You are viewing the permanent link for the record currently in effect, published 2026-08-26.
Unincorporated Washington County building permits
VerifiedUnincorporated Washington County, Colorado — as published 2026-08-26.
Verified 2026-07-06 · Source
Codes adopted
Permit types & fees
Building Permit (New Construction, Addition, Remodel, Accessory Structures)
VerifiedWashington County's general Building Permit Application covers new construction, additions, and remodels for residences (including manufactured homes checked as a class of work on this same form) plus accessory structures — out buildings (barns, shops, machine sheds), grain bins, garages, room additions, and decks with attached roofs or screened porches. Reviewed and approved by the County Commissioner Chairman via the Land Use Office. Review focuses on zoning and placement compliance (legal description, road access, construction materials, foundation type, size, sewer/water source) rather than a technical model-code plan review — see the FAQ below for a note on the County's separate, not-online-published Zoning Resolution.
Verified 2026-08-02 · Source
Requirements
- Completed Building Permit Application (Rev. 06-14) — legal description by section/township/range, road/highway access, class of work (new building, addition, remodel, manufactured home), construction materials and building type, whether set on permanent foundation/basement, intended use, size of house/building, size of acreage/lots
- If the parcel is less than 35 acres, a Subdivision Exemption may be required
- Sewer facility and water source (including well number if applicable) must be disclosed
- Well and septic permits (via the Northeast Colorado Health Department) may be required before final approval
- Total declared value of the building, used by County staff to calculate the permit fee at approval
- Property owner and Commissioner Chairman signatures
Required documents
- RequiredBuilding Permit ApplicationWashington County's official PDF application (Rev. 06-14), available from the Planning & Zoning Forms page or by contacting the Land Use Office directly
Fee schedule
| Fee type | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Building Permit Fee | $100.00 flat, for all buildings except Use by Special Review (commercial-use) buildings | The Building Permit Application PDF (this entry's source) carries a printed fee grid: '(b) Building Permit Fees for all buildings except Use by Special Review: $100.00' and, separately, '(d) OR UBSR… Show full citationHideThe Building Permit Application PDF (this entry's source) carries a printed fee grid: '(b) Building Permit Fees for all buildings except Use by Special Review: $100.00' and, separately, '(d) OR UBSR (Commercial Use) Building Permit Fee for: Use by Special Review Application - $150.00.' |
| Use Tax | 1.5% of 48% of the total declared value of the completed building | Printed directly on the same fee grid -- '(2) Value of (1) x 0.48... 48% of value of Building', then '(a) Value of (2) x 0.015... (Use Tax: 1.5%)'. |
Commercial Building Permit (Use by Special Review)
VerifiedWashington County issues commercial building permits through the same general Building Permit Application (Rev. 06-14) used for residential construction, rather than a separate commercial form — but the application's own fee grid carries a distinct, higher fee tier for a commercial-use building approved under Use by Special Review (USBR): $150.00, versus $100.00 for other buildings. Commercial, mixed-use, and industrial USE of the property is a separate zoning gate from the building permit itself: it requires a USBR application, a public-hearing process through the Planning Commission and then the Board of County Commissioners, adopted by Resolution 2004-68 (April 20, 2004), with CMRS/wind-tower uses added by Resolution 2004-142 (September 21, 2004) and site-plan amendments added by Resolution 2004-181 (December 30, 2004), all per the USBR application form's own citation of its adopting resolutions. The USBR form's enumerated 'Principal Permitted Uses' for Community Business, Mixed Use Development, and Industrial Uses establish that commercial and industrial use categories exist in the county's zoning scheme, even though the County has not published its underlying Zoning Resolution online.
