This is PermitBase’s published record for Telluride as of 2026-08-21. It has since been superseded — see the current record. A historical record reflects what PermitBase had verified at that time; it may not capture a real-world change the jurisdiction had made but PermitBase had not yet verified, and it includes any errors we later corrected. Snapshots are never edited retroactively.
Telluride building permits
VerifiedTelluride, Colorado — as published 2026-08-21.
Verified 2026-07-13 · Source
Codes adopted
Permit types & fees
Residential Building Permit (New Construction)
Required for new construction of single-family, duplex, and townhouse structures in the Town of Telluride. Reviewed under the 2024 IRC/IBC as locally amended, including the Town's Climatic and Geographic Design Criteria (100 mph Vult wind speed/Exposure B, Seismic Design Category B, 48-inch frost depth, ground/roof snow load per the ASCE Hazard tool, mandatory ice barrier underlayment). Because the entire town lies within a National Historic Landmark District, HARC Certificate of Appropriateness approval is required before permit issuance for any exterior work.
Reviewed 2026-08-02 · Source
Requirements
- Plans must comply with the 2024 IRC/IBC as adopted (Ordinance 1620, effective 9/12/2025) and the Town's Climatic and Geographic Design Criteria: 100 mph Vult wind speed/Exposure B, Seismic Design Category B, 48-inch minimum frost depth, ice barrier underlayment required, ground/roof snow load determined per the ASCE Hazard tool (or the Structural Engineer Association of Colorado's 'Snow Load Design Data for Colorado', whichever is most restrictive)
- Roof design must comply with snow-shed mitigation requirements (IBC 903.5/IRC R318.2.1) so ice/snow does not shed onto occupied areas, egress doors, walkways, or utility meters
- HARC Certificate of Appropriateness required before building permit issuance for any exterior design elements, since Telluride's core is a National Historic Landmark District
- Construction Mitigation Plan (CMP) required and must be approved by the Building Department (referred to Planning and Public Works) prior to permit issuance for any project disturbing 500+ sq ft of property or involving demolition/renovation of 500+ sq ft within a 12-month period
- All contractors must hold a current Town of Telluride business license (Municipal Code Chapter 6)
- Applications submitted via the Town's SmartGov online portal (paper applications no longer accepted)
- Permit becomes invalid if work is not commenced within 180 days of issuance, or suspended/abandoned for 180 days after commencement
Required documents
- RequiredBuilding Permit Application (SmartGov)Submitted through the Town of Telluride SmartGov online portal (twn-telluride-co.smartgovcommunity.com)
- RequiredHARC Certificate of AppropriatenessRequired before building permit issuance for any project with exterior elements
- RequiredConstruction Mitigation PlanRequired for projects disturbing 500+ sq ft or involving 500+ sq ft of demolition/renovation within 12 months
- RequiredCertificate of High Altitude FormTown of Telluride form (DocumentCenter/View/141)
Fee schedule
| Fee type | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Building Permit Fee — valuation $1.00 to $500.00 | $51.50 | Table 1-A, Building Permit Fee Schedule effective 1/1/2023 |
| Building Permit Fee — valuation $501.00 to $2,000.00 | $51.50 for the first $500 plus $3.35 for each additional $100 or fraction thereof, to and including $2,000.00 | — |
| Building Permit Fee — valuation $2,001.00 to $25,000.00 | $101.75 for the first $2,000 plus $16.25 for each additional $1,000 or fraction thereof, to and including $25,000.00 | — |
| Building Permit Fee — valuation $25,001.00 to $50,000.00 | $475.50 for the first $25,000 plus $11.75 for each additional $1,000 or fraction thereof, to and including $50,000.00 | — |
| Building Permit Fee — valuation $50,001.00 to $100,000.00 | $769.25 for the first $50,000 plus $8.10 for each additional $1,000 or fraction thereof, to and including $100,000.00 | — |
| Building Permit Fee — valuation $100,001.00 to $500,000.00 | $1,174.25 for the first $100,000 plus $6.50 for each additional $1,000 or fraction thereof, to and including $500,000.00 | — |
| Building Permit Fee — valuation $500,001.00 to $1,000,000.00 | $3,774.25 for the first $500,000 plus $5.60 for each additional $1,000 or fraction thereof, to and including $1,000,000.00 | — |
| Building Permit Fee — valuation $1,000,001.00 and up | $6,574.25 for the first $1,000,000 plus $4.20 for each additional $1,000 or fraction thereof | — |
| Plan Check Fee | 65% of Building Permit Fee | — |
| Town Use Tax | Construction cost x 40% x 4.5% | — |
| County Use Tax | Construction cost x 40% x 1% | — |
| Green Building Fee (TEMP) | 20% of the Building Permit Fee | Can alternately be mitigated on-site or off-site with an eligible renewable energy system, per Ordinance 1372 |
| Building License Fee | Construction cost x 0.007 | Exempt for single-family, duplex, and triplex units in the residential zone, and deed-restricted long-term housing units in any zone (Municipal Code Ch. 6, Sec. 6-1-20(5)) |
Residential Addition / Interior Remodel Permit
Required for additions and interior/exterior remodels to existing single-family, duplex, and townhouse structures in Telluride. Reviewed under the 2024 IRC as locally amended. HARC Certificate of Appropriateness is required before permit issuance for any exterior changes, since the entire town is within a National Historic Landmark District.
