Do I Need a Permit?
“Do I need a permit for this?” This question has been asked by many homeowners in the past and it will be asked by many for years to come. Whether you want to build a new home, just add a deck to your back yard, or add exhaust systems to your restaurant, you often need to apply for a permit from the City and County of Denver.
Quick Permits
The first permitting option that the City of Denver provides is called Quick Permits. Quick Permits are permits that do not require a full plan review. This allows projects under the Quick Permit categories to be issued much more quickly than a regular project that requires plan review. The full scope of projects that can be issued under the Quick Permit scope can be found online at Denvergov.org. If your project requires structural work, it is not eligible for Quick Permits. Certain types of Electrical, Boiler/AC, Landmarks, Mechanical, Plumbing, and Roofing/Siding projects are eligible for Quick Permits.
Projects Requiring Full Plan Review
If your project does not fall under the scope of Quick Permits, you most likely will have to go through a full Plan Review from the City of Denver for your project. Projects that require a permit that do not fall under the Quick Permit scope are New Construction (both residential and commercial), Additions, Accessory Dwelling Units, Garages, Decks (more than 12” off the ground), Covered Patios, Carports, Demolition (structures greater than 200 square feet and greater than 8 feet in height), Solar Panels, and all commercial projects (and that’s just the beginning).
Multiple Permits May Be Required
In addition, most of these projects will require more than one permit to be issued. Most large projects will require, at a minimum, a zoning permit, a building permit, and even sewer use and drainage permits. For these larger projects, it is important to submit your project as soon as possible.
Understanding Permit Review Timelines
The time for full plan reviews can vary from the City of Denver depending on the project. Denvergov.org provides the average days to approval (the average amount of time it takes for a permit to get issued over the prior 90 days) so that customers can have a better idea how long it will take. As of May 11, 2026, the average days to approval, which includes both City and customer time, is 57 days. So get your plans in ASAP!
Denver’s 2024 Building Code Adoption
As of June 13, 2025, the City of Denver now uses the 2024 Building Codes for their plan reviews (except for parts of the Energy Code). This means that all new projects submitted to the city must be compliant with 2024 IBC standards. Watch out, because the required snow loads in Denver have changed!
Final Thoughts
All in all, it is safe to say that if you are building in Denver, you will probably need a permit. The full guide to permitting for the City of Denver can be found on Denvergov.org. If you are a new homeowner, and the idea of permitting and code compliance is confusing and daunting, don’t be afraid to ask questions from the engineers, architects, and even contractors you are working with. We are all trying to make Denver the safest place it can be, so don’t skip the permitting process and let’s make our community stronger than ever before!
