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Community Development - Building

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1. I am thinking about a home improvement project and have questions. Who can I ask?

Call 303.438.6370 and talk to one of the plans analysts. They can answer a variety of questions on most phases of any project. If you manage to stump one of them, the plans analysts can always connect you with a specific inspector or they will research your question and call you back with an answer. You can also email your questions to any of the plans analysts listed on the

staff information page.

2. Do I need a building permit for my project?

Most construction projects require building permits and inspections to verify compliance with building codes and zoning regulations. Alterations, garage conversions, change of use, structural repairs, drywall, and fire or flood repairs all require permits.

3. What plans do I need for a permit?

For typical homeowner projects, one set of plans is required. The plans should include a site plan that shows where the proposed construction will be located on the property, including lot dimensions and all existing structures; a floor plan showing the use of the spaces, any framing proposed, and dimensions; and a section view, if needed, to show how the structure is attached to the existing building. Please refer to our handout section on our web page for more information.

For commercial projects & tenant finish work, two complete sets of plans shall be submitted. Wet stamp or electronic stamp is acceptable. Please see our website under forms for applications and more detail. 

4. Do I need a permit to replace my water heater?

Yes. All water heaters need to be permitted, this includes new and replacements.  

5. How long does it take to get a building permit?

Review Timelines

Construction is up all over the metropolitan area so building departments are busy! Please schedule enough time for a plan review to keep your project on track. Typical plan review times are as follows:

Over the counter plan reviews - Not Available - Please submit applications & plans to buildingpermits@broomfield.org -(Basement Finish, Small Remodels, Decks, Pergola’s, Patio Covers, and any other permit that requires a plan reviewer) 

"Due to the Coronavirus situation" some of the review timelines below have changed:

New house – custom or new model - 8 to 9 weeks for first comments  

New house – a master plan - 8 to 9 weeks for first comments

New house w/approved master plan - 8 to 9 weeks

New commercial –  7 to 8 weeks for first comments

Tenant finish - 7 to 8 weeks for first comments

Residential additions – 3 to 4 weeks for first comments 

Basement Finish  - 3 to 4 weeks

Exterior Residential - decks, covered patios, pergolas, gazebo, etc. - 3 to 4 weeks

Solar PV Systems - 4 to 5 weeks

Signs - 4 to 5 weeks

Windows - 4 to 5 weeks 

Water Heaters, Furnaces & A/C’s - 7 to 8 days

Re-Roofs - 7 to 8 days

The estimated times above are goals but are not guaranteed!

6. How much will my permit cost?

Permit fees are based on the total value or cost of the project. The applicant provides this information on the permit forms at the time of submittal. Use tax is also charged on the value of the materials, assumed to be one-half of the total cost. At this time, we are only able to accept checks and cash for payment. For more information and to get a copy of our fee schedule, click

Building Fees

7. What happens if I don't get a permit?

If the work is started without a permit, a special investigation fee may be charged before the permit can be issued. If the entire project is completed, such as a deck or basement finish, the homeowner remains responsible for obtaining the proper permits and inspections. In some cases, this may mean removal of wall coverings to check concealed work. Homeowners should also contact their insurance company to verify that the new work will still be covered if no permit has been obtained. Often a completed project is not caught until a prospective buyer or private home inspector checks with the building department or a disaster occurs.

8. How close can I build to my property line?

All structures (houses, garages, sheds, decks, pools, spas, patio covers, gazebos, etc.) are required to be located a certain distance away from all property lines of your lot. This distance varies with both the type of structure and the zoning of your neighborhood. Straight zoning (usually older neighborhoods) has regulations adopted by ordinance in the Municipal Code (Title 17, Zoning). Newer subdivisions have PUD (planned unit development) zoning, which has regulations unique to each subdivision or filing adopted through the development plan process.

Typically, all structures shall be at least 5 feet away from the side property lines, and could be required to be set back even greater distances. In a majority of cases, the house is constructed at the minimum front setback line, and no structure can be built closer to the street than the house. The rear yard setbacks vary considerably, depending on the subdivision and the structure. There may also be utility or drainage easements in various locations on your lot that restrict the placement of any structure.

For correct setback information in all zoning districts, please call the City and County of Broomfield Planning Division at 303-438-6284.

9. How do I avoid paying taxes twice on my project materials?

The City and County of Broomfield collects use tax on building materials at the time of building permit issuance. For use tax purposes, 50% of the total project valuation is assumed to be materials in accordance with BMC 03-08-060. Homeowners performing all of their own work shall list the total materials cost on the permit application. The applicant should show the building permit payment receipt to the supplier or retail home center when purchasing materials for the project. The supplier or home center should not charge any city sales tax since the Broomfield use tax has been paid with the permit. Payment of state and RTD sales taxes is still required on all materials. Questions regarding use tax can be answered by the Sales and Use Tax Division of the Broomfield Finance Department at 303-464-5811. Information on use tax can also be found on the Sales Tax Division link.