Verified 2026-08-26 · Source
Requirements
- Completed Building Permit Application (Rev. 06-14) — the same general form used for residential construction — with 'Total Value of Building' used to calculate the fee, and the fee grid's '(d) OR UBSR (Commercial Use)' line completed instead of the '(b)' line used for other buildings
- A commercial, mixed-use, or industrial USE of the property (as distinct from the building itself) requires a separate Use by Special Review (USBR) application: legal description, current zoning, evidence of utility availability, and — for Community Business, Mixed Use Development, or Industrial Uses — identification of which enumerated principal permitted use applies
- USBR requires a public hearing before the Planning Commission and then the Board of County Commissioners, per the process adopted by Resolution 2004-68 and its amending resolutions cited on the USBR application form
- Sign posting (or newspaper publication in lieu of a posted sign) is required as part of the USBR public-hearing process
- Well and septic clearance through the Northeast Colorado Health Department, and evidence of a water source/well permit, are required before the County finalizes a building permit, per the same requirement documented for residential construction
- Property owner and Commissioner Chairman signatures required on the Building Permit Application; applicant and property owner signatures required on the USBR application
Required documents
- RequiredBuilding Permit ApplicationWashington County's official PDF application (Rev. 06-14) — the same general form used for residential and other construction, with a separate '(d) OR UBSR (Commercial Use)' fee line for commercial-use buildings
- OptionalApplication for Use by Special Review (USBR)Washington County's official PDF application (Revised 3-22-2024), required when the project involves a change to a commercial, mixed-use, or industrial USE of the property — separate from, and in addition to, the Building Permit Application above
Fee schedule
| Fee type | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Commercial-Use (Use by Special Review) Building Permit Fee | $150.00 flat | Building Permit Application (Rev. 06-14), fee-calculation grid: '(b) Building Permit Fees for all buildings except Use by Special Review: $100.00' and, on the line below it, '(d) OR UBSR (Commercial Use) Building Permit Fee for: Use by Special Review Application - $150.00.' |
| Use Tax | 1.5% of 48% of the total declared value of the completed building | Building Permit Application (Rev. 06-14), same fee-calculation grid: '(2) Value of (1) x 0.48... Show full citationHideBuilding Permit Application (Rev. 06-14), same fee-calculation grid: '(2) Value of (1) x 0.48... 48% of value of Building' then '(a) Value of (2) x 0.015... (Use Tax: 1.5%).' The use-tax line appears once on the shared worksheet above both the (b) and (d) permit-fee lines; the form does not print a second, separately-labeled use-tax line under the $150.00 commercial tier specifically. |
| Use by Special Review — Administrative Review/Application Fee | $500.00 | Application for Use by Special Review (Revised 3-22-2024): 'Administrative Review/ Application Fee $500.00 =Total Due.' Charged for the zoning-use approval, separately from and in addition to the… Show full citationHideApplication for Use by Special Review (Revised 3-22-2024): 'Administrative Review/ Application Fee $500.00 =Total Due.' Charged for the zoning-use approval, separately from and in addition to the Building Permit fee above, when the project involves a change to commercial, mixed-use, or industrial use of the property. |
| Use by Special Review — Sign Posting Fee | $150.00 | Application for Use by Special Review (Revised 3-22-2024): '*Sign Posting Fee $150.00.' The form adds that publication charges apply instead if posting sites are published in local newspapers rather than posted on-site. |
| Use by Special Review — Recording Fees | $13.00 for the first page, plus $5.00 for each additional page | Application for Use by Special Review (Revised 3-22-2024): 'Recording Fees: 1st page $13 and $5 for each additional page due at time of Recording.' |
Mobile or Manufactured Home Permit (with Foundation Permit if applicable)
VerifiedA separate application (distinct from the general Building Permit) for placing a mobile or manufactured home in unincorporated Washington County. Installation and inspection standards are set by the Colorado Division of Housing (state), not a county-adopted code; the County collects its own permit fee and the state's inspection/insignia fee, arranges the state-required inspection, and — if the unit will sit on a permanent foundation or basement — requires a separate Foundation Permit using the same County-designated inspector.
