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Building Permits & Inspections
The Building Division's goal is to maintain high-quality business relationships with designers, builders, owners, and tenants while meeting Village building construction safety expectations, a fundamental aspect of the Building Permits and Inspections Program.
For questions or concerns:
Use our Ask the Building Division form.
| Estimated Review Times: | ||
|---|---|---|
| Standard Plan Review: 10 Business Days | No Plan Review Required: 3 Business Days | Residential-Single Family and Additions: 15 Business Days |
| Elevator New & Alterations: 15 Business Days | Commercial Core & Shell: Dependent on Project Complexity | Mid/High-Rise Buildings: Dependent on Project Complexity |
Additional resources are available by expanding any category below:
Contact Us
-
Main Office
Ph: 303-486-5783
Steve Hinkley
Chief Building Official
Ph: 303-486-5782Community Development
6060 South Quebec Street,
Greenwood Village, CO 80111
EmailHours
Monday - Friday
8 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Fees for obtaining a permit are calculated based on the project's type, size, and valuation. Printed estimates are available upon request; please provide us with the kind of project, total contract price, total valuation, and cost of exempt materials (cabinets, carpet, paint).
The total cost of a standard permit includes the following:
- Permit Fee
- Plan Review Fee
- Use Tax
- Arapahoe County Open Space and Use Tax
- Electrical Fees (if applicable)
Those fees are calculated as follows:
| Building Permit Fee (Based on Valuation) | Formula |
|---|---|
| $1 to $500 | $0 |
| $501 to $2,000 | $23.50 for the first $500, plus $3.05 for each additional $100 or fraction thereof, to and including $2,000 |
| $2,001 to $25,000 | $69.25 for the first $2,000, plus $14 for each additional $1,000 or fraction thereof, to and including $25,000 |
| $25,001 to $50,000 | $391.25 for the first $25,000, plus $10.10 for each additional $1,000 or fraction thereof, to and including $50,000 |
| $50,001 to $100,000 | $643.75 for the first $50,000, plus $7 for each additional $1,000 or fraction thereof, to and including $100,000 |
| $100,001 to $500,000 | $993.75 for the first $100,000, plus $5.60 for each additional $1,000 or fraction thereof, to and including $500,000 |
| $500,001 to $1,000,000 | $3,233.75 for the first $500,000, plus $4.75 for each additional $1,000 or fraction thereof, to and including $1,000,000 |
| $1,000,001 and up | $5,608.75 for the first $1,000,000, plus $3.65 for each additional $1,000 or fraction thereof. |
| Additional Fees | Formula |
|---|---|
| Plan Review | 65% of the Building Permit Fee |
| Use Tax | [(contract price x 60%) - $3,500] x 3% (if applicable) |
| Arapahoe County Open Space Sales and Use Tax | Arapahoe County Open Space Sales and Use Tax = [(contract price x 60%) - $3,500] x 0.25% (If applicable) |
| *All permits with a valuation (contract price) over $5,833 will have use tax and Arapahoe County Open Space Sales and Use Tax assessed (exception: demolition permits) | |
| Inspection Fees | Amount |
|---|---|
| Outside Normal Business Hours | $94.00 for up to two hours, then $47.00 for each additional hour |
| Special Inspections | $47.00 per hour |
| Additional Plan Review (changes, additions, revisions) | $47.00 per hour |
| Outside Consultant Inspections/Plan Review | Actual Cost Or the total hourly cost to the jurisdiction, whichever is the greatest. The price shall include supervision, overhead, equipment hourly wages, and employee fringe benefits. ** Actual costs include administrative and overhead costs. |
Application Process:
Step 1:
Access our Online Access Portal and create a new application. A Certified Permit Technician will determine whether a plan review is necessary.
Step 2:
An invitation to join our plan review session through our Plan Review Portal will be emailed to you. Ensure to upload your plans using the naming convention below.
Step 3:
Upon completing your plan review, you will receive an email requesting additional information or an invoice for the completed services.
File Naming Convention & Format
- Drawings must be submitted as a simple flattened PDF. Portfolios or other file formats are not accepted.
