Cripple Creek building permits
Department contacts, adopted codes, permit types, fees, and gotchas for Cripple Creek, Colorado.
Last verified 2026-07-06 · Source · Embed this page’s badge · Version history
Building department
- Address
- 337 E. Bennett Ave, Cripple Creek, CO 80813 (mailing: P.O. Box 430, Cripple Creek, CO 80813)
- Phone
- 719-689-3588 ext. 1
- Office hours
- Building Inspector normal duty hours are 7:30 AM to 4:00 PM on Mondays and Fridays only (with an alternate day sometimes added around a holiday week, decided case-by-case). The inspector is typically present in the office at 337 E. Bennett Ave from 7:30-9:00 AM on Monday/Friday mornings for questions in person or by phone (719-689-3588 ext. 1); after 9 AM the inspector is generally in the field performing inspections and returns to the office afterward for consultations. As of May 28, 2026, Martin L. Colgan serves as the City's Combination Inspector (Residential and Commercial Building, Mechanical, Plumbing, and Gas Piping). SAFEbuilt is stated on the City's Building Department page to be the City's new full-service company for plan review, permits, and inspections; the City notes it is currently implementing new permitting software and directs applicants to call the Building Department to ask about the current submission process.
- Website
- Official site
Inspection guide
See how inspections work in Cripple Creek — sequence, scheduling & re-inspection fees.
Codes adopted
Colorado has no statewide-mandated building code edition. Under the Colorado Constitution's home-rule provisions (art. XX, home rule for municipalities since 1902; home rule for counties since 1970), building codes and zoning are an enumerated home-rule charter power, so cities and counties adopt and amend their own construction codes independently — predominantly the I-Codes, with editions and local amendments varying by jurisdiction. The one statewide floor is for energy: HB22-1362 (2022) created the Energy Code Board (jointly appointed by the Colorado Energy Office and the Department of Local Affairs) and requires that, on or after July 1, 2023 and before July 1, 2026, any municipality or county that adopts or updates a building code must adopt and enforce an energy code achieving performance equivalent to or better than the 2021 IECC together with the board's Model Electric Ready and Solar Ready Code (which includes electric-ready, EV-ready, and solar-ready provisions); from July 1, 2026 onward the floor shifts to the board's Model Low Energy and Carbon Code or an equivalent. Electrical and plumbing permitting defaults to the Colorado State Electrical Board and State Plumbing Board (within DORA's Division of Professions and Occupations) — the state issues permits and inspects statewide except in counties/jurisdictions that operate their own certified Electrical or Plumbing Inspection Program, in which case the local program has authority instead. Always confirm the currently adopted code edition, local amendments, and inspection authority (state board vs. local program) with the specific jurisdiction before submitting plans.
- 2018 International Building Code (IBC) — City of Cripple Creek Municipal Code Ch. 18, Art. 2 Sec. 18-2-10 and Art. 3 (adopted by Ord. No. 2019-03, as amended by Ord. No. 2022-06 and Ord. No. 2023-13)
- 2018 International Residential Code (IRC), including Appendices H, J, and Q — Ch. 18, Art. 4
- International Plumbing Code (IPC), most current edition as adopted by the State of Colorado — Ch. 18, Art. 5
- 2018 International Mechanical Code (IMC) — Ch. 18, Art. 6
- 2015 International Fuel Gas Code (IFGC) — Ch. 18, Art. 7
- 2018 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) — Ch. 18, Art. 8
- 2018 International Fire Code (IFC), including all appendices A-N — Ch. 18, Art. 9
- 2018 International Existing Building Code (IEBC) — Ch. 18, Art. 10
- National Electrical Code (NEC), most current edition as adopted by the State of Colorado — Ch. 18, Art. 11
- 2018 International Swimming Pool and Spa Code (ISPSC) — Ch. 18, Art. 12
- 2018 International Property Maintenance Code (IPMC) — Ch. 18, Art. 13
- ASME A17.1 (2010)/A17.2 (2010)/A17.6 (2010)/A17.3 (2010) and A18.1 (2011) Safety Code for Elevators and Escalators, as adopted by Teller County (SCEE) — Ch. 18, Art. 14; all inspections performed by Teller County's designated ASME Certified Inspector, results submitted to the City Building Department
- Manufactured Home Code (locally drafted, not an ICC model code) — Ch. 18, Art. 19, enacted by Ord. No. 2021-11
- Note on code currency: Cripple Creek Municipal Code Chapter 18 adopts the 2018-cycle IBC/IRC/IMC/IECC/IFC/IEBC/ISPSC/IPMC by reference (via Ord. No. 2019-03, adopted Aug. 7, 2019), one cycle behind the 2021/2024 editions used by some neighboring Colorado jurisdictions (e.g. Vail's 2024 cycle). The IPC and NEC sections instead float to 'the most current edition as adopted by the State of Colorado,' so those two trades track the state's adoption cycle rather than a fixed local edition. This is the governing, most-recently-verified text of Municode's Cripple Creek library as of this review (chapter carries amendment history through Ord. No. 2023-13, effective 1-3-24).