Verified 2026-08-02 · Source
Requirements
- Completed Mobile or Manufactured Home Permit Application (Rev. 09-12) — legal description, road/highway access, reason for application (new/addition/alteration/repair/move), type and year built of unit, size, acreage, sewer facility, and water source
- Evidence of the total value of the unit or home attached to the application (used to calculate use tax and the state inspection fee)
- Foundation Permit (Rev. 09-12), obtained separately or alongside this application, if the unit will be set on a permanent foundation or basement — inspected by the same County inspector before the home is set
- Evidence of a water source/well permit and either a Northeast Colorado Health Department (NCHD) septic permit or proof that process has begun
- A temporary permit must be posted on the unit after application and fee payment, per State of Colorado Division of Housing requirements (Division of Housing Resolution 38)
- Placement and inspection must be completed within six (6) months of the date the application is signed
- Contact the County-designated building inspector directly (contact info provided by the County after application) to arrange required inspections before occupancy; an installation insignia sticker is issued by the State once inspections are satisfactorily completed
Required documents
- RequiredMobile or Manufactured Home Permit ApplicationWashington County's official PDF application (Rev. 09-12), including an attached 'Additional Criteria for Mobile or Manufactured Home Permits' instruction sheet (7 pages total)
- OptionalFoundation Permit for Manufactured HomesSeparate County form (Rev. 09-12) required only if the unit will be placed on a permanent foundation or basement
Fee schedule
| Fee type | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Washington County Permit Fee | $100.00 | Flat fee, stated directly on the Mobile or Manufactured Home Permit Application form |
| Colorado Division of Housing Inspection & Insignia Fee | $435.00 | State fee (not retained by the County), described on the form as 'State Inspection and Sticker Fees $435.00' / '48% of value of M-Home' cross-reference; Show full citationHideState fee (not retained by the County), described on the form as 'State Inspection and Sticker Fees $435.00' / '48% of value of M-Home' cross-reference; covers state inspection and issuance of the required installation insignia. Two County documents conflict on the amount. (1) The County's general Building Permit Application PDF states this same fee as $415.00 flat, not $435.00. (2) This form's own 'Additional Criteria' breakdown itemizes it as 'Inspection Fee for Inspections as required by State $375.00' + 'State of Colorado Dept. of Housing Insignia... $60.00', which sums to $435.00 (matching the headline figure used here) -- but the same sentence then labels that total as '$415.00... required by the State of Colorado,' an apparent arithmetic error within the document itself ($375 + $60 = $435, not $415). The $435.00 itemized breakdown is used here as the better-supported figure because it reconciles with its own components, and the $415.00 figures in both this form and the general application are flagged as the likely error. The County has not published a correction to either document, so treat $435.00 as the best-available figure, not a certainty. |
| Use Tax | 1.5% of the total declared value of the completed manufactured home (including labor) | Calculated on the application form worksheet; combined with the Permit Fee and State Inspection/Sticker Fee into a single 'TOTAL FEES' amount payable to Washington County |
| Foundation Permit Fee (if applicable) | $100.00 | Separate flat fee on the Foundation Permit for Manufactured Homes form; not included in the Mobile/Manufactured Home Permit fees above |
Small Solar Energy Conversion System (SECS) Permit — Rooftop/Accessory Solar
VerifiedWashington County's Solar Power Production Facilities Zoning Regulations define a 'Small Solar Energy Conversion System' (small SECS) as a solar energy conversion system occupying less than 7 acres of total land that is an accessory use (i.e., primarily energy production by the property owner where it is sited) — this covers ordinary residential rooftop and small ground-mount solar. Per the regulations: 'All small SECS require a building permit from the County' and small SECS are explicitly EXEMPT from the county's Solar Power Production Facility (SPPF) regulations, which instead require a Use by Special Review plus a building permit for larger, non-accessory, or 7+ acre commercial solar farms. A small SECS therefore uses the same general Building Permit Application as other construction (see residential-building-permit) — there is no dedicated solar application form or published flat fee, but Colorado's statewide fee cap on active solar energy system permits applies regardless of any locally calculated valuation-based fee.
Verified 2026-07-20 · Source
Requirements
- A 'small SECS' (solar energy conversion system under 7 acres of total land, accessory to the principal use/structure on the same lot, primarily for the property owner's own energy production) is exempt from the county's SPPF (Solar Power Production Facility) zoning regulations and Use by Special Review process — see Washington County Solar Power Production Facilities Zoning Regulations, Sections 2.C and 4 (definitions)
