Aspen building permits

Requirements

• Reviewed under the 2021 IBC as amended by the City of Aspen; the IRC has NOT been adopted and is not applied to single-family/duplex/townhouse projects
• Ground snow load of 100 psf applies per the City's published Roof/Re-Roof Application Checklist design criteria; a Letter of Structural Integrity from a Structural Engineer is required if roof insulation does not meet this load rating
• Classified as a 'New Major Permit' (Queue Designator priority level 1) since new construction changes floor area, height, net livable, or net leasable area — this is the lowest-priority tier among initial/new applications, though First Major Change Orders share the same level-1 weight, and Major Change Orders after the first (0.9) and Red Tag Clearance (0.8) rank lower still
• All contractors must hold a current City of Aspen contractor license
• Asbestos test and clearance reports, or a State Asbestos Demolition Approval Notice, required per the Building Permit Application Checklist
• Special Inspection and Testing Agreement, Verification of Structural Integrity, and a Soils Report required for new construction per the Building Permit Application Checklist
• If the project meets or exceeds the City's 40% exterior-surface-area demolition threshold, a demolition allotment must be secured before the building permit can proceed (capped at 6 per calendar year, first-come first-served, plus 2 more for 35-year Aspen homeowners)
• Applications submitted via the City's Salesforce Permit Portal; Building Support reviews for completeness before issuing submittal fees due

Required documents

• RequiredBuilding Permit Application Checklist for Singlefamily, Duplex, and Townhouse Projects (2021 IBC)Lists required 8.5x11 documents (permit application packet, asbestos reports, energy code compliance, soils report, special inspection agreement, etc.) and required 24x36 plans (cover sheet, survey, site plan, floor plans, structural plans, etc.) by project type: New Construction, Addition, Alteration/Remodel, Alteration (Interior only), Demo (Complete), Repair
• RequiredPermit Application Signature PacketMust be filled out entirely or the submission will not be accepted
• RequiredAsbestos Test and Clearance Reports / State Asbestos Demolition Approval Notice
• RequiredSoils Report

Fee schedule

Requirements

• Reviewed under the 2021 IBC as locally amended
• Classified as a New Minor Permit or New Major Permit depending on whether the addition/remodel changes floor area, height, net livable, or net leasable area (Major) versus other alterations (Minor)
• The Building Permit Application Checklist distinguishes required submittals by column: New Construction, Addition, Alteration/Remodel, and Alteration (Interior only) each have different required document sets
• Asbestos test required if affecting more than 160 sq ft of potentially asbestos-containing materials when altering interior walls, per the EPIC Permit Policy's interior-wall-change requirements (also applicable outside EPIC scope)
• A Licensed Structural Engineer's stamped plans or stamped letter of structural engagement required for any interior wall changes
• If alteration area exceeds 50% of the building footprint, Engineering Development requires a major grading & drainage report, stamped civil plan, current survey, and a soils report

Required documents

• RequiredBuilding Permit Application Checklist for Singlefamily, Duplex, and Townhouse Projects (2021 IBC)Addition and Alteration/Remodel columns specify the applicable document set
• OptionalStamped Structural Engineer Letter or PlansRequired if any interior walls are proposed for removal or alteration

Fee schedule

Requirements

• Governed by the 2023 NEC as adopted by the City of Aspen
• MEP sub-permits are submitted in Salesforce using the master permit number when part of a larger project, and require load forms/fixture calculators/HOA compliance forms per the City's Document & Resource Library
• Classified under the 'MEP (Mechanical/Electrical/Plumbing)' queue category for standalone trade permits
• Contractors must hold a current City of Aspen contractor license
• For homeowner-performed electrical work: the homeowner may personally perform wiring only if the property is not for sale/rent/lease and not generally open to the public, all work is inspected before and after concealment, and work complies with the NEC

Required documents

• RequiredElectrical Permit Application (Salesforce Permit Portal)
• OptionalHOA Compliance FormRequired for MEP sub-permits per the Building Document and Resource Library