Permit types & fees
Residential Building Permit (New Construction)
Required for new construction of single-family homes and similar residential structures in the City of Cripple Creek. Reviewed under the 2018 IRC/IBC (as locally adopted and amended) by the Building Department, now operating with SAFEbuilt as the City's plan review/permit/inspection contractor. Any exterior work within a designated Historic District additionally requires a Certificate of Appropriateness from the Historic Preservation Commission before or alongside permit review.
Residential Addition / Remodel Permit
Required for additions and remodels to existing residential structures in Cripple Creek, reviewed under the locally adopted 2018 IRC/IBC. Any exterior alteration or addition of 10% or more of a structure's exterior surface within a designated Historic District is defined as 'New Construction' under the Historic Preservation Ordinance and requires a Certificate of Appropriateness.
Electrical Permit
Required for installation, alteration, or repair of electrical systems in Cripple Creek. Governed by the most current NEC edition as adopted by the State of Colorado. Electrical licensing is anchored to the State of Colorado Electrical Board (DORA) — the City verifies but does not independently license electricians; City Building Inspectors are authorized and required by state law to perform random job-site license reviews.
Electric Vehicle Charging Station Permit
The City of Cripple Creek does not publish a standalone EV charger/EVSE permit application, fee line, or webpage -- checked the Building Department page, the Contemporaneous Review of Electrical and Plumbing Licenses page, the Permits/Inspections/Contractors Licensing Information page, and Municipal Code Ch. 18 Art. 11 (National Electrical Code) directly; none name electric vehicle charging stations, EV chargers, or EVSE. Installing an EV charger is electrical work and is processed as a standard Electrical Permit under the most current NEC edition as adopted by the State of Colorado (Ch. 18, Art. 11), the same permit type and mechanism documented in this file's electrical-permit entry, including reliance on Colorado State Electrical Board (DORA) licensure for the installing electrician rather than a City-run electrical licensing program. Re-chased exhaustively 2026-07-20 (see sources[] for every avenue checked): the City self-administers this permit locally through its third-party plan-review/permitting vendor SAFEbuilt via the CommunityCore portal, and the electrical permit fee is set by City Council resolution rather than published in Municipal Code, on the City's own pages, or on SAFEbuilt's public site -- no numeric fee table was located after directly checking every public page and portal identified, so this is NOT a case of routing to a state-administered permit (unlike jurisdictions where the State Electrical Board itself issues the permit); Colorado's CRS 12-23-117(3) statutory ceiling (local electrical inspection fees may not exceed 115% of the State Electrical Board's own fee table) legally bounds whatever resolution figure Cripple Creek uses, but does not itself supply Cripple Creek's actual fee.
Plumbing Permit
Required for installation, alteration, or repair of plumbing systems in Cripple Creek. Governed by the most current IPC edition as adopted by the State of Colorado, with a local freezing-protection amendment. Plumbing licensing is anchored to the State of Colorado Plumbing Board (DORA), verified but not independently issued by the City.
Mechanical / HVAC Permit
Required for heating, cooling, and ventilation equipment installation or replacement in Cripple Creek. Governed by the 2018 International Mechanical Code (IMC) and 2015 International Fuel Gas Code (IFGC) as locally adopted.
Reroof Permit
Required for reroofing work in Cripple Creek. Any roof material/covering change other than like-for-like materials requires a roof evaluation from a licensed Colorado engineer; roofs within a designated Historic District are additionally subject to the Historic Preservation Commission's roofing material/color design guidelines.
Rooftop Solar / Photovoltaic Permit
Required for solar photovoltaic and solar thermal installations in Cripple Creek. Within the B and BB (historic business) zone districts, the Development Code imposes specific placement rules to protect the visual character of the Historic District; outside those districts, standard electrical/building permit review applies under the locally adopted NEC and IBC.
Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) Permit
Required for construction of an Accessory Dwelling Unit in Cripple Creek. ADUs are an explicitly permitted accessory use under the City's 2025 Development Code (Section 1.5.12, amended by Ordinance 2025-06), consistent with Colorado's statewide ADU-legalization push (HB24-1152).
Demolition Permit
Required for demolition of any structure in Cripple Creek. Demolition of a structure, site, or object within a designated Historic District requires the Historic Preservation Commission's recommendation and issuance of a valid Certificate of Appropriateness before demolition may proceed; unauthorized demolition within a Historic District carries specific penalties under the Historic Preservation Ordinance and the City's Revised Demolition Ordinance.
Commercial Tenant Improvement Permit
Required for interior build-out or alteration of commercial space in Cripple Creek. Reviewed under the 2018 IBC as locally adopted; commercial properties within the Bennett Avenue Historic District (much of the City's B and BB zone districts) are additionally subject to Historic Preservation Commission review for any exterior-visible changes.