Reviewed 2026-08-02 · Source
Requirements
- Reviewed under the 2024 IRC as amended by Ordinance 1620
- HARC Certificate of Appropriateness required before permit issuance for any exterior alteration
- Construction Mitigation Plan required if the project disturbs 500+ sq ft of property, or involves 500+ sq ft of renovation (interior and/or exterior) within a 12-month period, cumulative across projects on the same property
- Automatic sprinkler systems are NOT required for additions/alterations of less than 750 sq ft of area of work to an existing townhouse, one-, or two-family dwelling that does not already have a sprinkler system (IRC R309.1/R309.2 local amendment)
- All contractors must hold a current Town of Telluride business license
- Permit becomes invalid if work is not commenced within 180 days of issuance, or suspended/abandoned for 180 days after commencement
Required documents
- RequiredBuilding Permit Application (SmartGov)Submitted via the Town of Telluride SmartGov online portal
- RequiredHARC Certificate of AppropriatenessRequired prior to permit issuance for any exterior changes
- OptionalConstruction Mitigation PlanRequired if project scope meets the 500 sq ft disturbance/renovation threshold
Fee schedule
| Fee type | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Building Permit Fee (same valuation-based Table 1-A as new construction) | $51.50 minimum, scaling per the valuation tiers in the Building Permit Fee Schedule | Effective 1/1/2023 fee schedule |
| Plan Check Fee | 65% of Building Permit Fee | — |
| Town Use Tax | Construction cost x 40% x 4.5% | — |
| County Use Tax | Construction cost x 40% x 1% | — |
| Green Building Fee (TEMP) | 20% of the Building Permit Fee | — |
Electrical Permit
Required for installation, alteration, or repair of electrical systems in Telluride. Governed by the 2023 NEC as adopted (Ordinance 1620) plus the 2023 Colorado Model Electric Ready and Solar Ready Code. Administered through the same SmartGov portal as building permits; fee calculated under the same Table 1-A valuation schedule used for building/mechanical/plumbing permits.
Reviewed 2026-08-02 · Source
Requirements
- Governed by the 2023 NEC as adopted by the Town of Telluride, plus the 2023 Colorado Model Electric Ready and Solar Ready Code
- Administered via SmartGov (twn-telluride-co.smartgovcommunity.com), the same portal used for building, plumbing, and mechanical permits
- Fee calculated per Table 1-A based on electrical-specific valuation (not a separate state-anchored schedule as used in some other Colorado home-rule towns)
- All contractors must hold a current Town of Telluride business license, plus any required Colorado state electrical licensure
Required documents
- RequiredElectrical Permit Application (SmartGov)Submitted via the Town of Telluride SmartGov online portal
Fee schedule
| Fee type | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical Permit Fee | Calculated per Table 1-A of the Building Permit Fee Schedule, based on electrical valuation | Same valuation-tier table used for Building/Mechanical/Plumbing; see Building Permit fee tiers |
| Plan Check Fee | 65% of the Electrical Permit Fee | — |
| Town Use Tax | Construction cost x 40% x 4.5% | — |
| County Use Tax | Construction cost x 40% x 1% | — |
| Reinspection Fee | $65.00 per hour (or actual jurisdiction cost, whichever is greater) | — |
Plumbing Permit
Required for installation, alteration, or repair of plumbing systems in Telluride. Governed by the 2024 International Plumbing Code (IPC) as adopted. Administered through the same SmartGov portal used for building/electrical/mechanical permits; fee calculated per the same Table 1-A valuation schedule.
Reviewed 2026-08-02 · Source
Requirements
- Governed by the 2024 IPC as adopted by the Town of Telluride (Ordinance 1620)
- Administered via SmartGov, the same portal used for building, electrical, and mechanical permits
- Fee calculated per Table 1-A based on plumbing-specific valuation
- All contractors must hold a current Town of Telluride business license plus any required Colorado state plumbing licensure
- Fixture Unit Table (Town-published PDF) available as a reference for plumbing fixture sizing calculations
Required documents
- RequiredPlumbing Permit Application (SmartGov)Submitted via the Town of Telluride SmartGov online portal
- OptionalFixture Unit TableTown of Telluride reference document for plumbing fixture sizing (DocumentCenter/View/102)
Fee schedule
| Fee type | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Plumbing Permit Fee | Calculated per Table 1-A of the Building Permit Fee Schedule, based on plumbing valuation | — |
| Plan Check Fee | 65% of the Plumbing Permit Fee | — |
| Town Use Tax | Construction cost x 40% x 4.5% | — |
| County Use Tax | Construction cost x 40% x 1% | — |
| Water/Sewer Tap Fee | Per the Town's separate Water/Sewer Tap Fee schedule (updated annually; a 2026 edition is published) | Applies to new taps/connections, not every plumbing permit |
Mechanical / HVAC Permit
Required for heating, cooling, ventilation, and gas appliance installation or replacement in Telluride. Governed by the 2024 International Mechanical Code (IMC) and 2024 International Fuel Gas Code (IFGC) as adopted. Administered through the same SmartGov portal and Table 1-A fee schedule used for building/electrical/plumbing permits.
