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Change Of Use / Zoning Certificate Of Occupancy Permit in Akron, Colorado

Unlike sign and fire-sprinkler/alarm permitting, Akron's change-of-use process is genuinely well-documented: Town Code 11-2-5 (Title 11, Zoning Regulations) requires a certificate of occupancy "for the use of vacant land or the change in the use of land" to be applied for before such land is occupied or used, and states the certificate "shall be issued within ten (10) days after the application has been made, provided such use is in conformity with the provisions of this title" -- a real, specific, statutory timeline, one of very few fixed numeric figures found anywhere in this file for Akron. This zoning-level Certificate of Occupancy is distinct from the Title 10 building-code Certificate of Occupancy already documented in the residential-building-permit and commercial-building-permit entries (which sign off on construction quality, not land-use conformity), though a single project can trigger both. Town Code 11-4-1 (Nonconforming Uses) separately governs how a change of use interacts with property that does not conform to its zoning district's regulations.

Verified 2026-08-05 · Source

When you need this permit

  • A certificate of occupancy "for the use of vacant land or the change in the use of land" must be applied for BEFORE such land is occupied or used (Town Code 11-2-5.A); the certificate "shall be issued within ten (10) days after the application has been made, provided such use is in conformity with the provisions of this title" -- the only fixed statutory review-timeline figure found anywhere in this file for any Akron permit type, confirmed by direct reading of the current Title 11 text at codelibrary.amlegal.com/codes/akron_co, 2026-08-05
  • The certificate "shall state that the building or proposed use of a building or land, complies with all the building and health laws and ordinances and with the provisions of this title" (11-2-5.B.1); a record of all certificates is kept on file in the office of the Building Inspector, with copies furnished on request to any person having a proprietary or tenant's interest in the affected building (11-2-5.B.2)
  • No permit for excavation for any building may be issued before an application has been made for a certificate of occupancy (11-2-5.C) -- meaning this change-of-use/CO application can be a gating step ahead of certain building-permit activity, not merely a closing step at the end of a project
  • Town Code 11-4-1 (Nonconforming Uses) governs changes to a use that does not conform to its district's zoning regulations: a lawful nonconforming use of land or of a building may continue, but once discontinued any future use must conform (11-4-1.B, C); once a nonconforming BUILDING use has been changed to a more restricted or fully conforming use, "such use shall not thereafter be changed to a less restricted use" (11-4-1.D) -- a one-way ratchet relevant to any change-of-use application on a currently nonconforming property
  • A building damaged by fire, explosion, flood, act of God, or a public enemy to more than seventy five percent (75%) of its fair value may not be restored except in conformity with the zoning regulations of the district it sits in (11-4-1.D) -- relevant where a change of use is being considered alongside reconstruction
  • If the change of use also involves construction or alteration work, the Town's ordinary Building Permit Application (Title 10) applies as well -- see the residential-addition-remodel and commercial-building-permit entries in this file; the Title 10 building-code Certificate of Occupancy referenced there (which must be obtained before a building can be occupied, per the Town's live Building Department page) is a distinct, construction-quality sign-off from the Title 11 zoning Certificate of Occupancy documented here, though a single project can trigger both
  • Contact Akron Town Hall (970-345-2624, Monday-Thursday 7:30 AM-5:30 PM) to obtain the current zoning Certificate of Occupancy / change-of-use application -- no standalone application form for this specific Title 11 process, distinct from the general Zoning Permit Requirements described in Town Code 11-2-4 (application to the office of the town clerk, accompanied by plans/specifications), was located published online as of this research pass

Required documents

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Fee schedule

Zoning Certificate of Occupancy feeTown Code 11-2-5.B.3, quoted directly: "No fee shall be charged for an original certificate applied for coincident with the application for a building permit; for all other certificates or for copies of the original certificate there shall be a fee charged of one dollar ($1.00) each." This is one of only two fixed, current dollar figures found anywhere in Akron's Town Code -- the other being the $24.60 manufactured/mobile-home placement base fee documented in the residential-building-permit entry.
$0 if applied for coincident with a building permit application; $1.00 for any other certificate or for a copy of an original certificate

Review timeline

Plan review
Not published — contact the department

How long did your Change Of Use / Zoning Certificate Of Occupancy Permit permit actually take in Akron?

