The Complete Jefferson County Building Permit Guide

Looking to start your next residential or commercial construction project in Jefferson County, Colorado? Then you need to obtain your building permits from the Jefferson County Development and Transportation Board, allowing you to build anywhere in the county without risking a financial penalty.

As Jefferson County’s permit pulling experts, we have developed a quick guide that offers all the information you need to know about applying for and receiving your building permit.

Which Projects in Jefferson County Require a Building Permit?

Nearly all residential and commercial construction projects in Jefferson County will need a building permit of some sort to begin work. With a variety of building permits including Miscellaneous Permits and Building Permits, you must ensure that you have the proper approval to begin your project. The county provides building permits in order to ensure that all construction projects have been properly zoned, planned, engineered and executed in order to meet the safety and building requirements set forth by the administration. Not only does obtaining a building permit in Jefferson County assure you that your project is compliant with all codes, failure to receive approval before beginning work can result in hefty financial penalties and delays in construction.

Types of Construction Permits in Jefferson County

There are two unique types of construction permits that are offered by the Jefferson County Development and Transportation Board. Each of them addresses the scope of specific projects, based on everything from size to dwelling to zoning factors.

Miscellaneous Permits in Jefferson County

Also known as Zoning Permits, these permits only require a review of Planning and Zoning. Developed for projects that do not require a full Building Code inspection, these ‘over-the-counter’ building permits in Jefferson County are generally offered for accessory structures that are under 200 square feet, under 12 feet tall and will not be habitable.

Many smaller projects including building a shed and construction in mobile home parks can make use of a miscellaneous permit, which is much easier and faster to obtain.

Building Permits in Jefferson County

The most common construction permits in the county, building permits are required for any habitable construction project over 200 square feet or 12 feet tall. They are also required for garages, decks and major remodeling projects in which structural changes will be made to the property.

All building permits in Jefferson County require Planning and Zoning review, Building Code review, and Building inspections, making the approval process longer that Miscellaneous Permits.

The building permits encompass a wide range of trade-oriented permits as well, including:

  • Electrical (and photovoltaic commercial and residential permits)
  • Mechanical
  • Plumbing
  • Re-roof/Re-siding
  • Demolition
  • Foundation Compliance

    • Applying for a Building Permit in Jefferson County

    Jefferson County has developed an online application process that allows homeowners, contractors and permit pulling services to submit all the information for their project.

    The process of applying for a building permit requires all the information ranging from zoning to engineering to trade-specific (electrical, plumbing, roofing, etc.) to be gathered and arranged in a manner that allows the board to easily review, then conduct an on-site inspection.

    For those who have never submitted a building permit application in Jefferson County, the process can be extremely time-consuming and stressful. Many homeowners do not understand the exact documentation that is required or how to present it, leading to denials of the original submission. This can result in delays of over one month to get your project started, costing you both time and money on your construction project.

    We highly recommend that you consult with a building permit service in Jefferson County to ensure that you have all the correct documentation to receive a approval as quickly as possible.

    Building Permit Fees in Jefferson County

    The Jefferson County Building Safety Division has created a plan review fee scale that works in relation to the cost of each project. Starting from as low as $55 for a project valuation of $1 to $1,000 and going up to $18,327 for projects over $5,000,000, a majority of home renovation projects will have a fee under $100.

    For commercial and residential development projects, the fees are in the $5,000 to $3,000 range, depending on the size and style of the build.

    How Long Does a Jefferson County Building Permit Approval Take?

    The building permit review process can vary in length depending on a number of factors including the size of the project, the scope of the work, zoning requirements and more.

    In order to reduce the time that it takes to receive your building permit approval, you can work with a building permit expediter in Jefferson County. As specialists who understand exactly what the review board is looking for, how to prepare the application and submit everything required, you can save weeks (as well as the stress of gathering documents) by using a service.

    Work with the Building Permit Experts

    Save time, money and stress on your next construction or renovation project by working with the permit pulling specialists! Service First Permits has worked closely with the review board to help clients of all industries receive their building permits in Jefferson County faster and easier than ever.

    Discover how our years of experience in permit pulling will ensure that you have all the documentation you need on your first submission by contacting us today for your free building permit consultation.