Reviewed 2026-08-02 · Source
Requirements
- Governed by the 2024 IMC and 2024 IFGC as adopted by the Town of Telluride (Ordinance 1620)
- Administered via SmartGov, the same portal used for building, electrical, and plumbing permits
- Fee calculated per Table 1-A based on mechanical-specific valuation
- All contractors must hold a current Town of Telluride business license
Required documents
- RequiredMechanical Permit Application (SmartGov)Submitted via the Town of Telluride SmartGov online portal
Fee schedule
| Fee type | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Mechanical Permit Fee | Calculated per Table 1-A of the Building Permit Fee Schedule, based on mechanical valuation | — |
| Plan Check Fee | 65% of the Mechanical Permit Fee | — |
| Town Use Tax | Construction cost x 40% x 4.5% | — |
| County Use Tax | Construction cost x 40% x 1% | — |
Residential/Commercial Solar Photovoltaic (PV) Permit
Required for installation of a rooftop or ground-mounted solar photovoltaic system in the Town of Telluride. No solar-specific fee line, checklist, or turnaround SLA is published on the Town's Building Department, Building Codes, or Fee Schedule pages as of 2026-07-20 — a PV system is billed under the same Table 1-A valuation-based fee schedule already documented in this file's Electrical Permit entry. Colorado's statewide C.R.S. § 24-48.5-113 independently caps whatever fee is actually assessed for a solar energy device installation at $500 for a residential permit or $1,000 for a nonresidential permit (systems under 2 megawatts), overriding Telluride's Table 1-A calculation for solar specifically. Because Telluride's entire town core sits within a National Historic Landmark District, a visible roof-mounted array is expected to require HARC Certificate of Appropriateness approval before the building permit is issued, the same as any other exterior work documented elsewhere in this file.
Reviewed 2026-08-02 · Source
Requirements
- Electrical permit required for the interconnection/wiring scope, governed by the 2023 NEC (Article 690, Solar Photovoltaic Systems) as adopted by Ordinance 1620, administered via the Town's SmartGov portal — the same mechanism documented in this file's Electrical Permit entry
- Building permit required for the racking/mounting structural scope, governed by the 2024 IBC/IRC and the Town's Climatic and Geographic Design Criteria (100 mph Vult wind speed, 48-inch frost depth, ground/roof snow load per the ASCE Hazard tool), per this file's Residential Building Permit entry
- HARC Certificate of Appropriateness required before permit issuance for any exterior/visible installation, since Telluride's core lies within a National Historic Landmark District — the same requirement documented in this file's Roofing Permit entry for other visible exterior roof work
- Per C.R.S. § 24-48.5-113(3)(a), for a residential application or a nonresidential application producing less than 2 megawatts, 'the fees charged shall not exceed the lesser of the actual costs in issuing the permit or reviewing the application or five hundred dollars for a residential application or one thousand dollars for a nonresidential application' — this caps the combined Building-plus-Electrical fee total
- All contractors must hold a current Town of Telluride business license (Municipal Code Chapter 6), plus any required Colorado state electrical licensure
Required documents
- RequiredBuilding Permit Application (SmartGov) — Solar scopeSubmitted through the Town of Telluride SmartGov online portal for the racking/mounting structural scope
- RequiredElectrical Permit Application (SmartGov) — Solar interconnectionSubmitted via SmartGov for the array wiring/interconnection scope, governed by 2023 NEC Article 690
- RequiredHARC Certificate of AppropriatenessRequired before permit issuance for any visible exterior installation, since Telluride's core is a National Historic Landmark District
Fee schedule
| Fee type | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Combined Solar PV Permit Fee Cap (residential) | $500.00 maximum (aggregate of Building and Electrical permit fees combined), or the actual cost of issuing/reviewing the permit if lower | C.R.S. § 24-48.5-113(3)(a) — overrides Telluride's own Table 1-A valuation-based fee schedule (the same table documented in this file's Building and Electrical Permit entries) for solar specifically. |
| Combined Solar PV Permit Fee Cap (nonresidential/commercial, under 2 MW) | $1,000.00 maximum (aggregate), or the actual cost of issuing/reviewing the permit if lower | C.R.S. § 24-48.5-113(3)(a). |
| Green Building Fee (TEMP) mitigation option | 20% of the Building Permit Fee, normally — BUT can be mitigated on-site or off-site with an eligible renewable energy system per Ordinance 1372 | Town of Telluride Building Permit Fee Schedule — the Telluride Energy Mitigation Program surcharge that applies to other new construction can itself be offset by installing the solar system covered… Show full citationHideTown of Telluride Building Permit Fee Schedule — the Telluride Energy Mitigation Program surcharge that applies to other new construction can itself be offset by installing the solar system covered by this permit, per the mitigation option already documented in this file's Residential Building Permit entry. |
Roofing Permit (Re-Roof)
Required for re-roofing work in the Town of Telluride, reviewed as a Building Permit under the same Table 1-A valuation-based fee schedule (no separate flat re-roof fee is published). Governed by the 2024 IBC/IRC as adopted, with mandatory snow-shed mitigation design (IBC 903.5/IRC R318.2.1) and the Town's Climatic and Geographic Design Criteria (ice barrier underlayment required, ground/roof snow load per the ASCE Hazard tool). HARC review is required for any visible roofing change since the town is a National Historic Landmark District.
