 hours advance notice required to schedule inspections; every permit issued requires at least one inspection, per the City's Building Department FAQ
  • Applications submitted via the City's MyGov online portal (public.mygov.us/fort_morgan_co)

Required documents

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

Not ready yet — 0 of 3 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

Construction Fee — valuation $1.00 to $500.00Citywide Fee Schedule ('Construction Fees — Includes Mechanical, Plumbing & Sign Permits'), re-verified live 2026-08-02 from the City's Schedule of Fees document (Exhibit A to Resolution No. 2026-03-03)
$27.00
Construction Fee — valuation $501.00 to $2,000.00The published schedule's own text at this row reads 'each additional $1000,' but the tier arithmetic ($79.50 at exactly $2,000 = $27.00 + 15 × $3.50) confirms the increment is per $100 — recorded per the internally-consistent reading rather than the row's apparent typo
$27.00 for the first $500 plus $3.50 for each additional $100 or fraction thereof
Construction Fee — valuation $2,001.00 to $25,000.00
$79.50 for the first $2,000 plus $16.10 for each additional $1,000 or fraction thereof
Construction Fee — valuation $25,001.00 to $50,000.00
$401.75 for the first $25,000 plus $10.10 for each additional $1,000 or fraction thereof
Construction Fee — valuation $50,001.00 to $100,000.00
$654.25 for the first $50,000 plus $7.00 for each additional $1,000 or fraction thereof
Construction Fee — valuation $100,001.00 to $500,000.00
$1,142.55 for the first $100,000 plus $6.44 for each additional $1,000 or fraction thereof
Construction Fee — valuation $500,001.00 to $1,000,000.00
$3,827.00 for the first $500,000 plus $5.46 for each additional $1,000 or fraction thereof
Construction Fee — valuation $1,000,001.00 and above
$6,327.00 for the first $1,000,000 plus $4.20 for each additional $1,000 or fraction thereof
Plan Review FeeDue at time of submitting plans and specifications; additional plan review fees charged when plans are incomplete or changed so as to require additional review
65% of the total permit fee
Valuation basis (commercial)Fee-schedule valuation rules: remodel projects with no addition in square footage that include all trades are calculated at 60% of the unit costs; Shell Only Buildings deduct 20%; commercial air conditioning equipment adds $7.20 per sq. ft.
Unit costs per square foot by occupancy classification and construction type, per the fee schedule's attached Square Foot Construction Costs table (table is headed '2021 International Building Code' groups)
Temporary Certificate of Occupancy (TCO) — commercial under 3,000 sq ft$350 refund if complete by expiration; if not, no refund, with new TCO and fee required
$500.00
Temporary Certificate of Occupancy (TCO) — commercial (and multi-family per building) 3,000 sq ft and above$900 refund if complete by expiration; if not, no refund, with new TCO and fee required
$1,200.00
Fire Alarm Permit (City Fire Department)
$75.00
Commercial Hood Permit (City Fire Department)Commercial sprinkler permits are NOT a City fee line — the fee schedule directs them to the State of Colorado, (303) 239-4100, colorado.gov/dfpc
$75.00
Use TaxCollected by the Building Department as part of the permit process unless proof of local purchase (with sales tax paid) is provided
4% of non-locally-purchased building materials valuation
Re-inspection feesAfter-hours inspections $50.00/hour weekdays, $60.00/hour weekends and holidays (by approval, minimum 1-hour charge). Figures re-verified live 2026-08-02 from the current Schedule of Fees document; note these differ from an earlier capture of this schedule recorded elsewhere in this file's localAmendments
1st inspection included with permit; 2nd inspection $50.00; 3rd inspection $100.00; 4th inspection $250.00; each additional inspection after the 4th adds $100.00; No Show Fee $25.00 plus cost of inspection (if applicable)

Review timeline

Plan review
Not published — contact the department

How long did your Commercial Building Permit (New Construction, Additions, Remodels / Tenant Improvements) permit actually take in Fort Morgan?

