City Building Permits
Loveland, COLORADO Building Permit Guide
How to apply for a building permit in Loveland, Colorado. Permit authority, application steps, fees, and inspection requirements.
Permit Authority
Applies within Loveland city limits, including the Larimer County portion. Separate fire, planning, sales tax, and other city approvals may also apply.
- Department
- City of Loveland Development Services Department, Building Division
- Address
- 410 E. 5th Street, Loveland, CO 80537
- Phone
- 970-962-2505
Online Permit Portal
Platform: Citizen Access for permit records and inspection scheduling; Accela migration announced but not yet live for full building permit intake as of March 25, 2026 • Account required: No • Submission: In-person only
Additional resources:
Application Process
- Determine permit type and whether the work requires a permit using the Permitting FAQ page.
- Complete the required city forms for the project type.
- Email residential submittals to eplan-res@cityofloveland.org or commercial and multifamily submittals to eplan-building@cityofloveland.org.
- Respond to plan review comments and revisions by email or through the city process for the record.
- Pay the assessed fees when invoiced by the city.
- After issuance, keep approved drawings onsite and schedule inspections online or by phone.
- Complete final inspections and any certificate of occupancy requirements.
Typical processing time: Current plan review estimates are 20 to 30 working days per round of review.
Source: City of Loveland Development Services Department, Building Division
General Requirements
A building permit is required for new construction, additions, and alterations. Examples include decks, basement finishes, interior remodels, HVAC, demos, carports, and storage sheds above threshold size.
Required Documents
- Project-specific city forms
- Permit application forms
- Revised plan request forms
- Homeowner affidavit where applicable
- Electronic plans
- Permit validity
- Plan review applications expire if no permit is issued within 90 days after the last review action without applicant response. Residential permits are valid for 12 months and commercial permits are valid for 18 months. First extension is free; second extension is $150; no third extension.
- Building code
- The city public code page shows 2021 commercial and residential code materials. Proposed 2024 code changes were under council consideration for March and April 2026. Verify with the city whether the 2024 update has been formally adopted for your submission date.
- Owner-builder
- A homeowner may complete work in the home that is their primary residence with a homeowner affidavit.
- Contractor requirements
- A valid City of Loveland contractor license is required for structural, mechanical, electrical, or plumbing work in rental homes, multifamily buildings, and non-residential buildings.
Fees
- Minimum permit fee
- Minimum charge of 1 hour for additional plan review at $150 in 2026; general building permit fee tied to ICC valuation tables
- Plan check fee
- Additional plan review required by changes, additions, or revisions to approved plans with 2026 minimum 1 hour charge of $150. Standard plan review is part of permit processing; universal percentage not published for every permit class.
- Permit fee formula
- Building permit fees are based on current ICC valuation data. City also charges development review fee items and construction use tax.
- Reinspection fee
- Extension fee for a second extension is $150. Fee schedules also publish additional review charges and related building division fee items.
- Payment note
- 2.85 percent service fee on credit and debit card transactions effective January 20, 2026. Online payments through new system in rollout preparation for mid-2026.
Fees change. Verify current amounts at the official fee schedule (effective 2026).
Work That Does NOT Require a Permit
Contact the City of Loveland Development Services Department, Building Division to confirm whether your project requires a permit before starting work.
Inspections
How to Schedule
- Citizen Access (online)
- 970-962-2100 (phone)
- LFRA fire inspections: 970-962-2537 (phone)
- Inspection hours
- Inspector hours 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.; call 970-962-2181 before 8:00 a.m. on inspection day for general inspection time
Typical inspection sequence: Project dependent; city pages reference permit issuance, approved onsite drawings, trade and building inspections, and fire inspection where required.
Additional Resources
- Building code: The city public code page shows 2021 commercial and residential code materials. Proposed 2024 code changes were under council consideration for March and April 2026. Verify with the city whether the 2024 update has been formally adopted for your submission date.
- Verify contractor license: Contractor Licensing
- Zoning information: View zoning info
- Forms and Applications
- Expired Permits
- Construction Materials Use Tax
- License lookup guide: Colorado Contractor License Requirements
- Contract template: Colorado Homeowner-Contractor Agreement
- Colorado hub: Colorado Contractor License & Permit Hub
Information on this page was last verified: March 2026. Permit rules and fees change — confirm current requirements directly with the City of Loveland Development Services Department, Building Division before applying.
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