Reviewed 2026-08-02 · Source
Requirements
- Reviewed under the 2024 IBC/IRC as adopted; billed under the same Building Permit Table 1-A valuation schedule (no standalone flat roofing fee published)
- Roof design must include snow-shed mitigation per IBC 903.5/IRC R318.2.1 so ice/snow does not shed onto occupied areas, egress doors, walkways, decks, or utility meters
- Ice barrier underlayment is required per the Town's Table R301.2 design criteria
- Roof snow loads determined per the ASCE Hazard tool or the Structural Engineer Association of Colorado's 'Snow Load Design Data for Colorado', whichever is most restrictive (IBC Section 1608.1 local amendment)
- HARC Certificate of Appropriateness required before permit issuance for any visible/exterior roofing material or design change, since roofing is exterior work within a National Historic Landmark District
- All contractors must hold a current Town of Telluride business license
Required documents
- RequiredBuilding Permit Application (SmartGov) — Re-Roof scopeSubmitted via the Town of Telluride SmartGov online portal; HARC approval attached
- RequiredHARC Certificate of AppropriatenessRequired for any visible roofing material or design change
Fee schedule
| Fee type | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Building Permit Fee (valuation-based, Table 1-A, same schedule as new construction) | $51.50 minimum, scaling per the valuation tiers in the Building Permit Fee Schedule | No separate flat re-roof fee is published; billed under the general Table 1-A Building Permit Fee schedule based on roofing project valuation |
| Plan Check Fee | 65% of the Building Permit Fee | — |
| Town Use Tax | Construction cost x 40% x 4.5% | — |
| County Use Tax | Construction cost x 40% x 1% | — |
Commercial Building Permit (New Construction / Addition)
Required for new construction of, or additions to, commercial, mixed-use, and public-facility structures in the Town of Telluride. Reviewed under the 2024 IBC as adopted (Ordinance 1620) — a genuinely distinct code path from the 2024 IRC used for the Residential Building Permit, since IBC governs occupancy classification, accessibility, and fire-resistance requirements that do not apply to 1-2 family/townhouse construction. This is a real, currently-active, separately-tracked permit category: the Town's own SmartGov application-numbering system uses a distinct 'BLDG-ADDCOMM' (Addition to Commercial Building Permit) prefix, and the Town's complete 2025 Issued Permits with Valuation ledger (all 64 pages, 01/01/2025-12/31/2025) includes real examples up to $16,963,258.00 (BLDG-ADDCOMM-2025-003, 301 W San Juan, Hotel Columbia). No 'BLDG-NEWCOMM' application prefix appears anywhere in that full-year ledger, so ground-up new commercial construction in Telluride's built-out historic core appears to route through this same Addition-to-Commercial pathway or the general Building Permit process — the live SmartGov portal's own category picker does not confirm this either way.
Reviewed 2026-08-02 · Source
Requirements
- Reviewed under the 2024 IBC as adopted by Ordinance 1620 (effective 9/12/2025) — governs occupancy classification, means of egress, accessibility (ADA/ANSI A117.1), and fire-resistance-rated assemblies in ways the 2024 IRC (used for 1-2 family/townhouse residential permits) does not
- Fire Code compliance per the 2024 IFC, jointly enforced with the Telluride Fire Protection District per Resolution No. 2019-03 — commercial occupancies are more likely to trigger fire-alarm/fire-suppression system review than typical single-family work
- HARC Certificate of Appropriateness required before permit issuance for any exterior design elements, since Telluride's entire town core sits within a National Historic Landmark District — applies to commercial buildings the same as residential
- Construction Mitigation Plan (CMP) required and must be approved by the Building Department (referred to Planning and Public Works) prior to permit issuance for any project disturbing 500+ sq ft of property or involving 500+ sq ft of demolition/renovation within a 12-month period
- Commercial Affordable Housing Mitigation: per the Town's own 'Housing Impact Mitigation' worksheet (Planning Department, current version linked from the Applications/Forms/Permits/Resources page), commercial/public-facility net floor-area increase generates a minimum affordable-housing square-footage obligation calculated as: (net commercial/public space increase in sq ft) x 4.5/1,000 sq ft x 400 sq ft x 0.40 = required affordable-housing sq ft. This may be satisfied via on-site or off-site unit construction, deed-restricting existing free-market units, land conveyance, or a fee-in-lieu payment under Land Use Code Section 3-740.A.3 — the actual $/sq ft fee-in-lieu rate for that Section 3-740.A.3 option is not independently verified (see fees section)
- Building License Fee (construction cost x 0.007) DOES apply to commercial building permits — unlike the Residential Building Permit entry in this file, commercial structures are NOT covered by the Municipal Code Section 6-1-20(5) exemption, which is limited to single-family, duplex, and triplex units in the residential zone plus deed-restricted long-term housing
- All contractors must hold a current Town of Telluride business license (Municipal Code Chapter 6)
- Applications submitted via the Town's SmartGov online portal (paper applications no longer accepted)