- A small SECS still requires a building permit from the County, per the regulations' definition of 'Small Solar Energy Conversion System': 'All small SECS require a building permit from the County'
- Use the same general Building Permit Application (Rev. 06-14) used for other construction/additions/accessory structures — no separate solar-specific application form was found published
- Colorado's statewide fee cap (C.R.S. § 24-48.5-113, enacted by HB21-1284) limits the aggregate of all fees a Colorado local government may charge to install an active solar energy system to the lesser of actual permit-issuance/review costs or $500.00 for a residential permit / $1,000.00 for a nonresidential (commercial) permit — this cap applies to Washington County's building permit fee for a small SECS regardless of the county's own declared-value-based fee calculation
- A larger installation (7+ acres, or not accessory to the property owner's own use — an SPPF) instead requires a Use by Special Review application plus a building permit, under the full Solar Power Production Facilities Zoning Regulations — out of scope for a typical residential/rooftop system
Required documents
- RequiredBuilding Permit ApplicationWashington County's general Building Permit Application (Rev. 06-14), same form used for other construction; no dedicated solar-only form is published
Fee schedule
| Fee type | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Building Permit Fee — small SECS (residential) | Not published as a fixed valuation table locally; statutorily capped at the lesser of the County's actual permit-issuance/review costs or $500.00 | Washington County's general Building Permit Application leaves the fee blank for County staff/the Commissioner Chairman to complete based on declared project value (same mechanism as residential-building-permit); Show full citationHideWashington County's general Building Permit Application leaves the fee blank for County staff/the Commissioner Chairman to complete based on declared project value (same mechanism as residential-building-permit); Colorado's statewide cap under C.R.S. § 24-48.5-113 (HB21-1284) limits this to $500.00 residential regardless of the county's own calculation method |
| Building Permit Fee — small SECS (nonresidential/commercial, still under the small-SECS/accessory-use threshold) | Statutorily capped at the lesser of the County's actual permit-issuance/review costs or $1,000.00 | C.R.S. § 24-48.5-113 (HB21-1284) |
Electric Vehicle (EV) Charging Station / EVSE Permit
VerifiedUnincorporated Washington County has no dedicated EV charger/EVSE permit application, fee, or process. Like the county's small solar (SECS) permit, an EV charging station installation would be handled through the county's single general Building Permit Application (Rev. 06-14), the same declared-value-based form used for all other construction and electrical work here, since the Land Use Office does not maintain a separate trade-specific electrical permit or in-house electrical inspector distinct from the general building permit. Because Washington County has not retained its own local electrical inspection program, the electrical/EVSE-circuit component of an EV charger installation instead falls under the Colorado State Electrical Board (DORA/DPO)'s statewide permit and fee schedule, per DORA's own published jurisdictional framework for unincorporated areas without a local electrical program. Washington County's population (approximately 4,700) is well below the 20,000-person threshold that triggers 'covered county' status under Colorado's HB24-1173 (Electric Vehicle Charging System Permits Act, effective 8/7/2024), so the statute's model-code/objective-standards adoption mandate and 3-business-day decision-notification requirement do not apply to this jurisdiction.
Verified 2026-07-20 · Source
Requirements
- No standalone EV charger/EVSE permit application exists; use the county's general Building Permit Application (Rev. 06-14), the same form used for other construction and electrical work
- Total declared value of the work is used by County staff to calculate the permit fee at approval, per the same mechanism used for all other Washington County building permits
- Colorado's HB24-1173 (EV Charging System Permits Act) does not apply to Washington County as a mandatory 'covered county,' since its population (~4,700) falls well below the statute's 20,000-person county threshold
- Property owner and Commissioner Chairman signatures required, per the standard Building Permit Application process
Required documents
- RequiredBuilding Permit Application (PDF, Rev. 06-14)Washington County's single general building-permit form; no EV-specific or electrical-specific application exists
Fee schedule