Use Tax = Total valuation x 50% x 4.15% for contractors
Use Tax = Materials valuation x 4.15% for homeowners doing all their own work.

10. Does Broomfield have special requirements for re-roofing?

Re-roofing any building requires a building permit in Broomfield. The current building codes regulate the type of roofing materials and underlayment. For more details, please call 303.438.6370.

11. Can I do all the electrical and plumbing work on my own home?

Homeowner-occupants may do all the work on their own home if they are confident in their abilities. However, the homeowner-occupant needs to sign an acknowledgement form indicating compliance with the state law prior to issuance of the permit.

12. For boilers, do I need State of Colorado as well as City and County of Broomfield permit and inspections?

The installation, replacement or alteration of all boilers and water heaters in the City and County of Broomfield requires a Broomfield permit and inspection. Due to the fact that boilers can explode, causing property damage, injuries and deaths, the State of Colorado Division of Oil and Public Safety requires permits and inspections for the following:

Low-pressure steam boilers with no more than 15 psi and/or less than 250 degrees F;

Hydronic (water) boilers with no more than 160 psi and or less than 250 degrees F;

High-pressure steam boilers with more than 15 psi and/or more than 250 degrees F; and

Hydronic (water) boilers with more than 160 psi and/or more than 250 degrees F.

Water heaters are also treated as low-pressure boilers for inspection purposes if the heat input is more than 200,000 BTU/Hr, the water temperature exceeds 210 degrees F, or the nominal water-containing capacity is greater than 120 gallons.

Locations likely to have boilers also needing State of Colorado permits and inspections include offices, schools, apartment buildings providing hot water supply and/or heat, utilities, processing plants, drill rig sites, commercial laundries, dry cleaners and hospitals. Please see the State of Colorado Boiler Inspection website for complete information. (http://www.colorado.gov/cs/Satellite/CDLE-OilPublicSafety/CDLE/1248095303782)

13. Do I need a contractor's license to get a permit?

A homeowner getting a permit for performing construction work on his/her own dwelling does not require a contractor's license, but will need to sign an acknowledgement form indicating compliance with the state law prior to issuance of the permit. If a homeowner hires a contractor for any type of construction on a home, the contractor shall be licensed by the City and County of Broomfield. The contractor is responsible for obtaining all required permits, but the homeowner should verify that the necessary permits have been issued. All contractors who perform work for pay or other compensation are required to be licensed as a contractor in City and County of Broomfield.

14. What inspections do I need for my project?

The simplest answer is that the inspectors need to check all work before it is concealed by the next phase of construction. The plans examiners will also explain the inspections you need during the plan review process. Most residential projects need three basic sets of inspections: underground, rough, and final for each trade: building, electrical, mechanical/heating, and plumbing. Please call us with any questions at 303-438-6370.

15. How do I call for an inspection on my project?

If you are a homeowner you will call our automated line 303-438-6376 to schedule inspections. The information needed to schedule your inspection will be on the inspection record card (orange card) that will be given to you when the permit is issued at our counter or by your contractor. This will have the permit number (numerics only) and the 3 digit inspection code that is needed to schedule your inspection. The automated line allows you to schedule up to four days out, next day inspections are not guaranteed so please plan accordingly.  

If you are a contractor you can be signed up to use our online (Citizen Access) website to schedule your inspections, however, you will need to call our offices to set up your online access 303-438-6370.

16. I have questions about my inspection. Who do I talk to?

For any general questions about your project, you may call and speak to one of the plans examiners, 303-438-6370, any time between 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. For specific questions regarding an inspection that has already been made, call 303-438-6370 to talk with the individual inspector between 8:00 and 8:30 a.m.

17. What time will the inspector arrive?

Our inspectors receive their assignments in the morning and determine the most efficient route for the day prior to leaving the office around 8:30 a.m. Your inspection could be any time during the inspector's working hours. If you need a more exact time frame, you may call the specific inspector for your project on the morning of your scheduled inspection, and ask for his estimated time of arrival. Call the main office number, 303-438-6370, before 8:30 a.m. You may also check the daily inspection status, look for your address, and you can see the order of inspections for each inspector.

18. Will a City and County Building inspector come look at my house if I have problems?

If you smell natural gas or think there might be carbon monoxide in the home, call 911 from a neighbor's phone or from a cell phone outside the house. Please call the building department at 303-438-6370, and we can answer any questions you may have about your home or its systems; however, the building inspectors are authorized to come make inspections at a home or business only if a building permit has been issued. If you have urgent concerns about your home's foundation or structure, a professional structural engineer should be called to check the building.

19. How does the new Carbon Monoxide Alarm law affect me?

On March 24, 2009, Governor Ritter signed HB 09-1091, a bill requiring carbon monoxide alarms to be installed in all new dwelling units and in existing multi-family and single family dwelling units that include fuel fired appliances or an attached garage whenever they are altered, rented to a different tenant, or sold. This bill will be effective for tenant changes or permits issued after July 1, 2009.