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

Inspection process

  1. 1

    Foundation

    Before concrete pour

  2. 2

    Rough Framing

    Structural framing complete before cover

  3. 3

    Rough Plumbing / Mechanical

    Trade rough-ins before concealment; plumbing and mechanical are inspected by the City — electrical rough-in is inspected separately by the State of Colorado Electrical Board, and fire sprinkler systems by the State (Division of Fire Prevention and Control), not the City

  4. 4

    Fire Systems (Fire Department scope)

    Fire alarm and commercial hood systems permitted through the City's Fire Department ($75 each per the fee schedule); the Fire Marshal participates in plan review, and fire-system sign-off is coordinated alongside building final — exact commercial inspection checkpoint sequence is not published by the City

  5. 5

    Final Inspection / Certificate of Occupancy

    All City-permitted work complete per approved plans; a Temporary Certificate of Occupancy is available at published flat fees ($500 under 3,000 sq ft / $1,200 at 3,000 sq ft and above, partially refundable if completed by expiration). Separate final electrical sign-off from the State Electrical Board is required. Every permit issued requires at least one inspection, and 24 hours advance notice is required to schedule

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

Tips

  • There is NO separate tenant-improvement permit in Fort Morgan — TI/remodel work runs through this same commercial building permit and the same valuation-based Construction Fee table. The fee schedule's own valuation rule works in your favor: remodels with no added square footage that include all trades are valued at 60% of the unit costs, and Shell Only Buildings deduct 20%.
  • Budget for multiple permitting authorities on a commercial project: City Building Department (building/plumbing/gas/mechanical), State of Colorado Electrical Board (all electrical — the City issues no electrical permits at all), State of Colorado DFPC (commercial fire sprinklers, per the City's fee schedule), and the City Fire Department (fire alarm $75, commercial hood $75).
  • The fee schedule's Square Foot Construction Costs valuation table is headed with 2021 International Building Code occupancy groups even though the City adopted the 2024 I-Codes effective June 16, 2026 — valuation basis and code-compliance basis are on different cycles; confirm with the Building Department which table revision applies to your project.
  • No distinct industrial or food-processing permitting track is published by the City — the Building Department, Planning & Zoning, FAQ, and fee schedule pages were all checked directly and none publish one, despite Fort Morgan's significant meatpacking/agricultural-processing economy. Industrial construction goes through this same commercial plan-review process (Chief Building Official + Fire Marshal); confirm any project-specific requirements for food-processing facilities directly with the Chief Building Official, Rocky Watkins (970-370-6559).
  • No commercial plan-review timeline SLA is published — ask the Building Department (970-542-3907) for a realistic current turnaround before committing to a construction or lease-buildout schedule.
  • Larger commercial projects may also involve Planning & Zoning technical review (annexation, zoning/rezoning, subdivision site plans) through the Director of Public Works, Tom Acre (970-370-6560) — the City publishes a separate Zoning & Land Use Code Fees document; site-development review is a separate track from the building permit itself.

Frequently asked questions

Fort Morgan requires a commercial building permit (new construction, additions, remodels / tenant improvements) for: Plans must comply with the 2024 IBC, IEBC, IMC, IFC, and IECC as adopted by Ordinance No. 1337 (effective June 16, 2026), the 2018 IPC/IFGC (still current for plumbing/fuel-gas), and the 2023 Colorado Model Electric and Solar Ready Code; All construction plans are reviewed by BOTH the Chief Building Official and the Fire Marshal, per the City's Building Department page; Contractor registration with the City of Fort Morgan required before work begins; at registration each contractor must provide proof of general liability insurance (Certificate of Insurance), per the City's Contractor Registration page (requirement effective June 30, 2025) — registration fees are quarterly-prorated ($50.00 first quarter down to $12.50 fourth quarter) and all registrations expire December 31 regardless of issue date; Electrical work on the project is NOT part of this City permit — a separate electrical permit must be obtained directly from the State of Colorado Electrical Board (DORA) at dpo.colorado.gov/EandP/Permits; Commercial fire sprinkler systems are NOT permitted by the City — the Citywide Fee Schedule's Fire Department section directs commercial (and residential) sprinkler permits to the State of Colorado, (303) 239-4100, colorado.gov/dfpc; fire alarm permits ($75.00) and commercial hood permits ($75.00) are issued through the City's Fire Department; Use Tax (4%) applies to building materials not purchased locally; proof of local purchase (sales tax already paid) required to avoid the charge, collected through the Building Department as part of the permit process; 24 hours advance notice required to schedule inspections; every permit issued requires at least one inspection, per the City's Building Department FAQ; Applications submitted via the City's MyGov online portal (public.mygov.us/fort_morgan_co). If your project isn't listed, confirm with City of Fort Morgan Building Department at 970-542-3907 before starting work.