| Fee type | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Colorado State Electrical Board Permit Fee (EV charger/EVSE circuit) -- Section B, non-living-area installation | $90 base fee for valuation up to $2,000, plus $8.00 per additional $1,000 of valuation (rounded up) -- per the State Electrical Board's May 2019 published schedule; a 2024 Colorado legislative fiscal note (HB 24-1263) documents the base state electrical inspection fee increasing from $88 to $92 effective FY2024-25, so the current exact base figure may be modestly higher than $90 | Colorado Revised Statutes § 12-115-121 (State Electrical Board permit-fee authority; Show full citationHideColorado Revised Statutes § 12-115-121 (State Electrical Board permit-fee authority; this statute was renumbered from the commonly-cited § 12-23-117 effective 10/1/2019). Washington County's Land Use Office maintains only a single general, declared-value-based Building Permit Application and does NOT maintain a separate trade-specific electrical permit or in-house electrical inspector (unlike some Colorado counties, e.g. Teller County, which retain their own electrical inspection program) -- per DORA's own published framework, "on projects in unincorporated areas of counties without local building departments, the state Electrical Inspector program assumes inspection authority directly," so the electrical/EVSE-circuit component of this installation is billed under this state fee schedule rather than a county-published rate. Confirm the current exact figure with the State Electrical Board, 303-894-7800, since fees are reviewed and adjusted periodically. |
| County Building Permit Fee (if paired with new structural work, e.g. a carport/garage to house the charger) | Not published as a fixed table; calculated by County staff based on declared project value | Washington County Building Permit Application (Rev. 06-14) -- covers the structural/non-electrical portion only; no EV-specific or electrical-specific fee line is published separately from this declared-value-based calculation. |
Sign Permit
VerifiedUnincorporated Washington County publishes no dedicated local sign-permit application, sign ordinance, or sign fee schedule online. The current Planning & Zoning department webpage and the Planning and Zoning Forms page list only Building/Foundation/Mobile-Home permits, USBR (Use by Special Review) and its amendment/extinguishment forms, Subdivision Exemption, Temporary Use, Road Access/Road Cut, Petition for Vacation, Address Request, and similar land-use forms — no sign-specific document appears among them. The County's own Zoning Resolution is currently in force (see localAmendments) but is not published online anywhere reachable, so ask the County Land Use Office directly about any on-premise sign standard it may contain. The one sourced sign-permitting mechanism that reaches unincorporated Washington County is the Colorado Department of Transportation's (CDOT) statewide Outdoor Advertising Permit program, which regulates OFF-PREMISE advertising devices (billboards) within CDOT's 'control area' adjacent to the state highway system under the Colorado Outdoor Advertising Act (C.R.S. Title 43, Article 1, Part 4) — state highways cross the county's unincorporated area. That state permit application requires Part 3 to be completed and signed by 'the representative of the local jurisdiction' (i.e., Washington County) certifying the site's zoning classification and compliance with local ordinances, giving the County Land Use Office a real, sourced role even though CDOT itself issues the permit.
Verified 2026-08-14 · Source
Requirements
- Washington County publishes no dedicated local sign-permit application or fee schedule anywhere on its website. Both the Planning & Zoning department page and the Planning and Zoning Forms page list every other land-use form the County publishes — Building Permit, Foundation Permit, Mobile/Manufactured Home Permit, USBR and its Amend/Extinguish forms, Subdivision Exemption, Temporary Use, Road Access, Road Cut, Petition for Vacation, Request for Address — with no sign-specific item among them
- For an OFF-PREMISE advertising sign (a sign advertising an activity/product/service not conducted on the property where the sign sits) located within CDOT's 'control area' adjacent to the state highway system, a CDOT Outdoor Advertising Permit Application (Form #291) must be filed with CDOT's Outdoor Advertising Program
- Part 3 of CDOT Form #291 must be completed, signed, and dated by a representative of Washington County certifying the sign site's current zoning classification (commercial or industrial classification required, or an 'other' classification shown to encompass commercial/industrial use) and certifying compliance with all applicable County ordinances, variances, plans, rules, and other requirements
- Permit fee is set by statute per sign face area, per C.R.S. § 43-1-409(1)(b): $10.00 (100 sq ft or less), $20.00 (101-250 sq ft), $40.00 (251-600 sq ft), $75.00 (601 sq ft or more)
- Permits are issued for a one-year term (July 1-June 30) and must be renewed annually before June 1 with payment of the renewal fee, per C.R.S. § 43-1-409(1)(a)-(b); a late fee applies to renewals submitted after the deadline
- ON-PREMISE business signage (a sign advertising the business/activity located on the same property as the sign) is not addressed in any Washington County document found online; whether the County's own (unpublished) Zoning Resolution separately regulates on-premise signs could not be confirmed or ruled out — contact the Land Use Office directly, (970) 345-2701 ext. 234, before erecting an on-premise sign
Required documents
- RequiredCDOT Outdoor Advertising Permit Application (Form #291)State form for off-premise advertising devices adjacent to the state highway system; requires local-jurisdiction (Washington County) zoning certification in Part 3
Fee schedule
