Colorado Springs, COLORADO Building Permit Guide

Permit Authority

PPRBD handles construction, electrical, plumbing, and mechanical permitting and inspections for Colorado Springs. The City Planning Department separately handles development applications, zoning, and city planning fees, with Citywide Development Impact fees calculated during review and due at building permit.

Department

Pikes Peak Regional Building Department for building permits and inspections; City of Colorado Springs Planning Department for land use and development review

Address

PPRBD Main Office: 2880 International Circle, Colorado Springs, CO 80910; City Planning Department: 30 S. Nevada Ave., Suite 701, Colorado Springs, CO 80903

Phone

PPRBD: 719-327-2880; Permits: 719-327-2883; Planning: 719-385-5905

Email

PPRBD: https://www.pprbd.org/Information/Email?To=planreviewtriage , Planning: LURPlanningInfo@coloradosprings.gov

Website

https://www.pprbd.org/

Online Permit Portal

Application Process

1. Confirm whether the project requires a permit and whether plan review is required.
2. Check for Colorado Springs land use or development review requirements if applicable.
3. Create a free PPRBD homeowner or contractor web account if submitting online.
4. Submit an eligible electronic plan through PPRBD ePlan review or apply in person/phone.
5. If incomplete, PPRBD requests corrections; if complete, the plan enters departmental review.
6. Pay permit and plan review fees; Citywide Development Impact fees are due at building permit.
7. After approvals and payment, PPRBD issues the permit; schedule inspections as work progresses.

Typical processing time: No fixed PPRBD turnaround time is published; Colorado Springs does not publish a standard building permit issuance timeline.

Source: Pikes Peak Regional Building Department for building permits and inspections; City of Colorado Springs Planning Department for land use and development review

General Requirements

PPRBD requires permits for most home improvement projects including decks, hot tubs, pools, basement finishes, additions, siding, porches, accessory structures over 200 sq ft, electrical work, water heaters, furnaces, roofing, and walls over 4 feet.

Required Documents

• Permit application
• Electronic plan submittals in PDF for projects requiring plan review
• Project-specific handouts and forms as applicable
• Accela portal documents for separate city review

Permit validity

Under RBC105.8, administratively closed if no valid inspection within 6 months; one extension up to 180 days may be granted; void if no inspection within 1 year or work abandoned for 1 year.

Building code

2023 Pikes Peak Regional Building Code built on 2021 IBC, IRC, IMC, IFGC, IPC, IECC, IEBC, ISPSC, and 2023 NEC; Appendix D contains adoption ordinance.

Owner-builder

Homeowners may pull permits only for a primary residence they own and occupy; not for rental property.

Contractor requirements

Contractors must be licensed or registered with PPRBD; electrical, plumbing, and elevator contractors must register with PPRBD even if state-licensed.

Fees

Minimum permit fee

$50.00 under PPRBD valuation table

Plan check fee

28% of building permit fee; $100/hour for additional review after second disapproval

Permit fee formula

Primarily valuation-based under PPRBD Table A; flat fees for residential reroof, stucco, siding, basement finish, and trade permits; additional city development fees apply for planning, engineering, fire, utilities, and Citywide Development Impact fees.

Reinspection fee

$50 first, $100 second, $200 third plus 2-day delay; $100/hour for outside business hours (2-hour minimum)

Penalty (no permit)

Work without permit: 2 times the permit fee in addition to permit fee

Payment note

PPRBD web accounts allow online payment via Speedpay/ACI Worldwide; permits can be purchased online, by phone, or in person; Colorado Springs city planning fees paid through electronic application process.

Fees change. Verify current amounts at the official fee schedule (effective Current).

Work That Does NOT Require a Permit

• One-story detached accessory structures up to 200 square feet
• Fences not over 7 feet high
• Retaining walls not over 4 feet unless supporting surcharge
• Flatwork, walks, driveways not more than 30 inches above grade
• Painting, papering, tiling, carpeting, cabinets, countertops
• Swings and playground equipment
• Window awnings meeting code size and occupancy limits
• Nonfixed fixtures, cases, counters under 5 feet 9 inches
• Portable heating, ventilation, cooking, or drying appliances
• Minor plumbing fixture removal/reinstallation without piping changes

Important: Pittsburgh publishes permit-specific requirements; confirm with PLI if your work is exempt.

Inspections

How to Schedule

• PPRBD web account (online)
• 719-327-2880 (phone)

Scheduling deadline

Same-day inspections requested weekdays from 7:30 AM to 8:30 AM

Inspection hours

Estimated arrival after 9:00 AM

Typical inspection sequence: Varies by project. Common residential sequences: footing, foundation, foundation drain, framing, insulation, lath, trade rough, energy final, final; outside agencies may add zoning, fire, engineering, health, utilities inspections.

Automated call available about 60 minutes before inspector arrival

Additional Resources

• Building code: 2023 Pikes Peak Regional Building Code built on 2021 IBC, IRC, IMC, IFGC, IPC, IECC, IEBC, ISPSC, and 2023 NEC; Appendix D contains adoption ordinance.
• Zoning information: View zoning info
• Owner-builder rules: View rules
• PPRBD Permits Page
• PPRBD Homeowner Permit Information
• PPRBD Required Inspections
• PPRBD Inspection Code Definitions
• Current Fee Schedules
• License lookup guide: Colorado Contractor License Requirements
• Contract template: Colorado Homeowner-Contractor Agreement
• Colorado hub: Colorado Contractor License & Permit Hub

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