By project valuation under the Construction Fees table in the Citywide Fee Schedule (a $27.00 minimum scaling to $6,327.00 for the first $1,000,000 plus $4.20 per additional $1,000), with valuation based on square-foot unit costs by occupancy classification and construction type. Plan review adds 65% of the permit fee, and a 4% use tax applies to non-locally-purchased materials.

Fort Morgan does not publish a plan-review timeline for this permit. Contact City of Fort Morgan Building Department at 970-542-3907 for current turnaround.

You'll need: Building Permit Application (MyGov portal); Construction Drawings / Plan Set; Contractor Registration with Certificate of Insurance. See the required-documents checklist on this page for details on each.

Apply through City of Fort Morgan Building Department at 110 Sherman Street, Fort Morgan, CO 80701 (mailing: P.O. Box 100, Fort Morgan, CO 80701); Building Inspector office at 710 E. Railroad Ave., Fort Morgan, CO 80701. Phone: 970-542-3907, email: Not published as a general department email on the Building Department page as of this review; contact by phone. Office hours: Monday-Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., per the City's Building Permit Application form (710 E. Railroad Ave. location). Chief Building Official: Rocky Watkins, 970-370-6559. Permit Technician: Kayla Thompson, 970-542-3907. Building Inspector line: 970-542-3908.. Official information: https://www.cityoffortmorgan.com/84/Building-Department.

No. Fort Morgan does not publish a distinct tenant-improvement permit type — commercial remodels and tenant finishes go through the standard commercial building permit and the same valuation-based Construction Fee table. The Citywide Fee Schedule does, however, value remodel projects with no added square footage that include all trades at 60% of the square-foot unit costs, which effectively discounts TI work relative to new construction.

The City of Fort Morgan Building Department — specifically, per the City's Building Department page, the Chief Building Official and the Fire Marshal jointly review all construction plans for compliance with the adopted codes. Fort Morgan is a home-rule city; Morgan County's building division covers only the unincorporated county, not the City.

No to both. The City issues no electrical permits at all — electrical work goes through the State of Colorado Electrical Board (DORA). And the City's own fee schedule directs commercial sprinkler permits to the State of Colorado ((303) 239-4100, colorado.gov/dfpc). The City's Fire Department does issue fire alarm permits ($75) and commercial hood permits ($75).

This one’s complicated · Get an expediter

Tell us about your project and we’ll connect you with a permit expediter who works in Fort Morgan.

PermitBase may receive a referral fee from the expediter. This is a service introduction, not verified permit data or legal advice.

Other permits in Fort Morgan

Residential Building Permit (New Single-Family Residence / New House)Residential Addition / Remodel Permit (Addition, Garage, Basement Finish)Electrical Permit — REFERRED TO STATE OF COLORADO (Not Issued by the City)Plumbing / Gas / Water & Sewer Line PermitMechanical / HVAC Permit (A/C Installation)Roofing Permit (Re-Roofing)Solar Panel PermitDemolition / Moving PermitFence PermitEV Charger / Electric Vehicle Charging Station Permit — REFERRED TO STATE OF COLORADO (Not Issued by the City)

Commercial Building Permit (New Construction, Additions, Remodels / Tenant Improvements) in other cities

Akron, ColoradoAlamosa, ColoradoAspen, ColoradoAvon, ColoradoBasalt, ColoradoBreckenridge, ColoradoBroomfield, ColoradoCalhan, Colorado

Compare commercial building permit (new construction, additions, remodels / tenant improvements) fees across Colorado →

Look up this fee in a different city →

Embed this data card →

Now live

Build your Fort Morgan project checklist

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

Get started →