The currently adopted building code also requires smoke alarms to be installed in the home whenever interior alterations are made that require a building permit. Therefore, for permits issued after July 1, 2009, inspections for all interior alterations and additions will include verification of correct installation of smoke alarms and carbon monoxide alarms in dwelling units that include fuel fired appliances or an attached garage. Approved combination smoke/carbon monoxide alarms may be used. Interior alterations include, but are not limited to remodels, basement finishing, replacement of furnaces, water heaters, installation of air conditioning, and window replacements.

Carbon monoxide alarms shall produce a distinct, audible alarm, may be combined with a smoke detecting device if the combined device produces an alarm, or an alarm and voice signal, in a manner that clearly differentiates between the two hazards, and shall be listed by an approved, nationally recognized, independent product-safety testing and certification laboratory.

Carbon monoxide alarms shall be powered by one of the following methods: fully battery powered, plug-connected into a dwelling's unswitched electrical outlet and include a battery backup, wired into a dwelling's electrical system and include a battery back-up, or connected to an electrical system via an electrical panel.

Carbon monoxide alarms shall be installed within 15 feet of the entry to each sleeping room.

Smoke alarms shall be listed by an approved, nationally recognized, independent product-safety testing and certification laboratory per IRC Section 313.1. Smoke alarms shall be installed in accordance with the current building code: on each floor level of the home, in the immediate vicinity outside each separate sleeping area, and in each sleeping room. When more than one smoke alarm is required, the devices shall be interconnected in such a manner that the actuation of one alarm will activate all of the alarms in the individual dwelling unit.

Smoke alarms shall receive their primary power from the building wiring and include a battery backup. For alterations, interconnection and hard-wiring of smoke alarms will be required only if the alterations include electrical work in the area requiring a smoke alarm; in all other cases, battery powered smoke alarms will be acceptable. The installation of carbon monoxide alarms and smoke alarms shall comply with the manufacturers installation instructions.

20. How do I get to the Broomfield building department?

From Denver:

Go north on I-25 to 120th Avenue exit. Go west on 120th Avenue to Lamar Street. Lamar Street will be the 2nd traffic light past Sheridan Blvd. Turn right on Lamar (before Applebee's). Drive north to the third stop sign, a T-intersection with DesCombes Drive. Directly ahead is the entry to the parking lot, with the George Di Ciero City and County Building in front of you and the Combined Courts and Police building on your right. Enter the George Di Ciero City and County Building at the door marked Community Development and Public Works.

From Boulder:
Go southeast on U.S. Hwy 36, Boulder Turnpike, take the Hwy 287 exit, #. Turn north onto US Highway 287/Wadsworth Parkway. Drive north to Midway Blvd. (the stoplight at the bottom of the hill) and turn right, going east. Continue on Midway Blvd. for about 1 1/2 miles, passing a signalized intersection at Main Street. Take the next right turn at Lamar Street. Two blocks south, Lamar Street curves around the George Di Ciero City and County Building to become DesCombes Drive. Turn right at the first parking lot entrance, and the George Di Ciero City and County Building will be directly in front of you with the Combined Courts and Police building on your right. Enter the George Di Ciero City and County Building at the door marked Community Development and Public Works.
From North of Denver:

Go south on I-25 to 120th Avenue exit. Go west on 120th Avenue to Lamar Street. Lamar Street will be the 2nd traffic light past Sheridan Blvd. Turn right on Lamar (before Applebee's). Drive north to the third stop sign, a T-intersection with DesCombes Drive.

Directly ahead is the entry to the parking lot, with the George Di Ciero City and County Building in front of you and the Combined Courts and Police building on your right. Enter the George Di Ciero City and County Building at the door marked Community Development and Public Works.
From Longmont or Lafayette:
Go south on US Highway 287 to Midway Blvd. Turn left, going east. Continue on Midway Blvd. for about 1 1/2 miles, passing a signalized intersection at Main Street. Take the next right turn at Lamar Street. Two blocks south, Lamar Street curves around City Hall to become DesCombes Drive. Turn right at the first parking lot entrance, and the George Di Ciero City and County Building will be directly in front of you with the Combined Courts and Police building on your right. Enter the George Di Ciero City and County Building at the door marked Community Development and Public Works.

21. What are your office hours and who is on staff?

The building division is available from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday, except holidays. Payments are accepted between 9:00am and 4:00pm.  

Our directory lists contact information for our plans analysts,  permit technicians,  inspectors, and Chief Building Official.  

Building Division Directory

22. Do the EPA lead abatement regulations apply to my project?

The Environmental Protection Agency has enacted rules to minimize lead poisoning through lead-safe work practices. Effective April 22, 2010, contractors performing renovation, repair, and painting projects that disturb lead based paint in homes, child care facilities, and schools built before 1978 must be certified and must follow specific work practices to prevent lead contamination. Homeowners should research the EPA regulations to determine any steps necessary to comply. Lead based paints can be harmful to both children and adults, especially when activities like sanding, cutting, and demolition create lead dust and chips. Please see the EPA website for complete information. (http://www.epa.gov/lead/rrp/index.html)