Unincorporated Teller County building permits

Building department

Address

800 Research Drive, Suite 100-B, Tamarac Business Center, Woodland Park, CO 80863

Phone

719-687-3048

Office hours

Monday through Friday (except holidays), 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., closed 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. for lunch. Building Inspectors answer Building Code questions by phone or in person 7:30-8:30 a.m. Monday-Friday at 719-687-3048; the Plans Examiner is available by appointment only, scheduled by calling 719-686-5405. Source: https://www.tellercounty.gov/Building-Division

Website

Official site

Permit portal

Apply online at Unincorporated Teller County's portal

Inspection guide

See how inspections work in Unincorporated Teller County — 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.

• AUTHORITY MODEL: The Teller County Building Division is responsible for regulating building activities to ensure residential and commercial structures comply with applicable codes, and 'issues Permits and Inspects all… Show full textShow less

  AUTHORITY MODEL: The Teller County Building Division is responsible for regulating building activities to ensure residential and commercial structures comply with applicable codes, and 'issues Permits and Inspects all land/property located within unincorporated Teller County.' Woodland Park, Cripple Creek, and Victor all have their own separate Building Departments for issuing permits and performing inspections within their own municipal jurisdictions. This is a direct, affirmative statement of first-party permit issuance to unincorporated-area residents (not a records/coordination-only office), independently confirmed live 2026-07-06. Source: https://www.tellercounty.gov/Building-Division

• Colorado has no statewide mandatory building code for most jurisdictions (home-rule/county-adoption authority under C.R.S. Title 30, Article 28); Teller County adopts and amends its own construction codes for the unincorporated area via the Teller County Building Code, administered by a Board of Review created under C.R.S. 30-28-206 and 207.
• Teller County Building Code, as adopted by the Board of County Commissioners, effective 07/01/2023 (Resolution 06-22-2023 (21)), with subsequent amendment Resolution 11-09-2023 affecting contractor-license definitions and fees (Article II). Show full textShow less

  Teller County Building Code, as adopted by the Board of County Commissioners, effective 07/01/2023 (Resolution 06-22-2023 (21)), with subsequent amendment Resolution 11-09-2023 affecting contractor-license definitions and fees (Article II). This is the county's own current, in-force code compilation (58-page consolidated document; accessed 2026-07-06). Source: Teller County Building Code (PDF), https://www.tellercounty.gov/DocumentCenter/View/242/Teller-County-Building-Code-PDF

• Article III - 2021 International Residential Code (IRC), including Appendix Chapters AA, AB, AC, AG, AH, AJ, and AN, with numerous county-specific amendments (see localAmendments). Source: Teller County Building Code (PDF), Article III
• Article IV - 2021 International Building Code (IBC), including Appendix Chapters G, H, and I, and the 'Building Safety Journal.' Source: Teller County Building Code (PDF), Article IV
• Article V - 2021 International Plumbing Code (IPC) as amended by the State of Colorado, including Appendices B, E, and G. Colorado uses the International Plumbing Code (not the Uniform Plumbing Code) for this jurisdiction. Where Article V conflicts with Article III (IRC) or Article IV (IBC), Article V (the Plumbing Code) governs. Source: Teller County Building Code (PDF), Article V, Section 102.1
• Article VI - 2021 International Mechanical Code (IMC), including Appendix Chapter A. Source: Teller County Building Code (PDF), Article VI
• Article VII - 2021 International Fuel Gas Code (IFGC), including Appendix Chapter A. Source: Teller County Building Code (PDF), Article VII
• Article VIII - Mobile/Factory Built/Manufactured Housing Code, with county-specific definitions of Manufactured Home, Factory Built Home (Modular/IRC Code Compliant Unit, per 8 CCR 1302-3), and Mobile Home; a building permit is required for the permanent foundation and all utility connections. Source: Teller County Building Code (PDF), Article VIII
• Article IX - 2023 National Electrical Code (NEC/NFPA 70), adopted directly by Teller County (not merely deferred to a state board), governing all electrical alterations, repairs, replacements, equipment, appliances, fixtures, fittings, and appurtenances; where the 2021 IRC/IBC conflict with the NEC, the NEC (Article IX) prevails as the more restrictive code. Source: Teller County Building Code (PDF), Article IX
• Article X - 2003 International Fire Code, adopted as the Teller County Fire Code for the unincorporated area by Teller County Ordinance #16. Source: Teller County Building Code (PDF), Article X
• Article XII - 2018 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC), including the IECC Appendix for reference only. Show full textShow less

