Overview
The City and County of Denver reviews building projects through Community Planning and Development. Confirm Denver jurisdiction before using these resources; surrounding cities and counties have separate permitting services.
Fast route
Quick permits for eligible trade, roofing and siding scopes
Building code
2025 Denver code · second-printing updates
Trades
Select a trade for its permit path, licensing, code resources, fees and filing pitfalls.
Electrical quick permits and plan review
Denver CPDApplicable Code
Denver’s current code page identifies the 2026 NEC; review the separate electrical-transition notices.
License Requirement
Colorado electrical contractor credentials plus Denver registration; homeowner work follows the owner-occupier approval and exam policy.
License Fee
State credential and Denver registration resources
CEUs
Colorado electrical renewal requirements
Permit Fee
ADMIN 138: $20 through $500 valuation; $35 through $2,000; then $35 + $8 per additional $1,000 or fraction through $25,000. Eligible quick permits have no review fee.
Plan Review Time
Eligible work uses Quick Permits; scopes requiring plans follow electrical plan review.
Common Pitfalls
- Associated residential new-construction/addition trade permits wait for building-permit issuance.
- A state credential does not replace required Denver contractor registration.
Permit-to-closeout workflow
Classify scope
Single-family/duplex, commercial/multifamily or eligible quick permit
Check credentials
Denver license or state electrical/plumbing credential and registration
Submit plans
Include zoning, structural and project-specific documents
Issue building permit
Clear review and pay charges before dependent residential trade permits
Coordinate trades
Obtain separate permits and inspection approvals
Close out
Resolve finals, zoning and occupancy requirements
Permit fees and worked estimates
The official ADMIN 125/138 policy retrieved October 12, 2026 is revised May 21, 2024; these are its published rates, not a newly issued 2026 schedule. Table 1 charges $20 through $500, $35 through $2,000, then $35 plus $8 per additional $1,000 or fraction through $25,000. Standard review adds 50%; qualifying quick permits have no review fee. Each separately permitted trade uses its own work valuation. Confirm any later policy and the assessed invoice before payment.
| Trade | Permit fee | License fee |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical quick permits and plan review | ADMIN 138: $20 through $500 valuation; $35 through $2,000; then $35 + $8 per additional $1,000 or fraction through $25,000. Eligible quick permits have no review fee. | State credential and Denver registration resources |
| Plumbing installation and alterations | Separate plumbing scope uses ADMIN 138 Table 1: $3,000 = $43 permit component. Eligible quick permits add no review fee; other reviews and taxes are separate. | Colorado plumbing credential / Denver registration resources |
| HVAC, equipment and ventilation | ADMIN 138: $5,000 mechanical scope = $35 + 3 × $8 = $59 permit. Eligible quick permit: no review; separate electrical/plumbing scope adds fees. | Denver license and supervisor certificate schedule |
| Fire protection installations | ADMIN 138 charges each discipline by its permitted valuation: $10,000 = $99 permit component. Separate Denver Fire review/approval charges are excluded. | City fire-protection license / certificate schedule |
| Building permits and project coordination | ADMIN 138: $10,000 valuation = $99 permit + $49.50 standard review = $148.50 subtotal. Taxes, zoning, linkage, debris and separate trade fees are excluded. | Denver contractor and supervisor fee schedule |
Homeowner work and trade permits
Denver’s owner-occupier policy requires homeowner approval and applicable trade exams before permits. Work outside that approval must be performed by an appropriately licensed contractor. For residential new construction and additions, the construction permit must be issued before its associated electrical, plumbing and mechanical quick-permit applications can be completed.
Choose your permit route
Denver separates single-family and duplex projects from commercial and multifamily work. Some qualifying roofing, siding and trade work uses quick permits without plan review. Use the project-specific instructions to determine eligibility rather than assuming all alterations qualify.
Submission checklist
Application and review
Follow the application instructions linked from the selected project page. Track the application, answer reviewer comments and obtain issued permits before starting the work they cover.
Codes and Denver amendments
Denver publishes the 2025 Denver Building and Fire Codes, including second-printing updates, alongside its adopted model-code references and policies. The energy provisions use the 2021 IECC while the listed 2025 code suite otherwise incorporates 2024 I-codes. Check the current electrical standards and project transition policy separately.
Inspections and closeout
Use Denver’s Building Inspections resources to schedule the required construction and trade inspections. Coordinate any zoning final and occupancy approval applicable to the permit, and resolve inspection corrections before closing the project.