Fee schedule

Requirements

• Governed by the 2023 NEC as adopted by the City of Aspen
• Filed as a standalone electrical/MEP permit via the Salesforce Permit Portal
• Contractors must hold a current City of Aspen contractor license
• Homeowner may personally perform the wiring only if the property is not for sale/rent/lease and not generally open to the public, all work is inspected before and after concealment, and work complies with the NEC

Required documents

• RequiredElectrical Permit Application (Salesforce Permit Portal)

Fee schedule

Requirements

• Governed by the 2021 IPC as adopted by the City of Aspen
• MEP sub-permits submitted in Salesforce using the master permit number, with required load forms/fixture calculators/HOA compliance forms
• Contractors must hold a current City of Aspen contractor license
• Changes to water fixture counts require an ECU (Excel) calculator, sanitation acknowledgement, and sanitation abandon agreement if a sewer disconnection or plumbing demo is involved, per the Building Document and Resource Library

Required documents

• RequiredPlumbing Permit Application (Salesforce Permit Portal)
• OptionalResidential ECU Calculator (Excel)Required for changes to water fixture counts

Fee schedule

Requirements

• Governed by the 2021 IMC and 2021 IFGC as adopted by the City of Aspen
• MEP sub-permits submitted in Salesforce using the master permit number for larger projects
• Contractors must hold a current City of Aspen contractor license
• Adding, moving, or changing fireplaces requires specification/installation sheets and a completed REMP spreadsheet fireplace tab, per the Building Document and Resource Library

Required documents

• RequiredMechanical Permit Application (Salesforce Permit Portal)
• OptionalREMP Spreadsheet (Fireplace Tab)Required for fireplace additions, relocations, or changes

Fee schedule

Requirements

• All re-roofing projects require a Roofing Permit; roof work changing height, slope, footprint, structural framing, or cavity insulation requires a Building Permit instead
• Patching less than 1 square (10 ft x 10 ft) does not require any permit
• UL or ICC-ES report required for the listed Class A roof assembly specific to the roofing product and installation (per Ordinance 1, 2023)
• Ground snow load of 100 psf: if adding insulation above the roof deck and the building was not constructed to this snow load, a Letter of Structural Integrity from a Structural Engineer is required
• If insulation is present above the roof deck, required minimum values are R-40 above deck (Commercial) or R-49 above deck (Residential), or an alternate design approved by the Building Department for justified infeasibility
• Snowguards/stops required on roofs that shed onto neighboring properties or occupied areas (walkways, stairways, alleys, decks, pedestrian/vehicular exits, or areas above gas/electric utility meters)
• If heat tape is installed (new or existing) exceeding 1,000 watts, REMP fees apply, and a sub-electrical permit is required for any roof with heat tape
• If the address is on the City's Inventory of Historic Sites and Structures or within a Historic District, HPC Approval is required before the roofing permit
• Two photographs of existing conditions required (one showing the overall structure, one close-up of the existing roof)
• An asbestos test is NOT required if all materials to be removed are asphaltic/tar-impregnated/non-friable, removed by hand (no circular saws), and disposed of rather than recycled — all three conditions must be met

Required documents

• RequiredRoof/Re-Roof Application ChecklistUpdated 9/25/23; must be completed entirely including site plan, roof assembly drawing, and asbestos screening questions
• RequiredPermit Application Signatures PacketAll 6 pages, owner/contractor signatures where applicable
• RequiredConstruction Management Plan (CMP)

Fee schedule

Requirements

• DC-side wiring must be installed by a Colorado-licensed electrical contractor, a NABCEP-certified contractor, a COSIA-certified contractor, or the homeowner
• AC-side wiring must be installed by a Colorado-licensed electrical contractor or the homeowner
• A homeowner performing their own wiring must personally do the work on a property not for sale/rent/lease and not generally open to the public, with all work inspected before concealment and again at completion, and full NEC compliance
• At time of application: one-line diagram with wire sizing, circuit voltage, voltage drop, grounding, and fusing; manufacturer specifications and installation documents for module, array, combiner box, inverter, mounting hardware, batteries (if applicable), and disconnect; drawings detailing panel azimuth/zenith alignment, equipment elevations, and site plan; proposed PV system kW capacity rating
• City of Aspen Electric Department Interconnect Agreement form must be filled out, signed, and approved prior to permit issuance
• 'Fully electric new projects qualify for expediting' per the Building Document and Resource Library, which may include solar/battery-paired all-electric projects