- All Drawings must be Stamped by a professional designer in their perspective field and follow standards set by the Department of Regulatory Agencies.
- An application number has been assigned and must be used in your naming convention. Drawings uploaded must be named in the following format:
- Application Number | Version Number
Example:
CD-22-00000 v1 - Plans must be bound into one singular file.
- Reference Material may have multiple files and must be uploaded separately into the "Documents" Folder.
- Application Number | Version Number
- Resubmittal:
- New Files must follow the same naming convention as above, and the version number must be sequential to the previous version.
Example:
CD-22-00000 v1
CD-22-00000 v2
CD-22-00000 v3
- New Files must follow the same naming convention as above, and the version number must be sequential to the previous version.
Residential Design Criteria
Information regarding the currently adopted building code can be found in our Municipal Code.
Ceiling Height
Minimum height: Habitable rooms, hallways, corridors, bathrooms, toilet rooms, laundry rooms, and basements shall have a ceiling height of not less than 7 feet. The required height shall be measured from the finish floor to the lowest projection from the ceiling.
Climatic & Geographic Design Criteria
- Wind Speed (mph) - 100 mph, Exposure C - Three-Second Gust
- Seismic Design Category - B
- Frost Depth - 36"
Emergency Escape & Rescue Openings
Required for new construction, remodels, and basement finish.
- Minimum opening area: All emergency escape and rescue openings shall have a minimum net clear opening of 5.7 square feet (5 square feet for windows at grade level) with a maximum sill height of 44 inches
- Minimum opening height: The minimum net clear opening height shall be 24 inches
- Minimum opening width: The minimum net clear opening width shall be 20 inches
- Window wells: The minimum horizontal area of the window well shall be 9 square feet, with a minimum horizontal projection and width of 36 inches. The area of the window well shall allow the emergency escape and rescue opening to be fully opened. Window wells with a vertical depth greater than 44 inches shall be equipped with a permanently affixed ladder or step usable with the window in the fully open position.
Fireplaces
- Factory-built fireplaces must be approved units with testing lab approval numbers. Clearances, hearth size, and chimney height must be installed per manufacturer instructions. NOTE: The city requires a gas line sizing isometric to be submitted for approval for new gas log installations.
- The E.P.A. Regulations must approve wood-burning fireplaces; a list of approved devices can be found on the State of Colorado website.
Garages & Carports
Opening protection: Openings from a private garage directly into a room used for sleeping purposes shall not be permitted. Other openings between the garage and residence shall be equipped with solid wood doors not less than 1 3/8 inches thick, solid or honeycomb core steel doors not less than 1 3/8 inches thick, or 20-minute fire-rated doors.
Guardrails
- Height: Porches, balconies, or raised floor surfaces located more than 30 inches above the floor or grade below shall have guards not less than 36 inches in height
- Spacing: Required guards on open sides of stairways, raised floor areas, balconies, and porches shall have intermediate rails or ornamental closures that do not allow passage of a sphere 4 inches in diameter
Handrails
Height: Handrail height, measured vertically from the sloped plane adjoining the ramp slope's tread nosing or finish surface, shall not be less than 34 inches and not more than 38 inches. Handrails are required for stairs with a continuous run of four or more risers.
Roofing
Materials: New roofing products must be listed product by the International Code Council's Evaluation Services. The contractor or homeowner should also contact the Homeowners' Association for guidelines on allowed roofing materials in the neighborhood.
Smoke Alarms and Carbon Monoxide Sensors
Smoke alarms shall be installed in each sleeping room, outside each separate sleeping area near the bedrooms, and on each additional dwelling story, including basements. When more than one smoke alarm is required to be installed within an individual dwelling unit, the alarm devices shall be interconnected so that the actuation of one alarm will activate all of the alarms in the individual unit. The alarm shall be audible in all bedrooms over background noise levels with all intervening doors closed.
A carbon monoxide alarm shall be installed outside each sleeping area near the bedrooms in dwelling units within which fuel-fired appliances are installed and in dwelling units with attached garages.