- Permit becomes invalid if work is not commenced within 180 days of issuance, or suspended/abandoned for 180 days after commencement
Required documents
- RequiredBuilding Permit Application (SmartGov) — Commercial/Addition scopeSubmitted through the Town of Telluride SmartGov online portal; tracked under the 'Addition to Commercial Building Permit' (BLDG-ADDCOMM) application-number prefix in the Town's own permit ledger
- RequiredHARC Certificate of AppropriatenessRequired before building permit issuance for any project with exterior elements
- RequiredConstruction Mitigation PlanRequired for projects disturbing 500+ sq ft or involving 500+ sq ft of demolition/renovation within 12 months
- RequiredHousing Impact Mitigation Worksheet (Commercial)Town of Telluride Planning Department worksheet calculating the minimum affordable-housing square-footage obligation for net commercial/public-facility floor-area increase (telluride.gov/DocumentCenter/View/13555)
- OptionalFixture Unit Table for Commercial and Accommodations UseTown of Telluride reference document for commercial plumbing fixture sizing, distinct from the residential Fixture Unit Table
- RequiredCertificate of High Altitude FormTown of Telluride form (DocumentCenter/View/141)
Fee schedule
| Fee type | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Building Permit Fee (same Table 1-A valuation schedule as Residential Building Permit) | $51.50 minimum, scaling per the same valuation tiers documented in this file's Residential Building Permit entry | Table 1-A, Building Permit Fee Schedule effective 1/1/2023 — confirmed to apply uniformly to Building permits regardless of residential/commercial use; no separate commercial fee table is published |
| Plan Check Fee | 65% of Building Permit Fee | — |
| Town Use Tax | Construction cost x 40% x 4.5% | — |
| County Use Tax | Construction cost x 40% x 1% | — |
| Green Building Fee (TEMP) | 20% of the Building Permit Fee | Can alternately be mitigated on-site or off-site with an eligible renewable energy system, per Ordinance 1372 |
| Building License Fee | Construction cost x 0.007 | Applies to commercial building permits — commercial structures are NOT covered by the Municipal Code Ch. 6, Sec. 6-1-20(5) exemption (limited to SF/duplex/triplex residential and deed-restricted long-term housing) |
| Commercial Affordable Housing Mitigation (fee-in-lieu option) | Not independently verified as a CURRENT flat dollar figure or $/sq ft rate | The Town's Housing Impact Mitigation worksheet gives a square-footage-obligation FORMULA (see requirements), satisfiable via built units, deed restriction, land conveyance, OR a fee-in-lieu payment… Show full citationHideThe Town's Housing Impact Mitigation worksheet gives a square-footage-obligation FORMULA (see requirements), satisfiable via built units, deed restriction, land conveyance, OR a fee-in-lieu payment under Land Use Code Section 3-740.A.3. LUC Section 3-740.A.3.a itself confirms the $/sq ft rate is NOT set in the LUC text but is instead 'developed by the Town and adopted by Town Council' per housing category 'as defined in the Guidelines', with a mandatory review/update at least every 2 years. The Telluride Affordable Housing Guidelines (telluride-co.civicweb.net/document/51945/) do list a figure in Section 8/Table 4 'Payment-in-Lieu Standards' — Town Impact Units: $70.45 per square foot of net livable space — but that document's own amendment history ends at 'Amended March 27, 2001', making the figure roughly 25 years stale relative to LUC 3-740.A.3.a's 2-year review cycle, so it is deliberately NOT presented as a current rate here (a 2024-amended edition of the Guidelines exists for AMI/income tables per a separate Town Council action, but nothing establishes that Table 4's payment-in-lieu $/sq ft figure was updated as part of that amendment or since). Confirm the CURRENT rate directly with the Planning Department (Ron Quarles, 970-728-2150) or the Telluride Housing Authority before budgeting — do not use $70.45/sq ft as a live figure. |
Tenant Improvement Permit (Commercial Alteration / Repair)
Covers interior build-out ('tenant finish') and general alteration/repair work to existing commercial, retail, restaurant, and office space in the Town of Telluride. Historically issued under an explicit 'Tenant Finish' permit-type checkbox (confirmed from an actual 2005 Town of Telluride building permit record for a real-estate-office build-out at 333 W Colorado Ave, Permit #2005112) — the Town's current SmartGov system processes this same scope of work under the 'Alteration or Repair to Commercial Building Permit' (BLDG-ALTERCOMM) application-number prefix, confirmed against real 2025 issued permits (e.g. an interior build-out at 135 W Colorado Ave Unit D, $8,500; an ATM installation at 101 E Colorado Ave Unit A, $22,720). Telluride does NOT maintain a fee, checklist, or review process that is separately distinct for 'tenant improvement' specifically versus other commercial alteration/repair work (e.g. roof repairs, HOA common-area electrical work, and interior tenant build-outs all share the same BLDG-ALTERCOMM category and Table 1-A fee mechanism in the Town's own 2025 permit ledger) — this file documents that as a genuine, verified finding rather than fabricating a distinction that does not exist in Telluride's actual practice.