Required documents

• RequiredSolar/Electrical Permit Application (Salesforce Permit Portal)
• RequiredOne-Line DiagramWire sizing, circuit voltage, voltage drop, grounding, fusing
• RequiredCity of Aspen Electric Department Interconnect Agreement

Fee schedule

Requirements

• 'Demolition' is defined as razing, disassembling, tearing down, or destroying 40% or more of a structure, measured by existing (pre-demolition) exterior wall (above finished grade) and roof surface area, excluding fenestration, compared against the same area proposed for removal
• A project meeting or exceeding this 40% threshold can only proceed to a building permit if a demolition allotment is available; allotments are capped at 6 per calendar year and awarded via LOTTERY (Council switched from first-come-first-served to a lottery system at the end of 2023, per Aspen Daily News reporting — confirmed 2026-07-23, since the City's own PDFs don't restate the award mechanism), with 2 additional allotments per year for applicants who have owned their Aspen home for at least 35 years
• Approved demolition allotments are valid for 3 years, within which the project must submit for both the demolition and the building permit
• Redevelopment following a qualifying demolition must meet residential redevelopment standards: minimum 35% by weight non-hazardous waste diversion from landfill, carbon-usage reporting for the building process/materials and projected future energy use, and design/construction readiness for future 100% electric conversion plus on-site PV/battery storage accommodation
• Projects over 2,000 sq ft affecting square footage and/or triggering demolition additionally require a Construction Waste Diversion Plan
• Contact the Building Department directly for restrictions associated with this permit type before selecting it, per the City's Permit Types & Triggers document
• Only applications deemed 'complete' under the Land Use Code enter the queue for a demolition allotment

Required documents

• RequiredDemolition Permit Application (Salesforce Permit Portal)
• RequiredDemolition Percentage CalculationAssemblies to be removed divided by total exterior surface area (excluding fenestration); example calculations available in the Building Document and Resource Library under Zoning Requirement Examples
• OptionalConstruction Waste Diversion PlanRequired for projects over 2,000 sq ft affecting square footage and/or triggering demolition

Fee schedule

Requirements

• Allowed fence materials per Sec. 26.575.050: metal, masonry, stone, and wood
• Wildfire Resiliency Code requirement: fences within 8 feet of a structure must be constructed of noncombustible or ignition-resistant materials; hedges within 5 feet of a structure must use ignition-resistant vegetation
• Maximum fence/hedge height per Sec. 26.575.e.5.q, measured from finished grade: up to 42 inches generally, or up to 6 feet in areas entirely recessed behind the vertical plane of the building facade closest to the street (applies on all street-facing facades of a parcel)
• If the property is historically designated, a signed Certificate of No Negative Effect is required (contact Historic Preservation staff)
• Signed Homeowner Association Compliance form required
• Improvement Survey with an original wet stamp/signature showing property lines, all easements/rights-of-way, all existing structures/improvements/fences, and location/trunk diameter/species of all trees is required; if a tree's critical root zone will be impacted, Parks Department approval and a separate permit are required
• Elevation drawings showing design, dimensions, and materials of the proposed fence required
• Reach out to Engineering if a fence is proposed within an easement or right-of-way

Required documents

• RequiredFence Permit Application ChecklistLast Updated 04/2026
• RequiredImprovement Survey (wet-stamped)
• RequiredElevation Drawings
• RequiredHomeowner Association Compliance Form
• OptionalCertificate of No Negative EffectRequired only if the property is historically designated