| Fee type | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| CDOT Outdoor Advertising Permit Fee (by sign face area, off-premise signs adjacent to state highways only) | $10.00 (≤100 sq ft) / $20.00 (101-250 sq ft) / $40.00 (251-600 sq ft) / $75.00 (≥601 sq ft), assessed annually at renewal | Per C.R.S. § 43-1-409(1)(b), the statutory fee schedule for the state's Outdoor Advertising permit program under the Colorado Outdoor Advertising Act. This is a STATE fee collected by CDOT, not a Washington County fee — the County has no published sign-permit fee of its own. |
| Local (on-premise) Sign Permit Fee | No local sign-permit fee, application, or ordinance was found published for on-premise signage anywhere on Washington County's website. Show full citationHideNo local sign-permit fee, application, or ordinance was found published for on-premise signage anywhere on Washington County's website. Contact the Land Use Office / Planning & Zoning Department, (970) 345-2701 ext. 234, to confirm whether any on-premise sign standard applies under the County's (not-published-online) Zoning Resolution. |
Fire Sprinkler / Fire Alarm System Permit
VerifiedFire protection for unincorporated Washington County is split among small, geographically distinct rural fire protection districts rather than one countywide authority: Akron Rural Fire Protection District (around Akron), Otis Rural Fire Protection District (around Otis, ~65 sq mi), and Southwest Washington County Fire Protection District (Anton, Last Chance, Lindon, Cope, Woodrow, and other southern/western communities, ~980 sq mi), all dispatched through the shared Washington/Yuma Combined Communications Center. None of the three publishes an official department website carrying a permit, plan-review, or fee process — each is reachable only through third-party directory listings or, in one case, a Facebook page. For FIRE SPRINKLER / SUPPRESSION systems specifically, Colorado's statewide Fire Suppression Program rule, 8 CCR 1507-11 § 2.2, defines the default 'Authority Having Jurisdiction' (AHJ) as 'the Division [of Fire Prevention and Control, DFPC], unless delegated to a Local Authority Having Jurisdiction having Fire Suppression Systems Inspectors certified to the appropriate level' — none of the three local rural districts is listed as employing DFPC-certified Fire Suppression Systems Inspectors, so DFPC itself is the best-sourced default AHJ and permit issuer for a fire sprinkler/suppression system installed in unincorporated Washington County. FIRE ALARM systems are a separate, unresolved gap: DFPC's Fire Suppression Program rule (8 CCR 1507-11) governs suppression/sprinkler systems, not fire alarm systems, and Colorado does not operate a state-level fire alarm permitting program — alarm permits are established locally under each jurisdiction's adopted fire code. Washington County publishes no fire code adoption online, consistent with the absence of a published model building code noted in the code-adoption entry, and none of the three local fire districts publish an alarm-permitting process online, so no fire-alarm permit process can be documented for this jurisdiction.
Verified 2026-08-14 · Source
Requirements
- Unincorporated Washington County is covered by at least three separate rural fire protection districts — Akron Rural FPD, Otis Rural FPD, and Southwest Washington County FPD — none of which publishes an official department website with a permit or plan-review process; confirm which district serves a specific parcel and its current contact information directly, since online listings are limited to third-party directories
- For a FIRE SPRINKLER/SUPPRESSION system, absent evidence any local district has DFPC-certified Fire Suppression Systems Inspectors, the Colorado Division of Fire Prevention and Control (DFPC) is the default statewide Authority Having Jurisdiction per 8 CCR 1507-11 § 2.2, and plans/permit applications route to DFPC's Fire Suppression Program rather than a local fire department
- DFPC construction-permit/plan-review/inspection fees for a fire suppression system are valuation-based per 8 CCR 1507-11 § 11.2.1: a flat $800.00 for a total project valuation of $5,000.00 or less, or $800.00 plus 0.0025 × total project valuation for projects above $5,000.00
- A minimum of half of DFPC's fee must be paid before plan review begins, with the remaining balance due before permit issuance, per 8 CCR 1507-11 § 11.2.4
- Per 8 CCR 1507-11 § 11.3, if a local jurisdiction's fire department does employ certified Fire Inspectors, that local AHJ — not DFPC — may set its own permit, plan-review, and inspection fees; no evidence was found that this applies to any of the three districts serving unincorporated Washington County
- No grounded FIRE ALARM system permit process (state or local) was found for unincorporated Washington County — Colorado's DFPC Fire Suppression Program does not cover alarm systems, and no fire-code adoption or alarm-permit process is published by the County or by any of its three serving fire districts
Required documents
- RequiredDFPC Fire Suppression System Construction Permit Application / PlansSubmitted to the Colorado Division of Fire Prevention and Control's Fire Suppression Program when no local AHJ with certified inspectors has jurisdiction, per 8 CCR 1507-11
Fee schedule
