Larimer County Building Permit Guide (Unincorporated Area)

Permit Authority

Applies to unincorporated Larimer County. Properties inside municipal limits generally permit through the applicable city or town instead. Separate county review may also be needed for wildfire, onsite wastewater, access, floodplain, health, and planning matters.

Department

Larimer County Community Development, Building Division

Address

200 W. Oak Street, Fort Collins, CO 80521

Phone

970-498-7700

Email

building@larimer.org

Website

https://www.larimer.gov/building

Online Permit Portal

Application Process

1. Determine whether the work requires a building permit using the county Building Permit Requirements guidance.
2. Identify whether the permit can be submitted online or must be submitted in hard copy. Online intake currently limited to miscellaneous, utility, solar, and electrical permit types.
3. Complete the correct county permit application form and gather required plans, forms, and homeowner certification if acting as your own general contractor.
4. Submit the application through the online portal when eligible, or submit hard-copy materials for residential or commercial permits as directed by the county.
5. Respond to county review comments and provide any outside approvals required for wildfire, health, septic, floodplain, or planning issues.
6. Pay permit fees and any contractor licensing or related fees before issuance.
7. Schedule inspections through the online portal, complete the inspection sequence, and finish final approvals or certificate of occupancy requirements.

Typical processing time: The main county permit pages reviewed do not publish one universal permit turnaround.

Source: Larimer County Community Development, Building Division

General Requirements

The county states building permits are required for structures and alterations in unincorporated Larimer County except for listed exempt work. The county also separately identifies miscellaneous permits for reroof, HVAC, fireplace, gas line, plumbing, electrical, demolition of primary structures, and similar scopes.

Required Documents

• County permit application
• Plans
• Homeowner certification when acting as own general contractor
• Project-specific forms and reports

Permit validity

The county FAQ and permit pages reviewed did not clearly restate a simple expiration rule; verify directly with the Building Division at issuance.

Building code

Public county handouts reference the county building code system; the exact currently adopted code edition should be confirmed from the county code adoption page or permit staff for the submission date.

Owner-builder

The county requires a Homeowner Certification and Responsibilities form when a homeowner is acting as their own general contractor.

Contractor requirements

Larimer County licenses contractors locally. The county publishes separate licensing requirements and fees by trade and notes state licensure requirements for electricians and plumbers.

Fees

Minimum permit fee

Contractor application fees include $75 for several license classes; simple minimum building permit fee not clearly published on main pages.

Plan check fee

Included within county fee schedule; main permit pages do not summarize one universal percentage.

Permit fee formula

Mixed by permit class. Miscellaneous permits use flat permit types, while building permits use county fee schedules and valuation or project-based calculations.

Reinspection fee

Contractor licensing page notes 2.99 percent convenience charge on certain credit card transactions; separate reinspection or enforcement charges should be confirmed from county fee schedule.

Payment note

County pages indicate cash, check, and credit card payment for some licensing transactions; credit card convenience charges may apply.

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

Work That Does NOT Require a Permit

• Residential accessory buildings or agricultural buildings not exceeding 200 square feet in area
• Fences less than 7 feet high
• Retaining walls no more than 4 feet above grade and not supporting a surcharge or impounding Class I, II, or IIIA liquids
• Water tanks supported directly on grade if capacity does not exceed 5,000 gallons and ratio limits are met
• Sidewalks and driveways not more than 30 inches above adjacent grade and not over a basement or story below
• Painting, papering, tiling, carpeting, cabinets, countertops, and similar finish work
• Movable cases, counters, and partitions not over 5 feet 9 inches high
• Temporary motion picture, television, and theater stage sets and scenery
• Playground equipment accessory to detached one-family and two-family dwellings
• Prefabricated swimming pools accessory to detached one-family dwellings under listed county depth and capacity thresholds

Inspections

How to Schedule

• Online portal inspection tools (online)

Inspection hours

County routes inspection scheduling through online portal; main public pages do not publish one brief inspection window summary.

Typical inspection sequence: Typical county sequence includes footing, foundation, rough trade and framing inspections, insulation and energy inspections, finals, and certificate of occupancy items as applicable.

Additional Resources

• Building code: Public county handouts reference the county building code system; the exact currently adopted code edition should be confirmed from the county code adoption page or permit staff for the submission date.
• Verify contractor license: Contractor Licensing
• Zoning information: View zoning info
• Building FAQ
• When Building Permit Required
• Wildfire
• License lookup guide: Colorado Contractor License Requirements
• Contract template: Colorado Homeowner-Contractor Agreement
• Colorado hub: Colorado Contractor License & Permit Hub