Reviewed 2026-08-02 · Source
Requirements
- Reviewed under the 2024 IBC as adopted by Ordinance 1620 for the affected commercial tenant space/occupancy
- HARC Certificate of Appropriateness required before permit issuance ONLY if the scope includes exterior alteration (storefront, signage, visible facade changes) — purely interior tenant build-outs with no exterior component do not trigger HARC review, consistent with this file's Residential Addition/Remodel entry's treatment of interior-only work
- Construction Mitigation Plan required if the project disturbs 500+ sq ft of property, or involves 500+ sq ft of renovation (interior and/or exterior) within a 12-month period, cumulative across projects on the same property
- Fire Code compliance per the 2024 IFC — a change of occupant/use within an existing commercial space can trigger fire-alarm, sprinkler, or occupant-load review depending on the new tenant's use, coordinated with the Telluride Fire Protection District
- All contractors must hold a current Town of Telluride business license
- Permit becomes invalid if work is not commenced within 180 days of issuance, or suspended/abandoned for 180 days after commencement
Required documents
- RequiredBuilding Permit Application (SmartGov) — Alteration/Repair to Commercial scopeSubmitted via the Town of Telluride SmartGov online portal; tracked under the 'Alteration or Repair to Commercial Building Permit' (BLDG-ALTERCOMM) application-number prefix in the Town's own permit ledger — the same category used for a routine commercial roof or electrical repair, not a distinct 'tenant improvement' application
- OptionalHARC Certificate of AppropriatenessRequired only if the scope includes any exterior alteration (storefront, signage, facade)
- OptionalConstruction Mitigation PlanRequired if project scope meets the 500 sq ft disturbance/renovation threshold
Fee schedule
| Fee type | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Building Permit Fee (same Table 1-A valuation schedule as new commercial construction) | $51.50 minimum, scaling per the valuation tiers in the Building Permit Fee Schedule | Confirmed via real 2025 examples: an $8,500 interior build-out (135 W Colorado Ave Unit D) and a $22,720 ATM installation (101 E Colorado Ave Unit A) were both processed as standard BLDG-ALTERCOMM permits under this fee schedule |
| Plan Check Fee | 65% of the Building Permit Fee | — |
| Town Use Tax | Construction cost x 40% x 4.5% | — |
| County Use Tax | Construction cost x 40% x 1% | — |
| Building License Fee | Construction cost x 0.007 | Applies to commercial alteration/repair permits — not exempt the way SF/duplex/triplex residential permits are under Municipal Code Ch. 6, Sec. 6-1-20(5) |
Electric Vehicle (EV) Charging Station Permit
Telluride publishes no separate fee, form or process for EV charging station (EVSE) installations -- the Building Permit Fee Schedule and the Building Division's permit list carry no EV charger, EVSE or electric vehicle charging station category. An EV charger installation (new branch circuit for a Level 2 charger, panel work and so on) is billed as an Electrical Permit under the same Table 1-A valuation-based fee schedule used for all electrical work; that is the governing charge for an EV charger circuit. Telluride's 2020 Census population (2,607) is below the 10,000-resident municipal threshold in Colorado HB24-1173 (effective 8/7/2024), so the Town is not a covered municipal permitting agency required to adopt the state model EV-charger permit code, custom standards, or the statute's 3-business-day decision-notification timeline. Telluride does not participate in SolarAPP+, which in any case does not cover EV charger installations.
Reviewed 2026-08-02 · Source
Requirements
- Treated as an Electrical Permit — governed by the 2023 NEC as adopted (Ordinance 1620) plus the 2023 Colorado Model Electric Ready and Solar Ready Code
- Administered via SmartGov (twn-telluride-co.smartgovcommunity.com), the same portal used for building, electrical, plumbing, and mechanical permits
- Fee calculated per Table 1-A based on electrical-specific valuation — no distinct EV-charger fee tier is published
- Contractor must hold a current Town of Telluride business license, plus any required Colorado state electrical licensure
- Telluride's 2020 Census population (2,607) is far below the 10,000-resident HB24-1173 municipal threshold, so the Town is not required to adopt the state's model EV-charger permitting code or the statute's 3-business-day decision-notification timeline
Required documents
- RequiredElectrical Permit Application (SmartGov)Submitted via the Town of Telluride SmartGov online portal; no separate EV-charger-specific application exists
Fee schedule
| Fee type | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical Permit Fee (no distinct EV-charger line item) | Calculated per Table 1-A of the Building Permit Fee Schedule, based on electrical valuation | Telluride's published Building Permit Fee Schedule (telluride.gov/DocumentCenter/View/13559/2024-Building-Permit-Fees-PDF) and Building Codes page do not list a separate EV charger / EVSE fee category; Show full citationHideTelluride's published Building Permit Fee Schedule (telluride.gov/DocumentCenter/View/13559/2024-Building-Permit-Fees-PDF) and Building Codes page do not list a separate EV charger / EVSE fee category; an EV charger install is billed as a standard Electrical Permit under Table 1-A. |
| Plan Check Fee | 65% of the Electrical Permit Fee | — |
| Town Use Tax | Construction cost x 40% x 4.5% | — |
| County Use Tax | Construction cost x 40% x 1% | — |
Sign Permit
VerifiedTelluride Land Use Code Division 4 (the “Telluride Sign Code,” substantially rewritten by Ordinance 1597 in 2024) requires a sign permit before any sign is displayed, constructed, installed, erected, or altered within Town limits, unless the sign is exempt, partially exempt, or otherwise excepted from the permit requirement. The permit is issued by the Town's Director of Historic Preservation and Planning (Planning Department) rather than the Building Division, and is billed separately from the IBC-valuation-based Building Permit Fee Schedule used for building/electrical/mechanical/plumbing permits.