Fee schedule

Requirements

• Reviewed under the 2021 IBC as locally amended (Ordinance #1, 2023); the dedicated commercial/multifamily checklist is the City's 'Building Permit Application Checklist for Commercial and Multifamily Projects (2021 IBC)', Updated 5/23/23
• Classified as a 'New Major Permit' (Queue Designator priority level 1, the lowest-priority tier among new applications) when the project is new construction or changes floor area (FA), height, net livable, or net leasable area, per the City's Permit Types & Triggers document
• Contractor must hold a current City of Aspen contractor license; commercial work requires a light commercial or unlimited license classification (per the City's Tenant Finish Cheatsheet, Updated 4/14/2026, which states this licensing rule for commercial work generally), and historic properties additionally require the GC to hold the City's Historic Preservation contractor certification
• A pre-submission building checklist review meeting with Building staff is formally built into the commercial checklist itself — the checklist ends with a signature block where an applicant who DECLINES the pre-submittal meeting must sign an acknowledgment that doing so 'may result in a lengthier building review process'
• Applications submitted in PDF via the City's Salesforce Permit Portal following File Preparation Standards; Building Support performs a completeness review (sent within about 1 week) before submittal fees are due and review begins
• Checklist-required documents for commercial new construction include (per the New Construction column): Permit Application Packet (must be filled out entirely or the submission will not be accepted), Energy Code Compliance (COMcheck or prescriptive path), Line Grade Verification Form, Signed Special Inspection and Testing Agreement, Structural Calculations, Soils Report, Mechanical Docs, Benchmarking Agreement, CMP (Construction Management Plan — an Engineering requirement), and Water/Sewer Service Disconnect Applications where applicable; asbestos reports apply to additions/alterations/demo rather than virgin new construction
• Required 24x36 plan sheets (New Construction column) include: Cover Sheet, Survey, Area Sheet, Site Plan, CREMP/RREMP Plan, Existing & Proposed Floor Plans, Reflected Ceiling Plans, Lighting Plan with spec sheets, Occupancy/Means of Egress Plans, Separation/Fire Resistance Plans, Fire Resistant Assembly Listed Installation Details, Accessibility Plans & Details, Roof Plan, Elevations/Height, Sections, Details, Schedules, Excavation/Earth Retention Plans, Civil Plans (discuss with Engineering), Electrical Plans, Kitchen Plans, Mechanical Plans, Plumbing Isometrics, and Structural Plans
• Historic Preservation gate: if the property is on the City's Inventory of Historic Sites and Structures or within a historic district, HPC review/approval is a distinct process from Building Division plan review and its timelines are NOT included in any building-permit review clock; contact HP@aspen.gov before designing exterior work
• Planning/land-use gate: changes to net leasable space or floor area can require a land use review through the Planning Permit Review Team before or alongside the building permit (stated in the City's Planning & HP Tenant Finish Guide for interior work, and inherent in the Major-permit triggers for larger projects); commercial development in Aspen is also subject to the City's Growth Management Quota System (GMQS) in the Land Use Code — verify allotment/land-use-review needs with the Planner of the Day early, before permit submittal
• Verify the proposed use is an allowed use in the zone district before submitting; a change between commercial, residential, or lodging uses requires contacting the Planner of the Day (Planning & HP Tenant Finish Guide, Updated 5/1/2026)

Required documents

• RequiredBuilding Permit Application Checklist for Commercial and Multifamily Projects (2021 IBC)Updated 5/23/23; column-based required-document matrix by project type (New Construction, Addition, Alteration/Remodel, Alteration Interior-only, Demo Complete, Repair) covering both 8.5x11 documents and 24x36 plan sheets, with a pre-submittal-meeting acceptance/decline signature block
• RequiredPermit Application Signature PacketMust be filled out entirely or the submission will not be accepted
• Optional2021 Submittal Guide — Commercial & MultifamilyCompanion guide describing each checklist requirement in detail
• RequiredZoning Checklist for Commercial Building Permit ApplicationsSeparate Zoning-review checklist for commercial building permit applications (Community Development, Zoning review track)
• RequiredSigned Special Inspection and Testing Agreement, Structural Calculations, and Soils ReportRequired for commercial new construction per the checklist's New Construction column
• RequiredConstruction Management Plan (CMP)Engineering requirement; scope scales with work area — contact Engineering/CMPhelp@aspen.gov
• RequiredEnergy Code Compliance (COMcheck or prescriptive path)Compliance with the 2021 Aspen Energy Code