  Article XII - 2018 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC), including the IECC Appendix for reference only. This is the county's own current adopted edition (as of 2026-07-06) -- the 2018 edition, not the 2021 or 2024 edition. Colorado's HB22-1362 (statewide 'model' energy code adoption requirements for larger/home-rule jurisdictions with updates on a rolling schedule) is not referenced in Teller County's own code text, nor is a more recent IECC edition, anywhere in the 58-page Building Code document, and no separate county page or resolution updates the energy code to a post-2018 edition. Source: Teller County Building Code (PDF), Article XII

• Article XIII - Safety Code for Elevators and Escalators (ASME A17.1-2019, A17.3-2011, A18.1-2011, ASME QEI-2013, ANSI/ASSE A10.4-2007); all inspections performed by a State of Colorado-designated ANSI Certified Inspector with results submitted to the Building Department. Source: Teller County Building Code (PDF), Article XIII
• Article XIV - 2021 International Existing Building Code (IEBC). Source: Teller County Building Code (PDF), Article XIV
• Article XV - Uniform Code for the Abatement of Dangerous Buildings, 1997 edition. Source: Teller County Building Code (PDF), Article XV
• Article XVII - Penalties: violations of the Teller County Building Code are unlawful and punishable per C.R.S. 30-28-209 and 30-28-210. Source: Teller County Building Code (PDF), Article XVII

Permit types & fees

• Single Family Dwelling (SFD) / New Residential Building Permit

  Required for construction of a new single-family dwelling in unincorporated Teller County, reviewed against the 2021 IRC as amended by the Teller County Building Code (Article III), plus the 2018 IECC (Article XII) and the county's own design criteria (57 psf ground snow load, 115 mph wind, Seismic Design Category B, 30-inch frost depth).

  Fee not published→

• Residential Addition / Interior Remodel / Basement Finish Permit

  Required for additions, interior remodels, and basement finish work on existing one- and two-family dwellings in unincorporated Teller County, reviewed against the 2021 IRC as amended by the Teller County Building Code.

  Fee not published→

• Electrical Permit

  Required for electrical wiring, panel, and equipment installation, alteration, or repair in unincorporated Teller County. Governed by the 2023 National Electrical Code (NEC), directly adopted and enforced by Teller County (Article IX), not merely deferred to the state.

  Fee not published→

• Plumbing Permit

  Required for installation, replacement, or repair of plumbing systems in unincorporated Teller County. Governed by the 2021 International Plumbing Code (IPC) as amended by the State of Colorado (Article V), directly enforced by Teller County.

  Fee not published→

• Mechanical / HVAC Permit

  Required for installation, replacement, or repair of HVAC, ventilation, and fuel-gas-fired equipment in unincorporated Teller County. Governed by the 2021 International Mechanical Code (IMC, Article VI) and 2021 International Fuel Gas Code (IFGC, Article VII), with multiple county-specific amendments (floor furnaces and unvented room heaters prohibited).

  From$75.00→

• Re-Roof Permit

  Required for roof replacement or re-roofing in unincorporated Teller County, reviewed against the 2021 IBC/IRC roofing provisions with Teller County's own ice-barrier-underlayment and roof-penetration amendments.

  Fee not published→

• Solar Permit

  Required for installation of solar photovoltaic or other alternative-energy systems in unincorporated Teller County. Contractors performing the DC (direct current) side of installation must hold Teller County's Alternative Energy Installation Contractor AE/DC-side license; AC-side electrical work requires state electrical licensure.

  $75.00→

• Demolition Permit

  Required for demolition of structures in unincorporated Teller County. Only a licensed Teller County Demolition Contractor (Building Contractor D specialty license) may perform demolition, except that a licensed general contractor may wreck minor buildings or remove portions of buildings as part of an alteration/remodeling program.

  $50.00→

• Residential Deck Permit

  Required for construction of a new deck in unincorporated Teller County, with a separate 'Minor Deck' site-plan pathway for smaller projects. Reviewed against 2021 IRC deck provisions with county-specific ledger-flashing and lateral-load amendments.

  Fee not published→

• Electric Vehicle (EV) Charging Station / EVSE Permit

  Teller County has no distinct EV charger/EVSE permit application, fee line, or process published separately from its general Electrical Permit. Installation of a residential or commercial electric vehicle charging station is billed and reviewed as ordinary electrical work under the county's standard Electrical Permit, governed by the 2023 NEC (Article IX of the Teller County Building Code) which includes Article 625 (Electric Vehicle Power Transfer System) provisions. The Building Permit Applications listing (26 categories) contains no separate 'EV Charger' or 'EVSE' application, and neither the Building Division homepage nor the Building Code text reference Colorado HB24-1173 (the 2024 state law requiring covered counties with population 20,000+ to adopt an EV charger permitting model code, custom objective standards, or retain existing process by 12/31/2025, plus a 3-business-day decision-notification requirement). Teller County's approx. 26,000 population places it near the HB24-1173 'covered county' population threshold, but the county publishes no confirmation of which HB24-1173 compliance track it selected (or that it qualifies at all). The county self-administers electrical permitting via its own Building Division Electrical Inspector, ruling out the Colorado State Electrical Board (DORA) statewide fee schedule as an applicable fallback for this jurisdiction.