Stairways
- Width: Stairways shall not be less than 36 inches in clear width at all points above the permitted handrail height and below the required headroom height. Handrails shall not project more than 4.5 inches on either side of the stairway, and the minimum clear width of the stairway at and below the handrail height, including treads and landings, shall not be less than 31.5 inches where a handrail is installed on one side and 27 where handrails are provided on both sides.
- Rise / Run: The maximum riser height shall be 7 3/4 inches, and the minimum tread depth shall be 10 inches.
- Headroom: The minimum headroom in all parts of the stairway shall not be less than 6 feet, 8 inches measured vertically from the sloped plane adjoining the tread nosing or from the floor surface of the landing or platform
Contractors in the Village requiring a building permit must obtain a license. The Village does not require subcontractors to obtain individual licenses if working under the supervision of a licensed contractor.
There are several reasons that a contractor license is required. It protects consumers from fraud, negligence, and poor workmanship. It helps ensure that safety standards and regulations are followed, and the Village verifies the qualifications of contractors and assigned sub-contractors, including liability insurance. The following license types are available:
| License Type | Fee | Scope of Work |
|---|---|---|
| Level A: Commercial Contractor | $300 | Authorizes work for multi-unit residential buildings, office buildings, commercial buildings, tenant finish and alterations, and any work authorized under Level B, C, and D licenses. |
| Level B: Residential Contractor | $200 | Authorizes work for detached single-family residential buildings and alterations and any work authorized under Level C and D licenses. |
| Level C: Specialized Contractor | $100 | Authorizes work for swimming pools, tennis courts, and solar installations. |
| Level D: Individual Trade | $50 | Authorizes work not included within Levels A, B, and C, including but not limited to alterations, moving a building within the City, demolition, house repair, siding application, roofing, plastering, sheetrock installation, framing, excavation, concrete work not in any City right-of-way, fences, signs, retaining walls, sprinkler and irrigation systems, landscaping, plumbing work, mechanical work and any other activities involved in the alteration or improvement of all buildings within the City. The applicant must specify which activity he or she wishes to engage in. If the applicant wishes to engage in more than one (1) activity, a separate license must be procured for each activity. |
| Level E: Electrical/Plumbing Contractor | n/a | It is required of Electrical and Plumbing Contractors who require permits and are not under the supervision of a licensed contractor. |
Obtaining a License
A contractor applying for a license with the Village must submit the following:
- Set up an account on our Online Access Portal
- Complete an application and select all applicable license levels
- Provide evidence of a License from another Colorado jurisdiction or education, resulting in certification in the applicable trade(s).
- Provide a current Certificate of Insurance for general liability and worker's compensation insurance, listing the City of Greenwood Village as the certificate holder. Minimum coverages are as follows:
| Coverage | Amount |
|---|---|
| General Aggregate | $2,000,000 |
| Products, Completed operations | $2,000,000 |
| Personal and Advertising Injury | $1,000,000 |
| Each Occurrence | $1,000,000 |
| Workers' Compensation | State Minimum |
| Note: A reduction in coverage below the required amounts or policy cancellation will immediately suspend licensure until restored. | |
| Level A |
Requesting Inspections:
All Building, Planning, and Zoning are available for scheduling via our Online Access Portal. Access to your permit can be granted by the applicant or assigned contractor. Additionally:
- Scheduling appointments may be reserved up to 7 days in advance, depending on availability.
- Estimated arrival windows are available only as morning or afternoon slots:
- AM Window:
- Estimated arrival between 8:00 a.m. - Noon
- PM Window:
- Estimated arrival between Noon - 4:00 p.m.
- AM Window:
- Interior inspections require the presence of an adult over the age of 18
- A hard copy set of city-approved color drawings must be made available to the inspector upon request
- A hard copy of your permit card must be displayed, preferably in view to the public or right-of-way
- Consultation Inspections can be made available for scheduling by request.
- Inspections outside regular business hours can be made available with special authorization from the Chief Building Official and may incur additional fees.