Fee schedule

Requirements

• Work may only be performed by a contractor licensed with the City of Aspen as a light commercial or unlimited contractor; on historic properties the GC must also hold the City's Historic Preservation contractor certification (Tenant Finish Cheatsheet, Updated 4/14/2026)
• Asbestos: regardless of building age, removing the volume equivalent of a 55-gallon drum of any material besides concrete, wood, brick, or steel triggers a required asbestos test; if asbestos is found and will be disturbed, a final air clearance abatement report is required before permit issuance
• Occupant load and means of egress must be calculated (IBC Chapter 10) and shown on plans with exit access travel distances; restaurants count occupant load by seating and must delineate 36-inch clear egress paths
• Accessibility: all new or altered construction must be accessible; alterations within the space of primary function additionally require an accessible entrance, accessible route, accessible toilet facilities, and accessible drinking fountain, with an exception where those upgrades would exceed 20% of the total project budget (construction estimates required to claim it)
• Fire/sound resistance: all fire- and sound-rated assemblies must be labeled on plans referencing listed and tested assemblies; disturbing more than 32 sq ft of drywall in a required fire-rated assembly triggers bringing it up to current code; penetrations of rated assemblies must be protected; dropped ceilings below rated horizontal assemblies must be non-combustible or fire-retardant-treated framing
• Interior lighting changes require lighting plans, fixture cutsheets, and an Interior Lighting COMcheck complying with the 2021 Aspen Energy Code (C405.2 controls); on a change of use, a lighting plan and COMcheck are required even with no lighting changes
• Structural plans (stamped) are required if any walls or potentially structural elements are altered, with a Special Inspection and Testing Agreement where the stamped plans call for items in IBC Sec. 1704; changes to interior walls require stamped plans or a stamped letter of structural engagement plus an asbestos test (within 1 year) if affecting more than 160 sq ft of potentially asbestos-containing materials (EPIC checklist)
• Change of use (between Mercantile, Business, Assembly, Residential, Storage/parking use groups) triggers additional requirements: lighting COMcheck regardless of scope, required toilet-facility count compliance, and possibly an additional exit; a change between commercial, residential, or lodging uses also requires contacting the Planner of the Day and is a zoning/land-use matter
• Restaurants: commercial kitchen plans must show all equipment, sinks, and drains, with Type I/II hood design, PCU for charbroilers (90% PM10 filtration per the EPIC checklist), mechanical ventilation and make-up air calculations, grease trap, and equipment schedule; new food establishments or ownership changes also need a Retail Food Establishment license (foodsafety@aspen.gov)
• EPIC eligibility (Updated 4.16.26 policy): commercial use in a commercial zone district; interior and/or minor exterior alterations only; NO change in use, NO change in net leasable space or floor area, NO rooftop changes within the foreground of a mountain view plane, NO outdoor lighting or signage changes in scope; building must have a Letter of Completion; work without a permit or a red tag disqualifies the project; Change Orders to an EPIC permit are not expedited
• Changes to demising walls or vertical circulation (elevators, stairs, dumbwaiters) are excluded from EPIC and may impact net leasable space or floor-area allocation — the Planning & HP Tenant Finish Guide directs applicants to the Planning Permit Review Team before submitting because a land use review may be required
• Signage may NOT be included in a tenant-finish building permit — all signage requires a separate sign permit (published Round-1 SLA: 3-4 weeks); exterior lighting changes are likewise excluded from EPIC scope and go in a non-EPIC building permit or standalone electrical permit

