Weld County Building Permit Guide (Unincorporated Area)

Permit Authority

Applies only to unincorporated Weld County. Municipal properties inside incorporated cities and towns use their own local permit authorities.

Department

Weld County Planning and Development Services, Building Inspection Division

Address

1402 N. 17th Avenue, Greeley, CO 80631

Phone

970-400-6100

Email

Contact through online question or comment form

Website

https://www.weld.gov/Government/Departments/Planning-and-Development-Services/Building/Building-Permit-Applications-and-Inspections

Online Permit Portal

Application Process

1. Confirm the project is in unincorporated Weld County and determine the correct permit type such as residential, commercial, agricultural exempt, demolition, or oil and gas.
2. Create an E-Permit Center account in Accela.
3. Submit the permit application and all required declarations and supporting documents required by Chapter 29 of the Weld County Code.
4. For demolition, provide proof of ownership, site map, and asbestos certification letter. For other project types, submit the project-specific forms and checklists listed by the county.
5. Pay applicable building, plan review, and impact fees.
6. Receive and print the permit through Accela.
7. Schedule inspections, address corrections, and complete all required approvals before final approval or certificate of occupancy.

Typical processing time: Weld launched express permits in 2024 for qualifying permit types, but the main public pages reviewed do not publish one universal review timeline for all permit classes.

Source: Weld County Planning and Development Services, Building Inspection Division

General Requirements

Weld states no building or structure regulated by the building code may be erected, constructed, enlarged, altered, repaired, moved, improved, removed, converted, or demolished without first obtaining a separate building permit from the Building Inspection Division.

Required Documents

• Specific information and declarations required by Weld County Code Chapter 29
• Project-specific applications and handouts for residential, commercial, demolition, agricultural exempt, manufactured homes, and oil and gas work

Permit validity

Weld states each issued permit has an expiration date based on valuation. One written extension of up to 365 days may be granted at the Building Official's discretion, with a $52 processing fee.

Building code

As of January 1, 2022, Weld County states it enforces the 2018 IBC, IEBC, IRC, IMC, IPC, IFGC, and IECC, with the 2023 NEC, 2018 ISPSC, and 1997 Uniform Code for the Abatement of Dangerous Buildings remaining as currently adopted.

Owner-builder

The public pages reviewed do not provide one concise owner-builder summary.

Contractor requirements

The county portal allows users to add a contractor license to the account. Separate Colorado state electrical and plumbing licensing rules also apply. The public pages reviewed do not publish a single consolidated countywide general contractor licensing summary.

Fees

Minimum permit fee

Not clearly stated in the county summary page reviewed

Plan check fee

65 percent of the assessed building fee for new dwellings and all commercial permits; $50 flat plan review fee for manufactured homes, residential additions and remodels under 1,000 square feet, and detached utility buildings under 3,000 square feet.

Permit fee formula

Residential building fees are based on total valuation; electrical fees are either square-foot based for new dwellings and large additions or valuation-based for other work; the county also collects road, drainage, and county facilities impact fees.

Reinspection fee

Reinspection fees may apply if an inspection is requested and the site is not ready. The fee schedule also states an investigation fee of 50 percent of the permit fee may be added when work starts without a required permit.

Payment note

Permits can be applied for, paid for, and printed through the E-Permit Center.

Fees change. Verify current amounts at the official fee schedule (effective 2024).

Work That Does NOT Require a Permit

• Public utility towers and poles
• Re-roofing of single-family dwellings and noncommercial detached accessory structures
• Additional exempt structures and work items listed in the county handout titled 'list of structures that do not require a Building Permit'

Important: Separate plumbing, electrical, and mechanical permits may still be required for otherwise exempt building work.

Inspections

How to Schedule

• E-Permit Center (online)
• 970-400-3015 (phone)

Inspection hours

The scheduling line operates 24 hours a day. Building Division walk-in and inspector-on-call support is available Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Typical inspection sequence: The county requires inspections at specified points in construction. Rough inspections cannot be scheduled until setbacks, footing or caissons, foundation, concrete encased electrode, perimeter drains, and damp proofing are approved where applicable. Final inspections require rough inspections and all other conditions of approval to be complete.

Additional Resources

• Building code: As of January 1, 2022, Weld County states it enforces the 2018 IBC, IEBC, IRC, IMC, IPC, IFGC, and IECC, with the 2023 NEC, 2018 ISPSC, and 1997 Uniform Code for the Abatement of Dangerous Buildings remaining as currently adopted.
• Zoning information: View zoning info
• Code Compliance
• Septic Systems and Zoning
• Weld County Code
• License lookup guide: Colorado Contractor License Requirements
• Contract template: Colorado Homeowner-Contractor Agreement
• Colorado hub: Colorado Contractor License & Permit Hub