  See fee schedule→

• Commercial Building Permit

  Required for new commercial building construction, additions to existing commercial buildings, and interior remodels in unincorporated Teller County. Reviewed against the 2021 International Building Code (IBC) as amended by the Teller County Building Code (Article IV), plus the 2018 IECC energy code (Article XII). Submitted via a dedicated Commercial Building Permit Application, entirely distinct from the county's residential application forms -- independently confirmed by downloading and reading both the application and its companion requirements handout directly, 2026-08-02.

  $100.00→

• Tenant Improvement (TI) Permit

  Unincorporated Teller County has no distinct Tenant Improvement (TI) permit. There is no standalone TI application, fee line, checklist, or process separate from the county's general Commercial Building Permit. Interior remodel / tenant-improvement work in an existing commercial building is submitted on the same Commercial Building Permit Application (PDF) by checking 'Interior Remodel' under Type of Construction, and is reviewed under the same 2021 IBC (Article IV)-based process as new commercial construction and additions. The 'Commercial Application Forms' table on the Building Permit Applications page lists exactly two commercial documents — the Commercial Building Permit Application and the Commercial Building Permit Requirements handout — with no separate TI-specific application, checklist, or fee schedule anywhere on the page. The full 58-page Teller County Building Code contains no mention of 'tenant improvement' or 'TI permit.'

  Fee not published→

• Sign Permit

  Sign standards for unincorporated Teller County are set by the Teller County Land Use Regulations (TCLUR), Chapter 5, Section 5.8 (Signs), administered by the Planning Department (540 Manor Court, Woodland Park, 719-687-3048). Per Section 5.8.D, 'a permit for a new sign may be required in accordance with the Teller County Building Code' — meaning the sign PERMIT itself is issued through the Building Division's general permitting process (the Building Permit Applications page's document listing contains no dedicated standalone 'Sign Permit' application), while Section 5.8's substantive standards (size, placement, lighting, prohibited types) are set by the Planning Department's Land Use Regulations. Many common on-premise sign types are exempt from a permit altogether under Section 5.8.D.1.

  Fee not published→

• Fire Sprinkler / Fire Alarm System Permit

  Unincorporated Teller County has adopted its own Teller County Fire Code (2003 International Fire Code, including Appendix Chapters A, B, and C) by reference under Article X of the Teller County Building Code, per Teller County Ordinance #16. Unlike the county's direct-enforcement model for the NEC (electrical) and IPC (plumbing) — where the county's own Building Division performs inspections — Article X's fire code adoption is a bare one-paragraph clause with no further local amendments, and the Building Code text does not designate a 'fire code official' or otherwise state that the County Building Division itself issues fire alarm/sprinkler system permits. The County's own Commercial Building Permit Requirements handout instead confirms that 'Fire Department AHJ review and approval may be required' as an ADDITIONAL, separate review from the Teller County Building Department. Unincorporated Teller County is covered by seven separate fire protection districts, per the County's own Emergency Service Agencies directory: Cripple Creek Fire District, Divide Fire District, Florissant Fire District, Four Mile Fire District, Green Mountain Falls-Chipita Park Fire District, Mountain Communities Fire District, and Northeast Teller County Fire District — coverage is split by location, and the applicable district's fire marshal is most likely the fire code official (AHJ) for a given property's fire alarm/sprinkler plan review, though this was not explicitly confirmed in the public Building Code text.

  Fee not published→

• Change of Use Permit

  Unincorporated Teller County has no standalone 'Change of Use Permit' or 'Change of Occupancy Permit.' The full 58-page Teller County Building Code contains no reference to 'change of use,' 'change of occupancy,' or 'change in occupancy.' A change in occupancy classification is instead processed through the same Commercial Building Permit Application used for all commercial work: the form's 'Type of Construction' field offers checkboxes for New Build, Addition to existing building, Interior Remodel, or 'Other: ___', alongside a required 'Occupancy Classification' field — there is no dedicated 'change of use' or 'change of occupancy' checkbox, so such a project would be declared via the 'Other' field and the Occupancy Classification entry. The technical compliance framework for an occupancy change is supplied by the County's adopted 2021 International Existing Building Code (Article XIV of the Teller County Building Code), which is adopted by reference with no county-specific amendments addressing change of occupancy.

  Fee not published→

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