Required documents

• RequiredTenant Finish Cheatsheet (Building Department)Updated 4/14/2026; the City's dedicated compliance checklist for tenant finishes — contractor licensing, asbestos, egress, accessibility, fire/sound assemblies, HVAC, lighting, structural, restaurant, and change-of-use requirements
• RequiredTenant Finish Guide for Planning & Historic PreservationCreated April 2026, Updated 5/1/2026; Planning/HP-side companion covering zone-district use verification, historic designation checks, Environmentally Sensitive Areas (Mountain View Plane, 8040 Greenline, Hallam Lake Bluff, Stream Margin), exterior mechanical equipment/ventilation standards, and exclusions (signs, outdoor lighting, fenestration)
• RequiredBuilding Permit Application Checklist for Commercial and Multifamily Projects (2021 IBC) — Alteration columnsThe Alteration/Remodel and Alteration (Interior only) columns define the required document and plan sets for tenant-improvement-scope permits
• RequiredPermit Application Signature PacketMust be filled out entirely or the submission will not be accepted
• OptionalEPIC questionnaire + completed EPIC checklistRequired only for the EPIC expedited track: emailed to Building Support to trigger the intake call and scope confirmation before portal submission (application description must start with the word 'EPIC')
• RequiredConstruction Management Plan (CMP)Scaled by work area per the EPIC checklist: minor CMP under 1,000 sq ft, medium CMP 1,000-2,000 sq ft, full CMP Manual + Waste Diversion requirements above 2,000 sq ft

Fee schedule

Requirements

• A sign permit is required for any stationary business sign unless the sign is one of the types listed as exempt in Aspen Municipal Code Sec. 26.510.040 (Aspen's own Sign Permit Checklist header states this directly; the full Sec. 26.510.040 exempt-sign list itself could not be pulled as static text this session because Municode's Aspen library is a JavaScript-rendered SPA that returns only the Angular shell to curl/WebFetch, consistent with this file's documented Municode limitation elsewhere)
• Applicants must submit, per the City's Sign Permit Checklist (dated 11/21/2022): a letter of consent from the building owner; how the sign will be mounted to the building; any lighting plans; the proposed location of the sign(s) and sign materials; a net leasable calculation of the commercial space with an explanation of how it was obtained; the current allotment of signage in square feet; and dimensions and elevations of all proposed signs
• The bottom of any hanging sign must be 8 feet off the ground (Sign Permit Checklist)
• Sign area is computed per specific worked examples in the City's own checklist: a window decal with a solid background counts its full square footage; a window decal with cut-out letters counts only 50% of its square footage toward the allotment; and the first projecting/blade sign is exempt from the allotment entirely if it is no larger than 6 square feet per side
• Signage is tied to a business's net-leasable-area-based 'sign allotment' under Sec. 26.510.100 (Sign Allotment) of the Land Use Code — applicants must document their current allotment as part of the checklist submittal, not just the proposed sign's own dimensions
• Signs may NOT be included in a tenant-finish or other building permit application — this file's commercial-tenant-improvement-permit entry independently confirms signage always requires its own standalone Sign Permit and is separately excluded from the EPIC expedited-permit track's scope
• Applications are submitted via the City's Salesforce Permit Portal like other Building Division permits, following the general submittal and completeness-review process described on aspen.gov/236

Required documents

• RequiredSign Permit ChecklistCity of Aspen Building Department checklist, dated 11/21/2022 — lists all required attachments and includes worked examples for computing sign square footage against the allotment
• RequiredLetter of Consent from Building Owner
• RequiredElevation and Dimension Drawings of All Proposed Signs
• RequiredNet Leasable Calculation and Current Sign Allotment DocumentationExplanation of how the net leasable square footage was obtained, plus the business's current signage allotment in square feet