Holiday Closures:
Inspections are only open during operating hours and are not available during the following observed holidays:
New Year's Day
Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
Presidents' Day
Memorial Day
Independence Day
Labor Day
Veterans Day
Thanksgiving Day
Day after Thanksgiving
Christmas Eve Day
Christmas Day
The Village assures safe residential building construction by requiring plans prepared by qualified design professionals, reviewing building plans for compliance with nationally accepted codes, licensing building contractors, and inspecting the construction work to ensure that work was completed consistent with the approved plans.
Do I Need a Permit?
The best way to determine if you need a permit is to ask the Building Division. Department staff will assist you with your project and help determine whether a permit is required.
A permit is generally required for any new building, addition, alteration, repair, or change in use of an existing building or structure, and site improvements.
Permits are generally not required for painting, floor coverings, similar finish work, or kitchen cabinet installation (a plumbing permit may be necessary to re-install fixtures). If you have any questions about whether a permit is needed, please contact us before you begin work.
Here are a few examples of residential projects requiring a permit:
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Application Process:
Step 1:
Access our Online Access Portal and create a new application. A Certified Permit Technician will determine whether a plan review is necessary.
Step 2:
An invitation to join our plan review session through our Plan Review Portal will be emailed to you. Ensure to upload your plans using the naming convention below.
Step 3:
Upon completing your plan review, you will receive an email requesting additional information or an invoice for the completed services.
File Naming Convention & Format
- Drawings must be submitted as a simple flattened PDF. Portfolios or other file formats are not accepted.
- An application number has been assigned and must be used in your naming convention. Drawings uploaded must be named in the following format:
- Application Number | Version Number
Example:
CD-22-00000 v1 - Plans must be bound into one singular file.
- Reference Material may have multiple files and must be uploaded separately into the "Documents" Folder.
- Application Number | Version Number
- Resubmittal:
- New Files must follow the same naming convention as above, and the version number must be sequential to the previous version.
Example:
CD-22-00000 v1
CD-22-00000 v2
CD-22-00000 v3
- New Files must follow the same naming convention as above, and the version number must be sequential to the previous version.
The City of Greenwood Village permits Qualified Third Party Code Review. Projects may be eligible to receive the benefit of an outside code analysis in two ways:
Option 1:
The applicant may enter into a contract with an approved code analysis company. Notice of such must be given to the Chief Building Official before submitting construction documents for permit.
Please refer to the Qualified Third Party Code Review handout for further information on becoming an approved provider of code analysis for projects in the City of Greenwood Village.
The reviews should include a code analysis of all building elements, mechanical systems, plumbing systems, electrical systems, structural elements, and energy compliance of the project.
If the applicant chooses option one and that analysis is sufficient, the applicant may receive a reduction in plan review fees. This reduction will be granted after review and approval by the City of Greenwood Village Chief Building Official.
Option 2:
The City may use an outside code analysis company to review documents. The reviews should include a code analysis of all building elements, mechanical systems, plumbing systems, electrical systems, structural elements, and energy compliance of the project.
Third Pary Code Review does not include planning, zoning, or drainage analysis. The City of Greenwood Village will still provide those functions during the standard review process.
Alerts & Notices
- There are no alerts at this time.
- Do I need an asbestos report?
-
Asbestos is regulated by the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment. Additional information may be found by contacting them at (303) 692-3100.
- Do I need a building permit?
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Building permits are required for new constructions, alterations, or repairs of existing buildings. Also, concrete work, landscaping, and other exterior alterations. Please download our Building Permits Helpful Information handout. If unsure, please email comdev@greenwoodvillage.com, and we'll gladly verify.
- Do I need an inspection?
-
Inspections are required as part of the permit process.
- How can I obtain building plan copies?
-
Depending on the specific type of plan and the zoning area it pertains to, different plans have varied retention periods. To access a copy of any of our plans, we recommend submitting a public records request through the Online Services page on our website.
- How do I find my property lines?
-
Obtain a copy of your property's legal description (if you don't have a copy, you may be able to get this from the Arapahoe County Assessor's office or copy of the plat map for your subdivision). You may also want to hire a surveyor to reestablish your property corners and property lines for you.
- How do I find out my property's zoning?
-
The easiest way to find out your property's zoning is to email Community Development at comdev@greenwoodvillage.com or call 303-486-5783 and request to speak with the day's planner.