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

Inspection process

  1. 1

    Zoning compliance review

    Per Town Code 11-2-6 (Inspections and Tests), the Building Inspector "shall make or cause to be made such inspections as are necessary to see to the enforcement of the provisions of this title" [Title 11, Zoning Regulations] -- this general zoning-enforcement authority is the basis for confirming a proposed land/building use is "in conformity with the provisions of this title" before the certificate of occupancy is issued under 11-2-5.A. No distinct inspection checklist specific to a change-of-use application, separate from this general authority, is published.

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

Tips

  • Akron's change-of-use process is one of the more concretely documented permit types in this file: a real 10-day statutory issuance timeline (Town Code 11-2-5.A) and a real, if nominal, $1.00 fee for non-concurrent certificates (11-2-5.B.3) -- in contrast to nearly every other Akron permit type in this file, where no numeric review timeline is published anywhere.
  • Remember there are TWO different "Certificate of Occupancy" concepts in Akron's Code: the Title 11 zoning-level certificate documented in this entry (which addresses land-use conformity and carries the 10-day timeline) and the Title 10 building-code certificate documented in the residential-building-permit and commercial-building-permit entries (which addresses construction-quality sign-off before a building can be occupied). A single project involving both new construction and a use change could require both.
  • If the property in question currently has a nonconforming use, review Town Code 11-4-1 before applying -- changing a nonconforming building use to a more restricted or conforming use cannot later be changed back to a less restricted use (11-4-1.D), a one-way ratchet that could permanently affect future flexibility on the property.

Frequently asked questions

Akron requires a change of use / zoning certificate of occupancy permit for: A certificate of occupancy "for the use of vacant land or the change in the use of land" must be applied for BEFORE such land is occupied or used (Town Code 11-2-5.A); the certificate "shall be issued within ten (10) days after the application has been made, provided such use is in conformity with the provisions of this title" -- the only fixed statutory review-timeline figure found anywhere in this file for any Akron permit type, confirmed by direct reading of the current Title 11 text at codelibrary.amlegal.com/codes/akron_co, 2026-08-05; The certificate "shall state that the building or proposed use of a building or land, complies with all the building and health laws and ordinances and with the provisions of this title" (11-2-5.B.1); a record of all certificates is kept on file in the office of the Building Inspector, with copies furnished on request to any person having a proprietary or tenant's interest in the affected building (11-2-5.B.2); No permit for excavation for any building may be issued before an application has been made for a certificate of occupancy (11-2-5.C) -- meaning this change-of-use/CO application can be a gating step ahead of certain building-permit activity, not merely a closing step at the end of a project; Town Code 11-4-1 (Nonconforming Uses) governs changes to a use that does not conform to its district's zoning regulations: a lawful nonconforming use of land or of a building may continue, but once discontinued any future use must conform (11-4-1.B, C); once a nonconforming BUILDING use has been changed to a more restricted or fully conforming use, "such use shall not thereafter be changed to a less restricted use" (11-4-1.D) -- a one-way ratchet relevant to any change-of-use application on a currently nonconforming property; A building damaged by fire, explosion, flood, act of God, or a public enemy to more than seventy five percent (75%) of its fair value may not be restored except in conformity with the zoning regulations of the district it sits in (11-4-1.D) -- relevant where a change of use is being considered alongside reconstruction; If the change of use also involves construction or alteration work, the Town's ordinary Building Permit Application (Title 10) applies as well -- see the residential-addition-remodel and commercial-building-permit entries in this file; the Title 10 building-code Certificate of Occupancy referenced there (which must be obtained before a building can be occupied, per the Town's live Building Department page) is a distinct, construction-quality sign-off from the Title 11 zoning Certificate of Occupancy documented here, though a single project can trigger both; Contact Akron Town Hall (970-345-2624, Monday-Thursday 7:30 AM-5:30 PM) to obtain the current zoning Certificate of Occupancy / change-of-use application -- no standalone application form for this specific Title 11 process, distinct from the general Zoning Permit Requirements described in Town Code 11-2-4 (application to the office of the town clerk, accompanied by plans/specifications), was located published online as of this research pass. If your project isn't listed, confirm with Town of Akron — Office of the Building Inspector (Town Hall) at 970-345-2624 before starting work.