Fee schedule

Requirements

• Governed by the 2021 IFC as adopted by the City of Aspen (this file's codesAdopted list) plus Aspen Fire Protection District's own Code Amendments to the 2021 IFC, published on aspenfire.com under the Fire Marshal's Office menu
• Fire Alarm Permits and Sprinkler Permits are completed through either the City of Aspen or Pitkin County depending on the property's address (per AFPD's own live 'Fire Alarm Permit or Sprinkler Permit' page) — AFPD itself does not run a separate intake portal, but performs the plan review and inspections regardless of which jurisdiction's portal receives the application
• Fire Sprinkler required submittals, per the joint City of Aspen Community Development / Aspen Fire Department 'Fire Permit Checklist': drawings, hydraulic calculations, and spec sheets for materials used
• Fire Alarm required submittals, per the same checklist: drawings, battery calculations (sometimes included with the drawings), and spec sheets for materials/devices used
• AFPD's Small Projects Permitting Policy allows a simpler Scope of Work letter (on the registered contractor's letterhead) in lieu of full plan sets for: addition of fewer than 6 sprinklers to an existing residential system; addition of fewer than 20 sprinklers to an existing commercial system; repair, maintenance, or replacement of components; changing sprinkler orientation for construction or other temporary conditions; minor relocation of sprinkler heads or branch lines; demolition of a system or portion thereof; or isolation of a system for retrofits/changes — the letter must state the work does not affect the hydraulic demand design or integrity of the existing system, and hydraulic calculations/equipment spec sheets for these small projects are submitted at the AHJ's (AFPD's) discretion
• All installations require an AHJ rough-in and final inspection regardless of the number of heads altered or installed (excluding minor repairs/maintenance); contractors must call for inspection before work is covered
• Sprinkler rough-in inspections must be completed in a single inspection of the entire system unless proven logistically impossible; a second rough-in inspection requires a start-of-project meeting among the Fire Marshal, the sprinkler contractor, and the general contractor
• Final acceptance inspection for sprinkler and/or fire alarm cannot be scheduled until the residence/space is fully 'move-in ready' and work by all other trades is complete (per NFPA 72 17.7.2, cited directly by AFPD) — inspections scheduled prematurely will fail and have caused false-alarm emergency responses; both the fire sprinkler contractor and fire alarm contractor must be present for the final inspection
• Fire Alarm Control Panel and Sprinkler Riser/Control Valve locations must be in full-height, easily accessible areas — enclosed spaces such as crawl spaces are not acceptable — and any deviation from the stamped, approved plans must be separately authorized by the Fire Marshal's office
• A Knox Box (key box) is required for any structure with an NFPA 13, 13D, or 13R sprinkler system installed, mounted 18 inches above the Fire Department Connection, per AFPD's own 2021 IFC amendments and Section 506.1 (Key Boxes)
• Sprinklers are required in attics and crawl spaces if fuel-burning or electrical equipment is installed there, per AFPD's 2021 IFC amendments
• Construction documents generally must be prepared by a registered design professional per 2021 IFC Section 106.1, though the fire code official (Fire Marshal) may waive this where the nature of the work does not require design-professional review; separately, Colorado's Division of Fire Prevention and Control Fire Suppression Program rule (8 CCR 1507-11, Sec. 6.2.5) requires sprinkler plans/hydraulic calculations to bear a PE or NICET Level III+ signature, except that no signature is required for AFPD-qualifying small projects unless the AHJ determines hydraulic design or system integrity may be affected

Required documents

• RequiredFire Permit ChecklistJoint City of Aspen Community Development Department / Aspen Fire Department document listing required Fire Sprinkler and Fire Alarm submittals
• RequiredDrawings, Hydraulic Calculations, and Material Spec Sheets (Fire Sprinkler)
• RequiredDrawings, Battery Calculations, and Material/Device Spec Sheets (Fire Alarm)
• OptionalScope of Work Letter (Small Projects Permitting Policy)Contractor-letterhead letter substituting for full plan sets on qualifying small sprinkler/alarm projects, per AFPD's Small Projects Permitting Policy