| Fee type | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| DFPC Fire Suppression System Plan Review, Construction Permit & Inspection Fee | $800.00 flat for total project valuation ≤ $5,000.00; otherwise $800.00 + (0.0025 × total project valuation) | 8 CCR 1507-11 § 11.2.1. Includes a set allocation of inspection site visits (5 visits under 50,000 sq ft; Show full citationHide8 CCR 1507-11 § 11.2.1. Includes a set allocation of inspection site visits (5 visits under 50,000 sq ft; 10 visits for 50,001-100,000 sq ft; additional inspections billed at $400 each per § 11.2.5). Applies only when DFPC, not a locally certified AHJ, is the permitting authority. |
| Fire Alarm System Permit Fee | No fire-alarm-specific permit or fee was found published by DFPC, Washington County, or any of the three fire protection districts (Akron Rural FPD, Otis Rural FPD, Southwest Washington County FPD)… Show full citationHideNo fire-alarm-specific permit or fee was found published by DFPC, Washington County, or any of the three fire protection districts (Akron Rural FPD, Otis Rural FPD, Southwest Washington County FPD) serving the unincorporated county. Contact the relevant district directly, or Washington County's Land Use Office, (970) 345-2701 ext. 234, to confirm current practice for a specific project. |
Change of Use Permit
VerifiedUnincorporated Washington County has no distinct 'Change of Use Permit' application, procedure, or fee. Neither the current Planning & Zoning department webpage nor the Planning and Zoning Forms page lists any change-of-use-specific document among the County's full published set of land-use forms (Building Permit, Foundation Permit, Mobile/Manufactured Home Permit, USBR and its Amend/Extinguish forms, Subdivision Exemption, Temporary Use, Road Access, Road Cut, Petition for Vacation, Request for Address). A change of use is instead handled through one of two existing mechanisms, depending on what is actually changing: (1) a change to a commercial, mixed-use, or industrial USE of land (as distinct from the building itself) requires a 'Use by Special Review' (USBR) application — a public-hearing zoning-approval process under Resolution 2004-68 with its own $500.00 Administrative Review Fee, $150.00 Sign Posting Fee, and recording fees; or (2) a physical remodel/change tied to an existing building routes through the County's general Building Permit Application (Rev. 06-14), whose 'Class of work' options include 'Remodel' as one of only four checkboxes. Neither mechanism is labeled or fee-structured as a dedicated 'change of use permit' the way, for example, Northglenn's UDO Sec. 11-6-5(d) is.
Verified 2026-08-14 · Source
Requirements
- No standalone Change of Use Permit application exists — neither the County's current Planning & Zoning webpage nor its Forms page publishes one
- A change to a commercial, mixed-use, or industrial USE of unincorporated county land requires a Use by Special Review (USBR) application instead — a site-plan/public-hearing process through the Planning Commission then Board of County Commissioners (appeal to District Court), per Resolution 2004-68 and its amendments
- USBR's 'Principal Permitted Uses' categories (Community Business, Mixed Use Development, Industrial Uses) define what triggers this path — see the USBR-related documentation under residential-building-permit elsewhere in this record for the full enumerated list
- A physical remodel or interior change tied to an existing building (without a change in the land-use category itself) is filed as 'Remodel,' one of the four Class of Work options on the general Building Permit Application (Rev. 06-14) — the same form used for new construction and additions
- For any change requiring a building permit, County practice (per the general Building Permit Application) does not describe a separate change-of-use sign-off distinct from the building permit approval itself
Required documents
- OptionalUse by Special Review (USBR) ApplicationRequired for a change to commercial, mixed-use, or industrial use of unincorporated county land; Washington County's official PDF application (Revised 3-22-2024)
- OptionalBuilding Permit Application (Rev. 06-14)Used for a physical remodel/change tied to an existing building, checked as 'Remodel' under Class of Work; same general form used for other construction
Fee schedule
| Fee type | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Change of Use Permit Fee | No distinct change-of-use permit or fee exists. Show full citationHideNo distinct change-of-use permit or fee exists. If the change involves commercial/mixed-use/industrial use of the land, USBR's own published fees apply instead: $500.00 Administrative Review/Application Fee, Recording Fees ($13 first page + $5 each additional page), and a $150.00 Sign Posting Fee, all stated directly on the USBR application form. If the change is a physical remodel of an existing building, the general Building Permit Fee applies instead ($100.00, or $150.00 for a Use-by-Special-Review/commercial building, per the Building Permit Application's own fee grid — see residential-building-permit elsewhere in this record). |
Sources & verification
Verified against official sources. Last reviewed 2026-07-06.
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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 Unincorporated Washington County building department before you submit. PermitBase is an independent reference and is not affiliated with any government agency.