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The city requires permits and inspections to ensure safe building, coordinated development, effective land use and high-quality site planning.
The alteration, deconstruction, construction, enlargement, movement, repair, removal or replacement of any building or structure is authorized by a permit.
We are working to implement an updated and more efficient application process. Beginning Sept. 1, building and permit applications will be available through the Customer Self-Service Portal (CSS) to submit online.
To learn what you will need, review the Types of Permits section below.
Homeowners that would like to do the work on their own should review and complete the Homeowner Contractor License Application prior to applying for a permit.
Search for property information Find zoning informationAll application types are now available to be submitted through the Customer Self-Service Portal . Submitting your application online will reduce processing time by one to two business days.
Visit the Customer Self-Service Portal to follow the status of your application.
View the Permit Application Guide (PDF) for step-by-step instructions and status definitions.
Permits are closed once all requirements are complete, including inspections, conditions and fees. Please allow two business days for processing and for your letter of completion and/or certificate of occupancy to appear in the Customer Self-Service Portal.
Review times vary according to the scope of the project and are dependent upon the clarity and completeness of submitted materials. Current processing times .
If your project does not appear in the drop-down list below, you will need to apply for a permit.
While a project may be exempt from permitting it must still meet all relevant building, zoning and engineering code requirements . Additional approvals may be required if the property is located within a floodplain , wetland , historic district or has been designated as an individual landmark .
Work that does NOT require a permitA permit will be required if the structure of building will be impacted. The type of permit required will depend upon the proposed scope of work and the type of structure.
Click on the drop-down list below for more information about types of permits.
Types of PermitsResidential Building Permit Application
Single Trade Permit: If the scope of work includes only one area, a single trade permit will be required.
All exterior changes to a property designated as an individual landmark or located within a historic district require additional review and approval through a Landmark Alteration Certificate (LAC) prior to permit application.
All permits require an inspection. Learn how to find which inspections are required, how to schedule an inspection and tips for a successful inspection below. You can view today's inspections on the Customer Self Service Portal.
Building Inspections are performed between 7 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. Inspection start times may be delayed on the first and third Tuesday of every month.
Visit the Customer Self-Service Portal to follow the status of your application.
View the Permit Application Guide (PDF) for step-by-step instructions and status definitions.
What can I do to reduce the review time?Refer to the city’s Contractor Licensing website for additional information about when a licensed contractor is required.
A homeowner contractor permit may be issued to a property owner who personally performs work on their own residence that is not intended for rent or resale and is not generally open to the public. If the homeowner does not intend to perform all of the work, licensed subcontractors are required.
Do I need to hire an architect or engineer?A professional engineer or architect registered in the State of Colorado shall prepare the plans and specifications for and observe the construction of all buildings except for the following:
Drawings and specifications for footings and foundations shall bear the seal and signature of a professional engineer or architect registered in Colorado and be designed as specified in Chapter 18 of the building code for all occupancies.
Any structural modification to any building in the City of Boulder will require plans to be prepared by a structural engineer licensed in the state of Colorado.
Does the city accept electronic stamps and signatures from architects and engineers?Acceptable forms of stamps and signatures from a licensed professional are determined by the state licensing boards for architects and engineers. The city will accept any form of stamp and signature that is deemed valid by the Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies.
My application requires multiple processes. Where do I begin?If your application requires one of the following approvals, it must be obtained before submitting a building permit application:
The following permit applications may be reviewed in tandem with a building permit application:
Use the checklists found on the city’s Applications and Forms Database ; select the form that most closely addresses the proposed scope of work.
Within these checklists are links to the required forms and guidelines on how to prepare an application submittal package.
How do I prepare an application for commercial / multi-family building permit?Use the checklist found in the city’s Applications and Forms Database titled Multi-family and Non-residential Building Permit Checklist to prepare your application package.
How much does a building permit cost?Fees can be estimated using the Schedule of Fees (PDF) . A typical residential interior remodel will include the following fees:
Please note that this is not an all-inclusive list, and if the scope includes additional work then additional fees will be assessed.
How do I add a contact to my application?Contacts may be added to permits through the Customer Self Service portal using the instructions below.