Verified 2026-08-14 · Source
Requirements
- No sign shall be displayed, constructed, installed, erected, or altered within the Town until the Town has issued a sign permit, unless the sign is exempt, partially exempt, or qualifies for an exception to the permit requirement, per LUC Section 3-401.C.2 (Telluride Sign Code, Ord. 1597, 2024)
- Permit issued by the Town's Director of Historic Preservation and Planning (Planning Department), per LUC Section 3-402 definitions
- Total allowable sign area for a building equals one (1) square foot of sign area per three (3) linear feet of building frontage, capped at 20 sq ft of combined sign area; a maximum of two (2) signs are allowed per business per frontage (freestanding, projecting, wall, or window sign combination), per LUC Section 3-405
- Off-site signs, roof signs, internally-lit exterior signs, electronic/digital message signs, flashing or moving signs, and signs affixed to trees or utility poles are prohibited, per LUC Section 3-403
- Historic signs on designated historic buildings up to 10 sq ft, government/wayfinding signs, and other categories listed in LUC Section 3-404 are exempt from the sign permit requirement (exemptions do not exempt the sign from other applicable codes)
- A commercial-message sign must be removed within 30 days after the advertised activity, product, business, or service ceases or vacates the premises (LUC Section 3-413.A); the Town may remove a noncompliant sign after 14 days' notice to the permit holder (LUC Section 3-413.B)
Required documents
- RequiredSign Permit ApplicationSubmitted to the Town of Telluride Planning Department (Director of Historic Preservation and Planning); HARC/Planning applications are filed via the Town's SmartGov online portal
Fee schedule
| Fee type | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Sign Permit Fee | $60.00 | Per the Town of Telluride 2025/2026 HARC & Planning Fee Schedule (effective January 1, 2025), listed under the schedule's HARC Applications table. Show full citationHidePer the Town of Telluride 2025/2026 HARC & Planning Fee Schedule (effective January 1, 2025), listed under the schedule's HARC Applications table. This two-column table does not copy and paste cleanly — a copy-paste returns a figure from a neighbouring line item next to the 'Sign Permit' row — so read the fee from the page as published. |
Fire Sprinkler / Fire Alarm System Permit
VerifiedFire protection and fire-code enforcement for the Town of Telluride is provided by the Telluride Fire Protection District (TFPD, PO Box 1645, Telluride CO 81435; 970-728-3801), a special district separate from Town government. TFPD adopted the 2018 International Fire Code (IFC) with local amendments via Resolution No. 2025-10, which also establishes TFPD's plan-review and permit fee schedule. TFPD maintains separate online applications and fee schedules for Fire Suppression System permits and Fire Alarm System permits; both explicitly commit to a 14-day review turnaround after full submittal.
Verified 2026-08-14 · Source
Requirements
- Separate online applications required for Fire Suppression System permits and Fire Alarm System permits, submitted via TFPD's website (telluridefire.com); each requires the installing contractor's license/PE/NICET number, a Colorado DFPC suppression registration number (for sprinkler systems), building owner and general contractor information, and a PDF set of scaled plans/specifications
- TFPD publicly commits: “Allow 14 days for review after full submittal” on both the Fire Suppression System Permit Application and Fire Alarm System Permit Application pages
- Fire Suppression Plan Review Fee is area-based by Gross Floor Area: $750.00 (0-3,600 sq ft) rising to $8,000.00 (50,001-100,000 sq ft), then $0.15 per sq ft above 100,001 sq ft, per TFPD Resolution 2025-10, Section 1.B
- Fire Suppression Permit Fee (charged separately from the plan review fee) equals gross sq ft × 4.80 × .05 (e.g., a 3,601 sq ft structure yields a permit fee of $864.24), per TFPD Resolution 2025-10, Section 1.B
- Fire Alarm Plan Review Fee is similarly area-based: $250.00 (0-3,600 sq ft) rising to $4,000.00 (50,001-100,000 sq ft), then $0.10 per sq ft above 100,001 sq ft, per TFPD Resolution 2025-10, Section 1.C
- Fire Alarm Permit Fee uses the same gross sq ft × 4.80 × .05 formula as the suppression permit fee, per TFPD Resolution 2025-10, Section 1.C
- Small-project sprinkler work (1-5 sprinkler heads installed, deleted, or relocated) is billed a flat $300.00 plan review/permit fee plus $25.00 per head; small-project fire alarm work (1-5 devices) is billed $300.00 plus $25.00 per device
- Sprinkler systems installed without a Colorado Department of Fire Prevention and Control (DFPC)-registered Fire Sprinkler Fitter on-site throughout installation incur a $1,000.00 fine and a violation referral to DFPC
- Work initiated without an issued permit or paid fees doubles the plan review and permit fees (×2 penalty) for both suppression and alarm systems
Required documents
- RequiredFire Suppression System Permit ApplicationOnline form at telluridefire.com; requires installing-contractor license/DFPC registration number, project location, building owner, occupant/business owner, and general contractor information, scaled PDF plans, and scope of work (system type: 13, 13R, 13D, wet, dry, or fire pump; counts of new/deleted sprinkler heads)
- RequiredFire Alarm System Permit ApplicationOnline form at telluridefire.com; requires installer license/NICET number, project location and gross sq ft, building owner, occupant/business owner, and general contractor information, scaled PDF plans/specifications, and scope of work
Fee schedule
| Fee type | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Fire Suppression Plan Review Fee | $750.00 (0-3,600 sf) / $1,000.00 (3,601-5,000 sf) / $1,500.00 (5,001-10,000 sf) / $2,500.00 (10,001-20,000 sf) / $4,000.00 (20,001-50,000 sf) / $8,000.00 (50,001-100,000 sf) / $0.15 per sq ft (100,001+ sf) | Per TFPD Resolution 2025-10, Section 1.B; includes one initial and one follow-up plan review. Read the figures from the resolution PDF's fee table as published rather than from a copy-paste — copied text shifts the dollar figures one row off their square-footage bracket. |
| Fire Suppression Permit Fee | Gross sq ft × 4.80 × .05 = fee (e.g., a 3,601 sq ft structure = $864.24) | Per TFPD Resolution 2025-10, Section 1.B; includes one underground inspection, one rough-in inspection, and one final inspection. |
| Fire Alarm Plan Review Fee | $250.00 (0-3,600 sf) / $500.00 (3,601-5,000 sf) / $750.00 (5,001-10,000 sf) / $1,000.00 (10,001-20,000 sf) / $2,000.00 (20,001-50,000 sf) / $4,000.00 (50,001-100,000 sf) / $0.10 per sq ft (100,001+ sf) | Per TFPD Resolution 2025-10, Section 1.C; includes one initial and one follow-up plan review. Same PDF-table row-misalignment trap applied here and was corrected by visual image review. |
| Fire Alarm Permit Fee | Gross sq ft × 4.80 × .05 = fee (e.g., a 3,601 sq ft structure = $864.24) | Per TFPD Resolution 2025-10, Section 1.C; includes one rough-in inspection and one final inspection. |
| Small Project Fee (1-5 sprinkler heads or 1-5 alarm devices) | $300.00 flat plan review/permit fee plus $25.00 per sprinkler head or per alarm device | Per TFPD Resolution 2025-10, Sections 1.B and 1.C. |
Change of Use
VerifiedThe Town of Telluride does not publish a single, dedicated “Change of Use Permit” procedure the way some peer Colorado municipalities do. Instead, Land Use Code Section 1-302.F requires a Certificate of Occupancy from the Building Official before any change in the use or occupancy of land, or any change of use or occupancy in an existing building, may occur. Where the new use also constitutes a genuine “change of use” of a nonconforming use, structure, or lot (LUC Section 4-103.B), or is a use requiring individual Planning & Zoning Commission (P&Z) review under the applicable zone district's table of uses (“Use/Activity Permitted on Review,” LUC Sections 6-101 through 6-104 and 6-110 through 6-113), that P&Z-level review and approval must be completed before the Certificate of Occupancy can issue. A change of use that generates additional employees also triggers the Town's Affordable Housing/Employee Housing Mitigation requirements (LUC Section 3-720) unless exempted.
