San Miguel County, CO - 2026 Building Permit Guide

Permit Authority

unincorporated San Miguel County, including county development review areas such as Placerville and Egnar; the county FAQ also notes West End Zone District special rules where building permits are not required for building work.

Department

San Miguel County Building Department

Address

333 W Colorado Avenue, 3rd Floor, Telluride, CO 81435

Phone

970-728-3923

Email

building@sanmiguelcountyco.gov

Website

https://www.sanmiguelcountyco.gov/157/Building

Online Permit Portal

Application Process

1. Determine whether the project is in unincorporated county or inside a town. County staff notes the first contact is often Planning, but project sequencing can vary.
2. Create a SmartGov account and start the appropriate permit type in the public portal.
3. Submit the permit packet and any required supporting documents.
4. County staff reviews the submittal for completeness.
5. County begins plan review once the packet is complete.
6. County issues plan notes if revisions or additional information are needed.
7. After code compliance review is complete, the county prepares the permit for issuance and the applicant is contacted to pick up and pay for it.
8. After issuance, inspections are scheduled in SmartGov or by county instructions.

Typical processing time: county says to allow up to 8 weeks for permit and review process to be completed.

Source: San Miguel County Building Department

General Requirements

county code says no person may erect, construct, reconstruct, excavate for a foundation, alter, or change use of a building or structure without a building permit or exemption from the Building Department.

Required Documents

• county application instructions reference complete development permit application materials, SmartGov submittal, owner authorization if someone else signs, and project-specific planning, OWTS, and road and bridge documents where applicable.

Building code

2018 International Codes, adopted by Resolution 2023-01, with county amendments; county also publishes 2018 IWUIC ignition resistant material requirements.

Owner-builder

the county requires owner authorization if the applicant is not the owner of the property.

Contractor requirements

state electrical and plumbing permits are required separately by Colorado for electrical, plumbing, and gas piping work. County notes that other agencies may require their own inspections.

Fees

Minimum permit fee

$26.32

Plan check fee

65 percent of the building permit fee

Permit fee formula

valuation based fee schedule. Examples published by county include:

Reinspection fee

reinspection fee is $90.00 per hour, two-hour minimum; inspections without a specific fee are $90.00 per hour; additional plan review due to changes is $150.00 per hour

Fees change. Verify current amounts at the official fee schedule.

Work That Does NOT Require a Permit

• Published county text states building permits are not required in the West End Zone District for building work, except for certain uses identified in later code text such as large and medium scale solar energy systems, data centers, and mining-related structures not otherwise regulated by the state.
• County FAQ also notes development permits are not required in the West End Zone District, though other permits may still apply.

Inspections

How to Schedule

• SmartGov and county instructions; the county also publishes an inspection request form and phone-based scheduling requir (online)

Inspection hours

inspections are performed Monday through Thursday; call by 5:00 p.m. the day before the inspection

Typical inspection sequence: provide requester name and phone, permit number, owner legal name, address, requested day/date, AM or PM, type of inspection, and whether full or partial inspection is requested

cancel ASAP if needed; provide gate codes, plan location, and onsite contact information; coordinate other agency inspections separately, including state electrical and plumbing inspectors, road and bridge, health, and fire

Additional Resources

• Building code: 2018 International Codes, adopted by Resolution 2023-01, with county amendments; county also publishes 2018 IWUIC ignition resistant material requirements.
• Zoning / land use
• Planning permit central
• Addressing
• OWTS
• Permit applications
• County maps
• License lookup guide: Colorado Contractor License Requirements
• Contract template: Colorado Homeowner-Contractor Agreement
• Colorado hub: Colorado Contractor License & Permit Hub

Frequently Asked Questions

San Miguel County Building Permit FAQ

Do I need a building permit in unincorporated San Miguel County, CO?

county code says no person may erect, construct, reconstruct, excavate for a foundation, alter, or change use of a building or structure without a building permit or exemption from the Building Department.

How much does a building permit cost in unincorporated San Miguel County, CO?

The minimum permit fee is $26.32. Fees are calculated as: valuation based fee schedule. Examples published by county include:. Plan check fee: 65 percent of the building permit fee.

How do I apply for a building permit in unincorporated San Miguel County, CO?

1. Determine whether the project is in unincorporated county or inside a town. County staff notes the first contact is often Planning, but project sequencing can vary. 2. Create a SmartGov account and start the appropriate permit type in the public portal. 3. Submit the permit packet and any required supporting documents. 4. County staff reviews the submittal for completeness. 5. County begins plan review once the packet is complete. 6. County issues plan notes if revisions or additional information are needed. 7. After code compliance review is complete, the county prepares the permit for issuance and the applicant is contacted to pick up and pay for it. 8. After issuance, inspections are scheduled in SmartGov or by county instructions.

How long does it take to get a building permit in unincorporated San Miguel County, CO?

Typical processing time is county says to allow up to 8 weeks for permit and review process to be completed..

What work is exempt from building permits in unincorporated San Miguel County, CO?

The following work is generally exempt: Published county text states building permits are not required in the West End Zone District for building work, except for certain uses identified in later code text such as large and medium scale solar energy systems, data centers, and mining-related structures not otherwise regulated by the state.; County FAQ also notes development permits are not required in the West End Zone District, though other permits may still apply..

How do I schedule a building inspection in unincorporated San Miguel County, CO?

Inspections can be scheduled via: SmartGov and county instructions; the county also publishes an inspection request form and phone-based scheduling requir.