Nothing, if applied for at the same time as a building permit application. If applied for separately, or for a copy of an original certificate, the fee is $1.00 (Town Code 11-2-5.B.3).

Ten (10) days after the application is made, per Town Code 11-2-5.A, provided the proposed use is in conformity with Title 11's zoning provisions. This is a real, codified statutory timeline -- one of very few fixed numeric review-timeline figures published anywhere in Akron's Town Code.

You'll need: Zoning Certificate of Occupancy application. Depending on your project, Akron may also ask for: Building Permit Application (Title 10, if construction/alteration accompanies the use change). See the required-documents checklist on this page for details on each.

Akron requires 1 inspection(s) for a change of use / zoning certificate of occupancy permit, in order: Zoning compliance review. Schedule each through Town of Akron — Office of the Building Inspector (Town Hall) (970-345-2624).

Apply through Town of Akron — Office of the Building Inspector (Town Hall) at 250 Main Ave, Akron, CO 80720. Phone: 970-345-2624, email: deputyclerk@townofakron.com. Office hours: Monday - Thursday, 7:30 AM - 5:30 PM; closed Fridays. Fax: 970-345-2617. Per Town Code 10-1-1, the Building Inspector is appointed by the Board of Trustees at its first regular meeting following each biennial election and serves as chief enforcement officer for all Title 10 building regulations (except fire prevention code); there is no separate physical 'Building Department' office distinct from Town Hall in this small Eastern Plains town (2020 Census population 1,757).. Official information: https://www.townofakron.com/179/Building.

Akron, Colorado has adopted: 2018 International Building Code (IBC), chapters 1-35 plus appendices C, E, G, H, I, and J — Town Code 10-2-1, adopted by Ordinance 514 (1-6-2014), amended by Ordinance 589 (6-5-2023). The Ord. 589 amendment did NOT change the underlying edition year — Town Code 10-2-1 as currently published still names the 2018 IBC specifically, not a newer cycle — so the 2023 ordinance is treated as a re-adoption/amendment of the same 2018 edition rather than a code-cycle update, per direct reading of the current Town Code text (American Legal Publishing, checked 2026-07-06).; 2009 International Residential Code (IRC), chapters 1-43 plus appendices B, C, D, E, G, H, J, and K — Town Code 10-3-1, adopted by Ordinance 515 (1-6-2014). This is a materially older code cycle than the Building Code (2009 IRC vs. 2018 IBC); no evidence of a later IRC re-adoption was found anywhere in the Town Code, the Town's ordinances index, or web search as of this review.; No standalone plumbing, mechanical, fuel gas, or electrical code chapter exists anywhere in Town Code Title 10 (Building and Development) — Chapters run: Ch.1 General Building Provisions, Ch.2 Building Code (IBC 2018), Ch.3 Residential Code (IRC 2009), Ch.4 Building Numbers (addressing), Ch.5 Colorado Plains Regional Airport Overlay Zoning, Ch.6 Shipping Containers. Checked the full Title 10 table of contents and walked every chapter node directly on American Legal Publishing's code library (codelibrary.amlegal.com/codes/akron_co) — confirmed no electrical/plumbing/mechanical/energy chapter exists.; No energy code (IECC or otherwise) has been adopted by the Town of Akron — no such chapter exists in Title 10, and no ordinance adopting an energy code was found via direct Town Code review or web search. See localAmendments for the HB22-1362 analysis.. Local amendments apply — see the Akron overview page for the full list.

Yes. Town Code 11-2-5.A requires a certificate of occupancy to be applied for before any vacant land is occupied or any change in the use of land occurs, independent of whether construction work is also involved. The certificate must be issued within ten (10) days of application, provided the proposed use conforms to Title 11's zoning provisions.

Sources & verification

Verified against official sources. Last reviewed 2026-08-05.

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 Akron building department before you submit. PermitBase is an independent reference and is not affiliated with any government agency.