The permit placard and the approved plans for this application, including the City Approval Stamp may be accessed through the Customer Self Service portal using the instructions below. .
In some cases, documentation is required prior to requesting an inspection or issuance of a certificate of occupancy. If you receive a server error message or the inspection description identifies a prerequisite approval, visit the Customer Self Service portal and follow the instructions below.
Please visit the Codes and Regulations webpage for a list of all currently adopted codes in the City of Boulder.
Local amendments to the adopted building codes can be found in the Boulder Municipal Code. Specifically, the climatic and geographic design criteria are as follows:
Fences not over 7 feet tall are exempt from building permit requirements. However, if the fence will be located in a floodplain, wetland, will be constructed in an historic district or on a property designated as an individual landmark , other processes are required before the fence can be built.
A landmark alteration certificate is required to build or alter fences constructed in an Historic District or on a property designated as an individual landmark.
Regardless of whether a permit is required, fences must be a minimum of 18” from public sidewalks and cannot obstruct site triangles . Please refer to the Boulder Municipal Code for fencing regulations.
What are the city’s roofing requirements? When is a test for asbestos required?Asbestos testing triggers are as follows:
Previously the Boulder County Health Department regulated asbestos testing. The regulation of testing is now part of the building permitting process.
What if asbestos is identified through asbestos testing?Full Structure Demolition - If testing reflects that there are asbestos containing materials that need to be removed, we will need a copy of the state issued demolition approval notice (which tells us that the asbestos has been removed).
All other scopes of work –
If testing reflects that there are asbestos containing materials that need to be removed, we will need a copy of an asbestos inspection report prepared by a certified inspector or the state issued demolition approval notice.
Will the project trigger the water meter to be upsized?If a project proposes the addition plumbing fixtures, it may be necessary to increase the size of the water meter in order to handle the additional demand on the infrastructure associated with this addition. The Water and Wastewater PIF Worksheet (PDF) can help determine whether or not a project will trigger a water meter to be upsized. Follow the instructions in Step 2 on page 1 of the worksheet to complete page 4 of the worksheet. The sum from column G on page 4 corresponds with the Maximum Fixture Unit Count values in the middle column of the table on page 3. The required meter size is listed in the left-hand column titled Water Meter Size.
Most single-family homes have 3/4” taps and some older properties have 5/8” meters. To check meter size, refer to the property’s water utility bill.
Does the project require a soils report?A soils report is required for all new structures and for work on buildings that include additions to, or significant alterations of existing foundations for properties with steep slope concerns or soils with mass movement potential.
To determine if the property has soils with mass movement potential, as designated by the City of Boulder, visit emaplink.
If a soils report is required, a grading and drainage plan may also be necessary. Please refer to “Does the project require a grading and drainage plan?” below.
Does the project require a grading and drainage plan?For properties with significant slope concerns or soils with mass movement, a grading and drainage plan designed by a Colorado licensed Professional Engineer must be provided for all new structures, horizontal expansions of existing structures and proposals that modify the existing grade of the property. A grading plan may also be required to ensure that the proposed development will not pose a hazard to persons, surrounding property, the public right of way or other public improvements.
To determine if the property has soils with mass movement potential, as designated by the City of Boulder, visit emaplink.
In addition to areas of mass movement, a grading and drainage plan will be required for proposed development on a property with a slope of 15 percent or greater.
If a grading and drainage plan is required, a soils report may also be necessary. Please refer to “Does the project require a soils report?” above.
Is the property in the wildland urban interface?Please review the Structure Protection Plan on the Wildland Fire webpage to determine if the property is located within the urban interface zone and is subject to the ignition-resistant construction and material requirements of the International Wildland-Urban Interface Code.
Does this structure require a historic demolition review?Demolition of a structure that is not historically designated, but is over 50 years old requires Historic Preservation Demolition Review . This review is separate from the Demolition Permit Application to streamline the application and reduce confusion around the two processes. Refer to the Boulder County Assessor’s Property Search to determine the year of construction for the building.
Demolition means an act or process which removes one or more of the following.
Refer to the definition in Boulder Municipal Code for example diagrams.
Consult a licensed professional to understand how requirements could impact your potential project:
