State Building Permits

Colorado Building Permit Guides

Permit authority, application process, fees, and requirements for counties and cities across Colorado. Select your county to find your local permit guide.

12 Counties 79 Jurisdictions Updated March 2026

How Colorado Permitting Works

Colorado does not have a mandatory statewide residential building code. Instead, each municipality and county adopts its own building codes — most commonly editions of the International Building Code (IBC) and International Residential Code (IRC), sometimes with local amendments. Adoption is voluntary at the local level, meaning requirements vary significantly by jurisdiction.

Building permits are issued at the local level — by the city, town, or county, depending on where the property is located. Unincorporated areas of a county are regulated by the county building department. Incorporated cities and towns maintain their own permit offices.

Denver and Broomfield are consolidated city-counties — a single government entity handles all building permits for the entire jurisdiction. Several cities (Aurora, Westminster, Longmont, Littleton, Erie) span multiple counties; permits are issued by the city regardless of which county the parcel falls in. Select your county below to find your local permit office.

Colorado Counties

Adams County 9 jurisdictions → Arapahoe County 8 jurisdictions → Boulder County 8 jurisdictions → City and County of Broomfield 1 jurisdiction → City and County of Denver 1 jurisdiction → Douglas County 7 jurisdictions → El Paso County 7 jurisdictions → Jefferson County 8 jurisdictions → Larimer County 7 jurisdictions → Mesa County 7 jurisdictions → Pueblo County 7 jurisdictions → Weld County 9 jurisdictions →

Coverage includes major metro and regional counties. Additional counties being added.

Related Colorado Resources

Contract Template Free Colorado homeowner-contractor agreement → License Requirements Verify your contractor's CO license →

Statewide Resources

  • Colorado Division of Housing: Oversees manufactured and factory-built housing; provides resources on state construction programs.
  • Colorado Office of the State Architect: Responsible for state-owned facilities; provides model building codes for reference.
  • Colorado Contractor Licensing: Electrical and plumbing contractors must be licensed by the state; general contractors are licensed locally.

Information on this page was last verified: March 2026. Permit rules and fees change — confirm current requirements directly with your local building department before applying.

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Important: This page is an educational resource provided by jaspector.com. It is not legal advice, and it does not substitute for official guidance from your local permit authority. Permit requirements, fees, and processes change frequently. Always verify current requirements directly with the issuing department before beginning any construction project. Use of this page does not create an attorney-client relationship. Jaspector assumes no liability for any outcomes arising from reliance on this information.