Verified 2026-08-14 · Source
Requirements
- No change in the use or occupancy of land, and no change of use or occupancy in an existing building, may occur until a Certificate of Occupancy has been issued by the Building Official, per LUC Section 1-302.F
- Before issuing the Certificate of Occupancy, the Building Official examines all applicable development-permit requirements and investigates the site for Land Use Code compliance; issuance is withheld until compliance is obtained, per LUC Section 1-302.F.1
- If the new use constitutes a “change of use” of a nonconforming use, structure, or lot as defined in LUC Section 4-103.B (e.g., resulting parking noncompliance, expansion of a nonconforming use, a different Commercial-zone-district use category not similar in operation to the prior use, or additional dwelling units/parking in the Residential zone), it must first be reviewed and approved by the Planning & Zoning Commission (P&Z) under LUC Sections 6-110 through 6-113 (“Activities Permitted on Review”), including a staff report and a Level 4 public-notice hearing
- If the new use is listed as a “use permitted on review” for the applicable zone district (LUC Article 3, Division 2's table of uses), it requires P&Z approval under LUC Sections 6-101 through 6-104 before a building permit or Certificate of Occupancy may issue
- A change of use that generates additional employees is subject to the Town's Affordable Housing/Employee Housing Mitigation requirements (LUC Section 3-720.A.3), calculated against the Town's employment-generation Table #1, unless the change does not create additional employment generation as determined by that table (exempt per LUC Section 3-720.B.1)
- A conforming use may never be changed to a nonconforming use, per LUC Section 4-103.A
Required documents
- RequiredCertificate of Occupancy RequestRequested from the Town of Telluride Building Division upon completion of any project, including a change of use/occupancy; the Building Official inspects for Land Use Code and permit compliance before issuance
- OptionalUse/Activity Permitted on Review ApplicationRequired only when the new use constitutes a “change of use” under LUC Section 4-103.B or is listed as a use permitted on review for the applicable zone district; submitted to the Planning Director for P&Z review (15 copies plus an improvement survey and building plans/elevations, per LUC Sections 6-103/6-112)
Fee schedule
| Fee type | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate of Occupancy (change of use/occupancy) | LUC Section 1-302.F establishes the Certificate of Occupancy requirement but does not itself publish a standalone dollar figure for a change-of-use Certificate of Occupancy apart from any associated building permit. Show full citationHideLUC Section 1-302.F establishes the Certificate of Occupancy requirement but does not itself publish a standalone dollar figure for a change-of-use Certificate of Occupancy apart from any associated building permit. Contact the Building Division (970-728-5700 / planningandbuilding@telluride.gov) for a current fee determination on a specific project. | |
| Use/Activity Permitted on Review (P&Z) — general use permitted on review | $970.00 | Per the Town of Telluride 2025/2026 HARC & Planning Fee Schedule (effective 1/1/2025), “Use and Activity Permitted on Review” line item; Show full citationHidePer the Town of Telluride 2025/2026 HARC & Planning Fee Schedule (effective 1/1/2025), “Use and Activity Permitted on Review” line item; value confirmed by rendering the fee-schedule PDF to an image and reading it visually. Applies when a new use is listed as a use permitted on review for the applicable zone district (LUC Sections 6-101-6-104). |
| Non-conforming Use or Lot Review (P&Z) — change of use of a nonconforming use/structure/lot | $41.37 per hour after the first hour | Per the 2025/2026 HARC & Planning Fee Schedule's “Non-conforming Use or Lot Review” line item (the schedule's standard hourly rate applied to several review categories rather than a flat fee). Applies to a change-of-use review under LUC Sections 6-110-6-113. |
Sources & verification
Verified against official sources. Last reviewed 2026-07-13.
Fee schedules
Applications & forms
Codes & ordinances
Department & other records
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 Telluride building department before you submit. PermitBase is an independent reference and is not affiliated with any government agency.