Deck / Covered Patio Permit
Required for construction of a deck, covered patio, or similar attached/detached structure in Cripple Creek. Reviewed under the 2018 IRC/IBC as locally adopted; subject to the same foundation survey, snow-load, and (within a Historic District) Certificate of Appropriateness requirements as other exterior construction.
New residential construction activity
New privately-owned residential construction onlyHousing units authorized by building permits for new privately-owned residential construction — this is not total permit volume (no commercial permits or remodels).
- Latest month (2026-05)
- No data reported
- Trailing 12 months
- No data reported
- Year to date (2026 YTD)
- No data reported
- Full year 2025
- 20units
20 buildings · $3.4M valuation
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey (BPS), 2026-05 vintage. Census survey data — separate from the permit-requirements verification above. All Colorado building activity
Tips & gotchas
- Cripple Creek is a home-rule city with its OWN Building Department (337 E. Bennett Ave) — Teller County's own Building Division explicitly limits its permitting/inspection authority to unincorporated county land and states that Cripple Creek (along with Woodland Park and Victor) has its own Building Department. Confirm jurisdiction before assuming county rules apply to any Cripple Creek parcel.
- SAFEbuilt now handles plan review, permitting, and inspections for the City, and the City states it is transitioning to new permitting software as of this review — call (719) 689-3588 ext. 1 to confirm the current submission process before assuming a legacy process still applies.
- The Building Inspector's regular office hours are Monday and Friday mornings only (7:30 AM-4:00 PM duty hours, with 7:30-9:00 AM as the reliable in-office window for questions) — plan your submittal and inspection-request timing accordingly, and use the 24-hour automated inspection request line where possible.
- Cripple Creek is a National Historic Landmark and National Historic District. Any new construction, alteration, material change, relocation, or demolition of a structure within a designated Historic District requires a Certificate of Appropriateness (or Certificate of Economic Hardship/Nonapplicability) from the Historic Preservation Commission — a genuinely separate review track from Building Department code review, run by a 7-member Commission that meets only about once a month. Budget calendar time for this step distinctly from standard permit review.
- Cripple Creek's adopted building codes are the 2018 cycle (IBC/IRC/IMC/IECC/IFC/IEBC/ISPSC/IPMC via Ord. No. 2019-03), one cycle behind some neighboring Colorado mountain jurisdictions using 2021/2024 editions — confirm the current adopted edition directly with the Building Department before finalizing a code analysis. The IPC and NEC instead float to whatever edition the State of Colorado has most currently adopted, so those two trades may be on a newer edition than the fixed-cycle codes.
- Electrical and plumbing licensing in Cripple Creek is anchored entirely to Colorado State (DORA) licensure under CRS 12-23-101 et seq. (electrical) and CRS 12-58-102 et seq. (plumbing) — the City runs no separate local trade-licensing program for these trades, but does perform mandatory random job-site license verification (enforcing a strict 3-apprentices-per-licensed-worker ratio) as required by state law.
- No numeric building-permit fee table was locatable on the City's website, SAFEbuilt's site, or the Municode ordinance text as of this review — fees are set 'in accordance with the City of Cripple Creek Building Fee Schedule' per City Council resolution (most recently identified as Resolution 2021-21), but the schedule itself was not found published as an accessible standalone document. Contact the Building Department directly (719-689-3588 ext. 1) for current figures.
- The City does not publish a numeric plan-review turnaround (days or weeks) for any building-permit category anywhere on its Building Department pages, the Municode building-regulations chapter, the 2025 Development Code, or its Council-meeting-minutes archive. Colorado is home-rule with no statewide clock, and every permitType in this file is honestly null/unverified with a documented chase trail rather than an invented figure.
- An Improvement Location Certificate (ILC) AND a Setback & Elevation Certificate, both from a licensed Colorado surveyor, are required for ALL new foundations in Cripple Creek — a broader trigger than many peer jurisdictions, and a hard prerequisite before a rough framing inspection can even be requested.
- No affirmative reference to Colorado HB22-1362 (statewide model energy code requirements) was found in Cripple Creek's Municode chapter, Development Code, or Building Department pages; the City's adopted energy code remains the 2018 IECC with no located amendment updating it toward HB22-1362's provisions. This is noted honestly as an open question rather than assumed either way.
- Rooftop solar/PV in the B and BB (historic business) zone districts is subject to specific Development Code placement rules favoring integrated or low-visibility installations over conspicuous primary-structure roof mounts — factor this into system design and Historic Preservation Commission review timing if your property is in one of these districts.
- ADUs are explicitly permitted city-wide (max 1 per primary structure, capped at 750 sq ft or 50% of the primary structure's square footage) per the 2025 Development Code Section 1.5.12, amended by Ordinance 2025-06 — consistent with Colorado's statewide HB24-1152 ADU-legalization push.