Fee schedule

Requirements

• No standalone change-of-use permit, application, or checklist is published by the City of Aspen; this file's own commercial-tenant-improvement-permit entry independently confirms that a change of use (between Mercantile, Business, Assembly, Residential, or Storage/parking use groups, or more broadly between commercial, residential, and lodging categories) requires contacting the Planner of the Day and is treated as a Planning/zoning matter, not purely a Building Division one
• A change in use categorically disqualifies a project from Aspen's EPIC (Expedited Permits in Commercial Zones) fast-track program (already documented in this file's EPIC-related entries) — confirming that change-of-use review runs on its own, separate track from ordinary tenant-finish building permits
• The Land Use Application process (per the City's own Land Use Application Packet) requires, at minimum: a completed Land Use Application Form (project/applicant/representative info plus existing-conditions and proposal narratives); a Dimensional Requirements Form, which explicitly captures existing-vs-proposed Commercial Net Leasable square footage, Lodge Pillows, Lodge Units, and Residential/Free-Market/Affordable unit counts — the exact figures a change-of-use analysis turns on; a signed Agreement to Pay Application Fees; and an HOA Compliance Form
• The Land Use Application's own 'Type of Application' checklist has no dedicated 'Change of Use' box; the two most relevant categories on that checklist are 'Growth Management Review' (GMQS, Chapter 26.470 — Planning & Zoning Commission materials reviewed for this file confirm GMQS explicitly addresses changes between land use categories, e.g., commercial/lodge net leasable converting to residential) and 'Conditional Use Review' (for a proposed use that is conditional rather than permitted-by-right in the applicable zone district under Chapter 26.700, Zone Districts) — which one (or both) applies is a case-by-case Planning determination, not a bright-line rule in the checklist itself
• Applicants must first obtain a Pre-Application Conference Summary letter from the Planner of the Day (per Chapter 26.304) before submitting; the City's own Land Use Application Packet also strongly advises a preliminary consultation with the Zoning Officer, Building Department, Parks Department, and Engineering Department to confirm code compliance and avoid mid-review project changes
• If the specific application type requires a public hearing, notice must be published in a paper of general circulation, posted on the property, and mailed to all owners within 300 feet — each at least 15 days before the hearing — per Aspen Land Use Code Sec. 26.304.060(E); surface-development applications additionally require mineral estate owner notice at least 30 days before the initial hearing
• Fees follow the City's Land Use Review Fee Policy, adopted via Ordinance No. 40, Series of 2018 (as amended): either a flat fee for applications requiring minimal, predictable staff time, or a deposit against City of Aspen Community Development Department staff time billed at $325.00 per hour once the deposit is exhausted, plus separate cumulative flat referral fees (Engineering, Parks, APCHA, Other) as applicable — confirmed directly from the City's own Land Use Application Packet
• This Title 26 land-use-level Development Order process is distinct from the Title 10 building-code Certificate of Occupancy already documented in this file's residential-building-permit and commercial-building-permit entries (which sign off on construction quality before a building can be occupied); a single project involving both new construction and a genuine change of use can require both a land-use Development Order and a building permit/CO
• No City-published numeric Round-1 review-timeline SLA exists for land use / change-of-use applications, unlike the Building Permit Timelines page (aspen.gov/244), which explicitly covers only Building Division permit categories; the City's own Land Use Process & Resources page instead describes a multi-step sequential process (pre-application, completeness review, fee payment, case assignment and referral, public hearing if applicable, decision, recording, then building permit) without attaching a fixed day or week figure to any step
• Unpaid Land Use Review invoices carry real consequences: the Community Development Director may cease processing an application with an invoice 30+ days past due, may assess a 1.75%-per-month late fee at 90+ days past due, and the City will not accept a building permit for the same property until all Land Use Review invoices are paid in full — an already-issued building permit can even face cessation of processing or a stop-work order over an unpaid Land Use Review balance of 90+ days

Required documents

• RequiredLand Use Application FormPart of the City's Land Use Application Packet — project, applicant, and representative information plus existing-conditions and proposal narratives
• RequiredDimensional Requirements FormCaptures existing vs. proposed Commercial Net Leasable square footage, Lodge Pillows/Units, and Residential/Free-Market/Affordable unit counts, plus dimensional standards (floor area, height, setbacks, parking, site coverage) by zone district
• RequiredAgreement to Pay Application FeesEstablishes flat-fee and/or hourly-deposit billing per the Land Use Review Fee Policy (Ordinance No. 40, Series of 2018)
• RequiredHOA Compliance Form
• OptionalPublic Notice AffidavitRequired only if the specific application type triggers a public hearing, per Sec. 26.304.060(E)
• RequiredPre-Application Conference Summary LetterMust be obtained from the Planner of the Day before formal submission, per Chapter 26.304 — determines which Land Use Code process(es), e.g. Growth Management Review and/or Conditional Use Review, actually govern the specific proposed use change

Fee schedule